NameCensus.

UK surname

Karam

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "generosity," "nobility," or "virtue."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Kensington and Chelsea and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Karam is 210 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

208

2016, ranked #19,062

Peak year

2015

210 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016, ranked #19,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Karam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Karam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Karam 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 6 #33,230
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 198 #19,841
2015 modern 210 #18,958
2016 modern 208 #19,062

Geography

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Where Karams 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 Eden, Kensington and Chelsea, Bury, Wolverhampton and Ealing. 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 Eden 001 Eden
2 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Bury 011 Bury
4 Wolverhampton 027 Wolverhampton
5 Ealing 017 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Karam

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

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Karam is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Karam 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

Karam falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Karam

The surname KARAM has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions. The name is believed to have emerged around the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam and the subsequent spread of Arab culture and language across the region.

KARAM is derived from the Arabic word "karam," which means "generosity," "nobility," or "honor." It was likely initially used as a descriptive name, referring to someone who exhibited these qualities or as a way to express the aspirations parents had for their child.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KARAM can be found in the historical chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a significant portion of the Middle East and North Africa from the 8th to the 13th century. The name appears in various administrative records and legal documents from that period.

During the Middle Ages, the KARAM surname was particularly prevalent in regions such as modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It was also found in parts of Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. Over time, as trade and migration patterns evolved, the name spread to other parts of the Middle East and beyond.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname KARAM include:

1. Amin al-Karam (1846-1913), a Syrian poet and literary critic who played a significant role in the Nahda, the Arab literary renaissance of the 19th century.

2. Rashid al-Karam (1887-1963), a Lebanese politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1943 to 1944.

3. Mustafa al-Karam (1901-1986), a Palestinian writer and scholar known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

4. Zuhair al-Karam (1923-2001), a Syrian diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria from 1970 to 1971.

5. Layla al-Karam (born 1952), a prominent Syrian actress and television personality, renowned for her roles in various Arabic television series and films.

The KARAM surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in the Levant region. For example, there are villages and towns with names like Karam al-Bayd and Karam al-Janoub in Lebanon, as well as Karam Alali and Karam Lozeh in Syria.

While the surname KARAM has its roots in the Arabic-speaking world, it has since spread to other parts of the globe due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical origins can be traced back to the Middle East, where it has been a prominent name for centuries, reflecting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Karam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Karam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016. That gives Karam a modern rank of #19,062.

What does the Karam surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "generosity," "nobility," or "virtue."

What does the Karam map show?

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