NameCensus.

UK surname

Kareem

A common Arabic surname meaning "generous" or "noble".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Lewisham and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kareem is 420 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

2016

420 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kareem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kareem surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kareem 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 96 #27,490
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 113 #25,843
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 259 #15,688
2009 modern 321 #13,770
2010 modern 344 #13,393
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 381 #12,360
2014 modern 390 #12,239
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Kareems 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 Southwark, Lewisham, Salford and Greenwich. 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 Southwark 019 Southwark
2 Southwark 016 Southwark
3 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
4 Salford 028 Salford
5 Greenwich 002 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kareem

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Kareem surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kareem 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Kareem 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

Kareem 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

Kareem falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kareem 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Kareem

The surname Kareem has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "Kareem" which means noble, generous, or honorable. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other parts of the Arab world.

In the early days of Islamic civilization, the name Kareem was often used as a title or honorific for individuals who were held in high regard for their character, deeds, or social standing. Over time, it became a common surname among Arab families, particularly those with roots in the Arabian Peninsula.

The earliest known historical references to the surname Kareem can be found in various Arabic manuscripts and records dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These documents often mentioned individuals with the name Kareem in various contexts, such as trade, scholarship, or military affairs.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Kareem is that of Ibn Kareem al-Qurashi, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable figure with the surname Kareem is Jalal al-Din Kareem, a 13th-century Sufi mystic and philosopher from Persia (modern-day Iran). His teachings and writings had a profound impact on the development of Sufism and Islamic mysticism.

In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan explorer and traveler, mentioned encountering individuals with the surname Kareem during his travels across the Middle East and North Africa. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions by that time.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule in the Middle East and parts of Europe, the surname Kareem was also found among Ottoman families and officials. One notable figure was Kareem Pasha, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and military leader who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) under Sultan Murad IV.

In more recent history, there have been several prominent individuals with the surname Kareem. One of the most famous is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary American basketball player who was born in 1947. He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA and was known for his dominant play and distinctive skyhook shot.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kareem include Amin Kareem, an Iraqi politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 1965 to 1967, and Ahmed Kareem, an Egyptian writer and journalist who was active in the early 20th century and known for his literary works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kareem surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kareem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Kareem a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Kareem surname mean?

A common Arabic surname meaning "generous" or "noble".

What does the Kareem map show?

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