NameCensus.

UK surname

Iman

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "faith" or "belief".

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Iman surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Bromley and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Iman is 158 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3850.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

2016

158 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Iman had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Iman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Iman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Iman 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 26 #35,135
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 37 #34,248
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 37 #34,082
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 53 #33,076
2004 modern 58 #32,880
2005 modern 70 #31,912
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 80 #31,527
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Imans 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 Brent, Bromley and Hackney. 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 Brent 025 Brent
2 Bromley 022 Bromley
3 Brent 002 Brent
4 Brent 031 Brent
5 Hackney 025 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Iman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Iman 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 Iman

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Iman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Iman 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

Iman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Iman

The surname IMAN is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "iman" which means "faith" or "belief" in Arabic. This name is most commonly found among Muslim communities, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname IMAN can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic conquests and the spread of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa. Some historical records suggest that the name was initially given as a descriptive title to individuals who displayed exceptional devotion and piety to the Islamic faith.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname IMAN was Abu Iman al-Bukhari, a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith collector who lived from 810 to 870 CE. His seminal work, "Sahih al-Bukhari," is considered one of the most authentic collections of prophetic traditions in Islamic literature.

During the medieval period, the surname IMAN gained prominence among Muslim dynasties and ruling families. One notable example is Iman al-Din Mahmud Shah, who ruled the Bengal Sultanate in the late 15th century (1459-1474 CE). His name, which translates to "Faith of Religion," reflected the importance placed on Islamic values during his reign.

In the 16th century, the surname IMAN appeared in various historical records from the Ottoman Empire. One significant figure was Iman Mustafa Pasha, a grand vizier who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent from 1555 to 1561 CE.

As Islam spread to other regions, the surname IMAN also found its way into different cultures and societies. In South Asia, for instance, the IMAN surname can be traced back to the arrival of Muslim traders and scholars during the medieval period. One notable individual with this surname was Mir Iman, a prominent Sufi saint and poet who lived in the 16th century in present-day Pakistan.

Throughout history, the surname IMAN has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, rulers, poets, and religious figures. While the name itself holds deep spiritual significance within the Islamic tradition, it has also become a symbol of cultural identity and pride for many families and communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Iman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Iman 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. Surrey leads with 2 Imans recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.30x.

County Total Index
Surrey 2 21.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 2 Imans recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.05x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 2 119.05x

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Iman households.

Occupation Count
Nurse 1

FAQ

Iman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Iman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Iman surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Iman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Iman a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Iman surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "faith" or "belief".

What does the Iman map show?

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