NameCensus.

UK surname

Ismaili

A person belonging to the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ismaili is 152 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2016

152 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Ismaili surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ismaili surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ismaili 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
1997 modern 17 #36,181
1998 modern 21 #35,788
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 23 #35,588
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 36 #34,522
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

Back to top

Where Ismailis 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 Harrow, Westminster, Bromley, Enfield and Islington. 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 Harrow 011 Harrow
2 Westminster 009 Westminster
3 Bromley 039 Bromley
4 Enfield 015 Enfield
5 Islington 012 Islington

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ismaili

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ismaili

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Ismaili surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ismaili 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ismaili 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

Ismaili 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

Ismaili 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 Ismaili 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
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ismaili, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ismaili

The surname Ismaili has its origins traced back to the Middle East, specifically in regions like Iran and Afghanistan, where it was commonly found among members of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam. The name is believed to have derived from the word "Ismail," which refers to the son of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Islamic tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ismaili can be found in historical texts and manuscripts dating back to the 8th century, when the Ismaili community emerged as a distinct sect within Shia Islam. These early records often mention prominent figures and leaders within the Ismaili faith, such as the Fatimid caliphs who ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East from the 10th to the 12th centuries.

During the medieval period, the Ismaili name was particularly prevalent in regions like Persia (modern-day Iran) and Central Asia, where the Ismaili community had a significant presence. Several notable individuals bearing the Ismaili surname rose to prominence during this time, including the Persian poet and philosopher Nasir Khusraw (1004-1088), who was a prominent figure in the Ismaili intellectual tradition.

In the 16th century, the Ismaili community faced persecution and displacement, leading many to seek refuge in various parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent. This diaspora contributed to the spread of the Ismaili name across regions like South Asia, where it became associated with the Khoja and Bohra communities, which are primarily of Ismaili heritage.

One of the most famous historical figures with the Ismaili surname was Aga Khan I (1800-1881), the first Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community in modern times. He played a crucial role in reviving and reorganizing the Ismaili faith, and his descendants continued to lead the community as hereditary Imams.

Another notable individual was Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III (1877-1957), who was a prominent leader and diplomat, serving as the President of the League of Nations from 1937 to 1938. He was instrumental in securing recognition and rights for the Ismaili community in various parts of the world.

The Ismaili name has also been associated with several other influential figures throughout history, including the Indian writer and philosopher Idries Shah (1924-1996), who authored numerous works on Sufism and the Ismaili tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ismaili surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ismaili surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Ismaili a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Ismaili surname mean?

A person belonging to the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam.

What does the Ismaili map show?

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