NameCensus.

UK surname

Imam

An occupational surname indicating a respected religious leader or Islamic cleric.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Imam is 350 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

2016

350 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Imam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Imam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Imam 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 145 #21,951
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 178 #19,489
2004 modern 189 #18,855
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 232 #16,600
2007 modern 247 #16,042
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 287 #14,877
2010 modern 302 #14,661
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 316 #13,994
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 341 #13,425
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Imams 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 Westminster, Barnet, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon and Newham. 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 Westminster 015 Westminster
2 Barnet 039 Barnet
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 010 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Hillingdon 016 Hillingdon
5 Newham 035 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Imam

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Imam

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Imam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Imam 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Imam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Imam 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

Imam falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Imam 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 Imam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Imam

The surname Imam is believed to have originated in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East and North Africa. It is derived from the Arabic word "imam," which means a religious leader, particularly in the Islamic faith. The name likely emerged during the early centuries of Islam, as a designation for individuals who held the position of an imam or were descendants of influential imams.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Imam can be traced back to medieval Arabic manuscripts and records. In the 11th century, the renowned Islamic scholar and jurist, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111), was referred to as "Imam al-Ghazali" in various historical texts, indicating the presence of the surname Imam during that period.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Imam was Abu Nasr al-Imam (born in the late 10th century), a prominent mathematician and astronomer from Gurganj, Khwarezm (modern-day Uzbekistan). His works, such as the "Kitab al-Majisti" (Book of the Almagest), were highly influential in the development of Islamic astronomy.

In the 13th century, the name Imam appeared in the writings of the famous Arab historian and traveler, Ibn Battuta (1304-1369). He mentioned encountering individuals with the surname Imam during his extensive travels across the Islamic world, suggesting the widespread use of the name in various regions.

Another notable figure with the surname Imam was Ibn al-Imam (1453-1532), a renowned Moroccan scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of logic, theology, and Islamic jurisprudence. His works, such as "Al-Aqida al-Sanusiyya" (The Creed of the Sanusiyyah), were widely studied and influenced subsequent generations of scholars.

In the 19th century, the Sudanese religious leader and founder of the Mahdist movement, Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi (1844-1885), was also known by the surname Imam. His followers referred to him as "al-Imam al-Mahdi" (The Guided Imam), reflecting the significance of the surname Imam in the context of religious leadership.

Other notable individuals with the surname Imam include the Egyptian philosopher and author Zaki Naguib Mahmoud Imam (1905-1975), whose works explored Islamic philosophy and the concept of Arab nationalism, and the Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed Imam (born 1962), who represented Pakistan in international cricket during the 1980s and 1990s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Imam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Imam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Imam a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Imam surname mean?

An occupational surname indicating a respected religious leader or Islamic cleric.

What does the Imam map show?

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