UK surname

Fatima

A feminine surname derived from the revered daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Bradford and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fatima is 1,615 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

1,615

2016, ranked #3,856

Peak year

2016

1,615 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 1,615 in 2016, ranked #3,856.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Fatima surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fatima surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Fatima 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
1997	modern	589	#8,262
1998	modern	605	#8,343
1999	modern	651	#7,931
2000	modern	702	#7,473
2001	modern	699	#7,375
2002	modern	775	#6,952
2003	modern	807	#6,607
2004	modern	901	#6,084
2005	modern	965	#5,705
2006	modern	1,062	#5,286
2007	modern	1,116	#5,122
2008	modern	1,172	#4,928
2009	modern	1,195	#4,958
2010	modern	1,328	#4,608
2011	modern	1,385	#4,398
2012	modern	1,477	#4,142
2013	modern	1,506	#4,141
2014	modern	1,546	#4,065
2015	modern	1,562	#3,984
2016	modern	1,615	#3,856

Geography

Where Fatimas 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 Rochdale, Bradford, Luton and East Staffordshire. 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	Rochdale 008	Rochdale
2	Bradford 033	Bradford
3	Luton 011	Luton
4	Luton 017	Luton
5	East Staffordshire 011	East Staffordshire

Forenames

First names often paired with Fatima

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Kaneez Kaniz Syeda Noor Bibi Nusrat Sana Maria Tasneem Kalsoom

Recent male names

Ghulam Nazir Aziz Tanveer Gulam Naseem Anees Manzoor Munir Zahoor

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Fatima

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Fatima is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Fatima 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fatima falls in decile 1 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fatima 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.

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 Fatima, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Fatima

Fatima is a surname with origins tracing back to the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic name Fatimah, which was the name of the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The name Fatimah itself is derived from the Arabic root word "fatm," which means to wean or to be weaned.

The surname Fatima likely emerged in the medieval period, as the spread of Islam brought Arabic names and influences to various regions. It is believed to have originated in areas such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fatima can be found in the 13th century, when a scholar named Muhammad ibn Fatima al-Hamadhani lived in the city of Hama, Syria. Another notable early bearer of the surname was the 14th-century Andalusian poet Ibn al-Fatima, whose full name was Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Fatima al-Ansari.

In the 15th century, the surname Fatima appeared in records from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in the context of the Moriscos, who were Muslims and former Muslims living in Spain and Portugal after the Reconquista. One example is Fatima Bint Al-Mulk, a Morisco woman who lived in Granada in the late 15th century.

As the surname spread across different regions, it took on various spellings and forms, such as Fatmi, Fatimi, and Fatemah, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of those areas.

Notable historical figures with the surname Fatima include:

1. Fatima al-Fihri (born c. 800), a Muslim woman who founded the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University in Fez, Morocco, considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

2. Fatima al-Batayhi (died 1459), a Moroccan scholar and poet known for her expertise in Islamic law and Arabic literature.

3. Fatima Sultan (1592-1670), an Ottoman princess and daughter of Sultan Ahmed I, who commissioned the Fatma Sultan Mosque in Istanbul.

4. Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015), a Moroccan feminist writer and sociologist, known for her works on women's rights and Islam.

5. Fatima Jinnah (1893-1967), a Pakistani politician and dental surgeon, who played a prominent role in the movement for an independent Pakistan and was the sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the surname Fatima across various regions, cultures, and fields, reflecting its deep-rooted origins and enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fatima surname: questions and answers

How common is the Fatima surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,615 in 2016. That gives Fatima a modern rank of #3,856.

What does the Fatima surname mean?