NameCensus.

UK surname

Islam

A surname indicating the person's religious affiliation with the Islamic faith.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Islam surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,800, ranked #554, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Islam is 11,800 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78566.7%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

11,800

2016, ranked #554

Peak year

2016

11,800 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Islam had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,800 in 2016, ranked #554.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 38 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Islam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Islam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Islam 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 3,960 #1,638
1998 modern 4,425 #1,528
1999 modern 4,845 #1,410
2000 modern 5,212 #1,306
2001 modern 5,146 #1,288
2002 modern 6,058 #1,123
2003 modern 6,590 #1,005
2004 modern 7,257 #906
2005 modern 7,824 #816
2006 modern 8,497 #747
2007 modern 9,086 #702
2008 modern 9,655 #660
2009 modern 10,629 #612
2010 modern 11,265 #587
2011 modern 10,989 #594
2012 modern 10,876 #588
2013 modern 11,318 #570
2014 modern 11,673 #561
2015 modern 11,640 #560
2016 modern 11,800 #554

Geography

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Where Islams 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 Oldham and Tower Hamlets. 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 Oldham 016 Oldham
2 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
3 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
4 Tower Hamlets 014 Tower Hamlets
5 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Islam

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Islam is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Islam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Islam

The surname Islam has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is believed to have been derived from the word "al-Islam," which means "submission to God" or "peace." The name is closely associated with the religion of Islam, which was founded in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula.

The earliest known use of the surname Islam can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was commonly used by Arab and Persian Muslims. During this time, the Islamic world was experiencing a golden age of intellectual and cultural achievements, and many prominent scholars, poets, and philosophers bore the surname Islam.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Islam was Abu Nasr al-Islam, a renowned Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 10th century. He was known for his contributions to the fields of literature, philosophy, and theology.

Another notable figure was Ibn al-Islam, a 12th-century Arab philosopher and theologian from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). He is best known for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and his commentary on the Qur'an.

In the 13th century, the name Islam appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including the writings of the famous Persian poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi. One of Rumi's disciples, Shams al-Islam, was also known by this surname.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over vast territories in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe from the 14th to the 20th century, the surname Islam was widely used among Muslim communities. One prominent figure from this period was Piri Reis, a famous Ottoman admiral, cartographer, and geographer who lived in the 16th century.

In the Indian subcontinent, the surname Islam gained popularity among Muslim communities during the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the region from the 16th to the 19th century. One notable individual with this surname was Wazir Khan, a powerful Mughal governor and military commander who lived in the 17th century and is known for commissioning the construction of the iconic Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.

Over the centuries, the surname Islam has spread to various parts of the world, carried by Muslim communities and individuals. It has become a common surname among Muslims in regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa, reflecting the global reach of the Islamic faith and cultural influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Islam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Islam 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. Lancashire leads with 7 Islams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 4.04x
Kent 5 10.03x
Yorkshire 3 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorlton On Medlock in Lancashire leads with 5 Islams recorded in 1881 and an index of 181.82x.

Place Total Index
Chorlton On Medlock 5 181.82x
Deptford St Paul 5 130.21x
Manningham 3 168.54x
Westleigh 2 512.82x

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 Islam households.

FAQ

Islam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Islam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Islam surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Islam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,800 in 2016. That gives Islam a modern rank of #554.

What does the Islam surname mean?

A surname indicating the person's religious affiliation with the Islamic faith.

What does the Islam map show?

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