NameCensus.

UK surname

Inam

A surname with Arabic origins meaning "grace" or "favor".

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Inam surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, East Craigs North and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inam is 127 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3966.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2014

127 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inam had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Inam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inam 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
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 27 #35,016
1998 modern 36 #34,246
1999 modern 36 #34,323
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 39 #33,923
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 53 #33,076
2004 modern 60 #32,684
2005 modern 66 #32,303
2006 modern 77 #31,510
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 127 #26,634
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Inams 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 Newham, East Craigs North, Haringey, Newcastle upon Tyne and Duddingston and Portobello South. 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 Newham 008 Newham
2 East Craigs North City of Edinburgh
3 Haringey 027 Haringey
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 029 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Duddingston and Portobello South City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inam

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

Inam 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

Inam falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Inam

The surname INAM has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Pakistan and India. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "inaam," which means "reward" or "gift." The name likely emerged in medieval times when it was given as a surname to individuals or families who received land or other rewards from rulers or noblemen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname INAM can be found in the historical records of the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries. During this period, the name INAM was commonly associated with individuals or families who held land grants or were rewarded for their services to the Mughal rulers.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the surname INAM was Mir Inam Ali Khan, a prominent noble and military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He played a significant role in the conquest of the Deccan region and was granted land and titles for his loyalty and bravery.

Another historical figure with the surname INAM was Inam Ali Khan Tonk, who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was the founder of the princely state of Tonk in present-day Rajasthan, India. His descendants continued to rule over Tonk until the end of the British Raj in 1947.

In the 19th century, the surname INAM was also found in regions of modern-day Pakistan. One notable individual was Inam Ullah Khan Khattak, a prominent Pashtun chieftain and political leader from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He played a significant role in the resistance against the British colonial rule in the region.

Another figure of historical significance bearing the surname INAM was Inam Ali Khan Shehbaz, a renowned poet and scholar from the city of Lucknow in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. He lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was known for his contributions to Urdu literature and poetry.

While the surname INAM has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly among the diaspora communities from Pakistan and India. However, the historical origins and significance of this surname can be traced back to the medieval and early modern periods of the region's rich cultural and political heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inam 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. Suffolk leads with 3 Inams recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.27x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 3 84.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stratford St Mary in Suffolk leads with 3 Inams recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
Stratford St Mary 3 30000.00x

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 Inam households.

FAQ

Inam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Inam surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Inam a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Inam surname mean?

A surname with Arabic origins meaning "grace" or "favor".

What does the Inam map show?

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