NameCensus.

UK surname

Ebrahim

An occupational surname derived from the Arabic name Ibrahim, meaning "father of many".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Ebrahim surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 641, ranked #8,262, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ebrahim is 651 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

641

2016, ranked #8,262

Peak year

2014

651 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ebrahim had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016, ranked #8,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ebrahim surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ebrahim surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ebrahim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ebrahim over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 365 #11,804
1998 modern 394 #11,474
1999 modern 402 #11,403
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 378 #11,705
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 433 #10,614
2004 modern 470 #9,958
2005 modern 514 #9,262
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 546 #8,953
2008 modern 564 #8,792
2009 modern 584 #8,761
2010 modern 633 #8,427
2011 modern 622 #8,447
2012 modern 611 #8,486
2013 modern 645 #8,264
2014 modern 651 #8,244
2015 modern 640 #8,290
2016 modern 641 #8,262

Geography

Back to top

Where Ebrahims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leicester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 027 Leicester
3 Leicester 010 Leicester
4 Leicester 017 Leicester
5 Leicester 021 Leicester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ebrahim

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ebrahim surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ebrahim

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ebrahim, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Ebrahim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ebrahim household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Ebrahim is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ebrahim is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ebrahim falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ebrahim is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ebrahim, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ebrahim

The surname EBRAHIM has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic name "Ibrahim," which is the equivalent of the Hebrew name "Abraham." The name can be traced back to ancient times, with the biblical figure Abraham being one of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name.

The name EBRAHIM is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify someone as the son or descendant of a person named Ibrahim. This naming convention was common in Arabic culture, where surnames were often formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to a person's given name or the name of their father.

One of the earliest known references to the surname EBRAHIM can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and documents. These records often mentioned individuals with this surname, indicating their lineage or affiliation with a particular family or tribe.

In the 11th century, a prominent scholar and philosopher named Al-Ghazali, whose full name was Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali al-Tusi al-Ebrahim, lived in what is now Iran and Iraq. He was a highly influential figure in the Islamic world and is considered one of the most important thinkers in the history of Islamic philosophy.

Another notable individual with the surname EBRAHIM was Ibn al-Ebrahim, a 13th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer from Seville, Spain. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and authored several works on the subject.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century, the EBRAHIM surname was found among families and individuals living in various regions under Ottoman rule, such as modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Egypt.

In more recent history, one of the most famous figures with the surname EBRAHIM was Leila Ebrahim, an Egyptian feminist and activist who played a prominent role in the women's rights movement in the early 20th century. She was born in 1886 and dedicated her life to advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment in Egypt.

Another notable individual with this surname was Mahmoud Ebrahim, an Egyptian novelist and playwright who was active in the 20th century. He is best known for his novel "The Donkey's Revolt," which explored themes of social injustice and inequality in Egyptian society.

The surname EBRAHIM has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout the Middle East and North Africa, often reflecting the areas where families bearing this name originated or resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ebrahim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ebrahim surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Royal Navy leads with 1 Ebrahims recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

FAQ

Ebrahim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ebrahim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Ebrahim surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ebrahim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016. That gives Ebrahim a modern rank of #8,262.

What does the Ebrahim surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Arabic name Ibrahim, meaning "father of many".

What does the Ebrahim map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ebrahim bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.