NameCensus.

UK surname

Issa

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "Jesus" or "God is salvation," derived from the Arabic name Isa.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Issa surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 907, ranked #6,265, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Issa is 907 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

907

2016, ranked #6,265

Peak year

2016

907 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Issa had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 907 in 2016, ranked #6,265.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Issa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Issa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Issa 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 348 #12,585
1999 modern 359 #12,397
2000 modern 369 #12,106
2001 modern 386 #11,509
2002 modern 444 #10,553
2003 modern 467 #9,964
2004 modern 500 #9,529
2005 modern 561 #8,667
2006 modern 623 #8,061
2007 modern 651 #7,857
2008 modern 683 #7,622
2009 modern 733 #7,372
2010 modern 776 #7,192
2011 modern 781 #7,086
2012 modern 877 #6,372
2013 modern 884 #6,435
2014 modern 899 #6,379
2015 modern 885 #6,396
2016 modern 907 #6,265

Geography

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Where Issas 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 Blackburn with Darwen and Leicester. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 006 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Leicester 022 Leicester
5 Leicester 027 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Issa

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

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Issa 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

Issa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Issa

The surname Issa originated in the Middle East, deriving from the Arabic name Isa, which means "Jesus" or "son of Jesus." It is believed to have emerged in the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam, when Arabic names became more prevalent in the region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Issa can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and historical texts from the 8th and 9th centuries. These documents often referred to individuals with this surname who held positions of religious or political significance in the early Islamic caliphates.

In the 10th century, the name Issa appeared in records of the Fatimid Caliphate, which ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East. One notable figure from this time was Abu Bakr Mohammad al-Issa, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in Cairo during the reign of the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021 AD).

As the Arabic influence spread across the Mediterranean region, the name Issa also found its way into parts of Europe. In the 12th century, a Sicilian nobleman named Issa di Palermo was mentioned in chronicles of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, which had strong ties to the Islamic world.

During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria (1250-1517 AD), the name Issa continued to be prominent. One notable figure was Taqi al-Din al-Issa, a 14th-century Syrian astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the development of astronomical instruments.

In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire's expansion into the Middle East and North Africa led to the further spread of the name Issa. A prominent figure from this era was Mustafa al-Issa, a 17th-century Ottoman scholar and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the French court of Louis XIV.

As the centuries passed, the name Issa continued to be prevalent in various parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean region, with many individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in fields such as literature, religion, politics, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Issa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Issa 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 1 Issas recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Droylsden in Lancashire leads with 1 Issas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Droylsden 1 2500.00x

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 Issa households.

Occupation Count
Correspondent 1

FAQ

Issa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Issa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Issa surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Issa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 907 in 2016. That gives Issa a modern rank of #6,265.

What does the Issa surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "Jesus" or "God is salvation," derived from the Arabic name Isa.

What does the Issa map show?

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