NameCensus.

UK surname

Elam

From a place name derived from the ancient kingdom of Elam, located in present-day southwestern Iran.

In the 1881 census there were 402 people recorded with the Elam surname, ranking it #7,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 346, ranked #13,291, down from #7,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Inverness Slackbuie and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elam is 490 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.9%.

1881 census count

402

Ranked #7,949

Modern count

346

2016, ranked #13,291

Peak year

1911

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elam had 402 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016, ranked #13,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elam 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
1851 historical 277 #8,112
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 402 #7,949
1891 historical 435 #8,279
1901 historical 451 #8,686
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 413 #11,092
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 414 #11,127
2001 modern 402 #11,183
2002 modern 418 #11,084
2003 modern 396 #11,346
2004 modern 386 #11,579
2005 modern 369 #11,901
2006 modern 365 #12,076
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 367 #12,264
2009 modern 388 #12,000
2010 modern 390 #12,233
2011 modern 373 #12,496
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 360 #12,890
2014 modern 353 #13,183
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 346 #13,291

Geography

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Where Elams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments), St James Clerkenwell, St Matthew Bethnal Green and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Inverness Slackbuie, Coventry, Erewash and Niddrie. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) Lincolnshire
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 011 Fenland
2 Inverness Slackbuie Highland
3 Coventry 029 Coventry
4 Erewash 013 Erewash
5 Niddrie City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Elam, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Elam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Elam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elam is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elam falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Elam

The surname ELAM is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the town of Elmham in Norfolk, England, which was recorded as "Elham" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name itself likely stems from the Old English words "elm" and "ham," meaning "homestead or village by the elm trees."

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname ELAM was Walter de Elham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1199. This suggests that the name had already been established by that time, with individuals taking their surnames from the place they were born or resided.

In the 14th century, records show a John de Elham serving as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1332. This indicates that the ELAM family had already gained some prominence in the region by that period.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Elam, Elham, and Ellam, reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. One notable individual was Thomas Elam (1515-1586), an English Protestant clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1581 until his death.

The surname ELAM also found its way across the Atlantic to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. Benjamin Elam (1677-1743) was a prominent figure in colonial Virginia, serving as a member of the House of Burgesses and holding various other positions of authority.

Another notable bearer of the ELAM surname was Samuel Elam (1761-1810), an American soldier and politician who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a United States Representative from Tennessee.

Throughout history, the ELAM surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, soldiers, and more. While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elam 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. Yorkshire leads with 163 Elams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.18x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 163 4.18x
Middlesex 113 2.87x
Lincolnshire 23 3.66x
Lancashire 17 0.36x
Durham 11 0.94x
Sussex 10 1.51x
Kent 9 0.67x
Surrey 9 0.47x
Essex 7 0.90x
Lanarkshire 7 0.55x
Norfolk 6 0.99x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.94x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.61x
Northamptonshire 4 1.08x
Cheshire 3 0.35x
Suffolk 3 0.63x
Shropshire 2 0.59x
Westmorland 2 2.32x
Bedfordshire 1 0.49x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Channel Islands 1 0.86x
Devon 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 31 Elams recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.63x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 31 54.63x
Mirfield 22 102.85x
Clerkenwell London 11 11.85x
Hunslet 11 18.11x
Islington London 11 2.89x
Wortley In Bramley 11 35.66x
Bethnal Green London 10 5.86x
Holy Trinity 9 9.61x
Bow London 8 15.99x
Horton In Bradford 8 13.15x
Leeds 8 3.64x
Ratcliffe London 8 36.85x
Shoreditch London 8 4.69x
Templenewsam Thorpe 8 987.65x
Everton 7 4.71x
Farnley In Bramley 7 144.03x
Horncastle 7 107.86x
Louth 7 48.61x
Old Monkland 7 13.88x
St Luke London 7 11.10x
Stoke Newington London 7 22.86x
Camberwell 6 2.39x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 56.93x
St George Bloomsbury 6 26.61x
Walthamstow 6 21.48x
Crossgate 5 97.85x
Dewsbury 5 12.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 6.31x
Folkington 5 2777.78x
Hipperholme Cum 5 29.21x
Lancaster 5 18.02x
Low Dinsdale 5 1470.59x
Newark Upon Trent 5 26.26x
St George Hanover Square 5 7.22x
St George In East London 5 13.52x
St Marylebone London 5 2.38x
Cheriton 4 73.13x
Daventry 4 76.48x
Isleworth 4 22.88x
Mile End Old Town London 4 4.78x
Acomb 3 147.06x
Beckenham 3 17.11x
Bowling 3 7.78x
Broadwater 3 19.74x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 23.46x
Ecclesfield 3 10.50x
Guisbrough 3 35.25x
Leverington 3 182.93x
Limehouse London 3 6.95x
Scamblesby 3 612.24x
St Paul Lincoln 3 272.73x
Teddington London 3 33.67x
Walsoken 3 82.64x
Batley 2 5.40x
Crook 2 526.32x
Drighlington 2 35.27x
Eastbourne 2 6.56x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 11.02x
Prenton 2 1333.33x
Rotherham 2 9.11x
Salford 2 1.46x
St Pancras London 2 0.63x
Thorner 2 158.73x
Treeton 2 219.78x
Wellington 2 10.48x
Whiston 2 106.95x
Whitechapel London 2 5.16x
Bermondsey 1 0.85x
Billington 1 175.44x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.00x
Clee With Weelsby 1 7.27x
Forest Gate 1 92.59x
Frieston 1 67.11x
Hunmanby 1 54.95x
Kensington London 1 0.46x
Lambeth 1 0.29x
Lee 1 5.14x
Liversedge 1 5.77x
Pendlebury 1 10.15x
Preshute 1 46.73x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Elam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Elam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 24
George 18
William 15
Thomas 13
Alfred 9
James 9
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Edward 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Daniel 3
Fred. 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Thos. 2
Augustus 1
Ben 1
Bertrand 1
Crispin 1
David 1
Dudley 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ellery 1
F.W. 1
Frances 1
G.W. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jason 1
Johnathan 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Mathias 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Rowland 1
Rueben 1
Squire 1
Stead 1
Wm.Edwin 1

FAQ

Elam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 402 people were recorded with the Elam surname. That placed it at #7,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016. That gives Elam a modern rank of #13,291.

What does the Elam surname mean?

From a place name derived from the ancient kingdom of Elam, located in present-day southwestern Iran.

What does the Elam map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Elam 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.