NameCensus.

UK surname

Ismail

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "God will hear" or "God has heard."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Ismail surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,982, ranked #1,357, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ismail is 4,982 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71071.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

4,982

2016, ranked #1,357

Peak year

2016

4,982 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ismail had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,982 in 2016, ranked #1,357.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ismail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ismail surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ismail 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 4 #33,628
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 2,317 #2,684
1998 modern 2,553 #2,557
1999 modern 2,643 #2,499
2000 modern 2,713 #2,446
2001 modern 2,685 #2,419
2002 modern 2,989 #2,249
2003 modern 3,193 #2,060
2004 modern 3,360 #1,971
2005 modern 3,524 #1,855
2006 modern 3,732 #1,757
2007 modern 3,943 #1,671
2008 modern 4,111 #1,609
2009 modern 4,326 #1,573
2010 modern 4,731 #1,475
2011 modern 4,655 #1,481
2012 modern 4,610 #1,455
2013 modern 4,778 #1,433
2014 modern 4,870 #1,413
2015 modern 4,886 #1,393
2016 modern 4,982 #1,357

Geography

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Where Ismails 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 Leicester and Kirklees. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
3 Leicester 017 Leicester
4 Leicester 022 Leicester
5 Leicester 027 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ismail

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ismail 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

Ismail 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ismail

The surname Ismail is of Arabic origin, derived from the personal name Ismail, which means "God hears" or "God listens." It is a name with deep roots in the Islamic world and can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

The name's earliest recorded instances can be found in historical manuscripts and records from the 7th century, during the spread of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed that the name was initially adopted by those who embraced the Islamic faith, as it carries significant religious and cultural significance.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ismail was Abu Bakr Ismail ibn Abi al-Mundhir (born around 800 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian from Baghdad. He was known for his contributions to the study of Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Ismail was Ismail I, the first Shah of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia (modern-day Iran). He ruled from 1501 to 1524 and is credited with establishing Shia Islam as the official religion of the Persian Empire.

In the 14th century, the name Ismail appeared in the historic Catalan Atlas, a world map created by the Majorcan cartographer Abraham Cresques. The map features a reference to the city of Ismail, located in present-day Ukraine, which may have been named after an individual with the surname.

During the Ottoman Empire, the name Ismail was widely used among the ruling elite and military leaders. One prominent example is Ismail Pasha al-Azm (1805-1857), a statesman and governor of Damascus who played a significant role in the modernization of the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure with the surname Ismail was Sir Ismail Mohammed Said Pasha (1863-1939), an Egyptian diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Egypt from 1932 to 1933. He was instrumental in negotiating the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, which granted Egypt greater independence from British rule.

While the surname Ismail originated in the Arabic-speaking world, it has since spread to various regions and cultures through migration, trade, and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing the surname Ismail can be found across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia, reflecting the name's rich history and diverse cultural influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ismail families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ismail 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. Royal Navy leads with 5 Ismails recorded in 1881 and an index of 359.71x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 5 359.71x
Essex 3 13.00x
Lanarkshire 3 7.94x
Middlesex 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 3 Ismails recorded in 1881 and an index of 697.67x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 3 697.67x
Govan Church 3 30000.00x
Poplar London 1 45.25x
Royal Navy 1 84.03x

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 Ismail households.

Occupation Count
2nd Sondal Mariner 1

FAQ

Ismail surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ismail surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Ismail surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ismail surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,982 in 2016. That gives Ismail a modern rank of #1,357.

What does the Ismail surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "God will hear" or "God has heard."

What does the Ismail map show?

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