NameCensus.

UK surname

Ilyas

A surname derived from the Arabic name Ilyas, meaning "strength from God".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Pendle and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ilyas is 1,895 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,895

2016, ranked #3,356

Peak year

2016

1,895 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,895 in 2016, ranked #3,356.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ilyas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ilyas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ilyas 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 731 #7,000
1998 modern 811 #6,680
1999 modern 849 #6,493
2000 modern 924 #6,062
2001 modern 927 #5,944
2002 modern 1,061 #5,429
2003 modern 1,109 #5,143
2004 modern 1,213 #4,770
2005 modern 1,293 #4,449
2006 modern 1,378 #4,248
2007 modern 1,488 #4,026
2008 modern 1,584 #3,824
2009 modern 1,702 #3,662
2010 modern 1,824 #3,526
2011 modern 1,833 #3,474
2012 modern 1,775 #3,519
2013 modern 1,812 #3,516
2014 modern 1,858 #3,461
2015 modern 1,878 #3,395
2016 modern 1,895 #3,356

Geography

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Where Ilyas' 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 Manchester, Pendle, Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford. 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 Manchester 027 Manchester
2 Pendle 011 Pendle
3 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
4 Blackburn with Darwen 007 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Bradford 033 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ilyas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ilyas

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

Ilyas 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

Ilyas 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ilyas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Ilyas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ilyas

The surname Ilyas finds its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic name Ilyas, which is the equivalent of the biblical name Elijah. This name has been used by various ethnic and religious groups across the region, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Ilyas can be traced back to the 7th century, during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by individuals or families who revered the prophet Elijah, as he is considered a significant figure in Islamic tradition.

In the medieval period, the surname Ilyas can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the "Kitab al-Ansab" (Book of Genealogies), a comprehensive work compiled by the renowned Arab scholar and historian, al-Sam'ani, in the 11th century.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have carried the surname Ilyas. One of the earliest known figures was Abu Bakr Ilyas (d. 1058), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Baghdad. Another notable figure was Shaykh Ilyas (1435-1499), a Sufi mystic and founder of the Ilyasi order in South Asia.

In the 13th century, the name Ilyas can be found in records from the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria. There are mentions of individuals with the surname Ilyas serving as officials and administrators in various capacities.

During the Ottoman Empire, the surname Ilyas was prevalent among Turkish and Arabic populations. One notable figure from this era was Ilyas Aga (1580-1659), a high-ranking Ottoman official and governor of several provinces.

In more recent history, the surname Ilyas has been carried by several influential figures in various fields. For example, Shamsur Rahman Ilyas (1923-2006) was a renowned Bangladeshi poet and writer, while Ilyas Qadri (1950-2008) was a prominent Pakistani religious scholar and founder of the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement.

It is important to note that the surname Ilyas has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, such as Ilyās, Illyās, and Eliās, depending on the region and language. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as the town of Ilyas in modern-day Turkey, which may have influenced the adoption of the surname by local inhabitants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ilyas surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ilyas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,895 in 2016. That gives Ilyas a modern rank of #3,356.

What does the Ilyas surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic name Ilyas, meaning "strength from God".

What does the Ilyas map show?

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