NameCensus.

UK surname

Malam

A surname possibly derived from a Malay word meaning "evening" or "night".

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Malam surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 402, ranked #11,837, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Audlem, Wolstanton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Wirral and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malam is 467 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.9%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

402

2016, ranked #11,837

Peak year

2010

467 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malam had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016, ranked #11,837.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 434 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Malam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malam 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
1851 historical 222 #9,597
1861 historical 190 #12,520
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 338 #10,709
1911 historical 434 #8,740
1997 modern 381 #11,393
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 463 #10,230
2000 modern 462 #10,212
2001 modern 452 #10,192
2002 modern 446 #10,521
2003 modern 434 #10,588
2004 modern 446 #10,391
2005 modern 426 #10,649
2006 modern 436 #10,506
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 432 #10,792
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 467 #10,570
2011 modern 447 #10,847
2012 modern 413 #11,451
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 415 #11,688
2015 modern 406 #11,781
2016 modern 402 #11,837

Geography

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Where Malams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Audlem, Wolstanton, Manchester, Budworth, Great and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Wirral, Cheshire East, Haringey and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Audlem Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Budworth, Great Cheshire
5 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
2 Wirral 025 Wirral
3 Cheshire East 037 Cheshire East
4 Haringey 019 Haringey
5 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malam

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Malam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Malam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Malam is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malam is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malam falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Malam

The surname Malam has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "mu'allim," which means "teacher" or "instructor." The name first appeared in regions where Arabic was the predominant language, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malam can be found in historical documents from the 8th century, during the Abbasid Caliphate. At the time, the name was often associated with scholars, educators, and individuals involved in the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual pursuits.

As the Arabic language and culture spread through trade and conquest, the name Malam also made its way to other regions, including parts of Europe and Asia. In some areas, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Mallam or Malum, but the root meaning remained the same.

During the Middle Ages, the name Malam appeared in various manuscripts and records across the Islamic world. One notable example is the work of Abu al-Qasim Malam ibn Ahmad al-Gharnati, a 12th-century mathematician and astronomer from Granada, Spain.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Malam. One such person was Malam Aminu Kano (1909-1983), a renowned Nigerian teacher, Islamic scholar, and political activist who played a significant role in the independence movement of Nigeria.

Another prominent figure was Malam Jibril Martin (1888-1959), a British convert to Islam who became a prominent Islamic scholar and played a crucial role in establishing Muslim communities in the United Kingdom during the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Malam Jiya Paiko (1869-1942) was a renowned Hausa poet and storyteller from northern Nigeria, whose works have been preserved and studied as examples of traditional Hausa oral literature.

The name Malam also appeared in the records of the Ottoman Empire, with individuals like Malam Mustafa Celebi (1641-1702), a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and poet who contributed significantly to the art of calligraphy during the 17th century.

In more recent times, Malam Bacai Sanha (1947-2012) was a prominent Guinean politician who served as the President of Guinea-Bissau from 2009 until his death in 2012, further demonstrating the widespread use of the name across various regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malam 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. Cheshire leads with 129 Malams recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.78x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 129 22.78x
Lancashire 40 1.31x
Lincolnshire 31 7.56x
Yorkshire 20 0.79x
Kent 7 0.80x
Middlesex 7 0.27x
Staffordshire 7 0.81x
Durham 5 0.66x
Shropshire 5 2.26x
Warwickshire 4 0.62x
Derbyshire 2 0.50x
Glamorgan 2 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Merionethshire 1 2.13x
Northumberland 1 0.26x
Perthshire 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston In Nantwich in Cheshire leads with 18 Malams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3913.04x.

Place Total Index
Weston In Nantwich 18 3913.04x
Audlem 17 1278.20x
Marston 13 1511.63x
Salford 9 10.05x
Castle Northwich 8 427.81x
Monks Coppenhall 8 37.44x
Shavington Cum Gresty 8 851.06x
Birkenhead 7 15.51x
Gorton 7 24.47x
Welton Le Wold 7 2413.79x
Beverley St Mary 6 161.73x
Bewholme Nunkeeling 6 2500.00x
Chester St Oswald 6 58.54x
Harmondsworth 6 377.36x
Hartford 6 468.75x
Liverpool 6 3.25x
Pendleton In Salford 6 16.54x
Wincham 6 576.92x
Deptford St Paul 5 7.41x
Northwich 5 555.56x
Winnington 5 793.65x
Anderton 4 1333.33x
Beverley St Nicholas 4 192.31x
Chester St John Baptist 4 39.29x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 4 689.66x
Nantwich 4 60.79x
Normanby By Spital 4 1142.86x
Sutton 4 39.18x
Toxteth Park 4 3.88x
Whitchurch 4 93.02x
Birmingham 3 1.39x
Elvet 3 54.45x
Great Grimsby 3 11.53x
Market Rasen 3 131.00x
Poynton 3 157.89x
Barlaston 2 277.78x
Blackburn 2 2.47x
East Barkwith 2 666.67x
Fairfield 2 74.35x
Legsby 2 666.67x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 13.05x
North Meols 2 6.71x
Roughton 2 1538.46x
South Elkington 2 645.16x
St Nicholas Lincoln 2 51.02x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.18x
Swansea Town 2 5.46x
Binbrooke 1 98.04x
Bingley 1 6.18x
Bonwick 1 5000.00x
Chester Holy Trinity 1 37.74x
Congleton 1 10.22x
Holy Trinity 1 1.64x
Kingswinford 1 3.18x
Leamington Priors 1 6.28x
Leftwich 1 39.84x
Lewisham 1 2.14x
Llanfor 1 77.52x
Logie 1 24.21x
Maidstone 1 3.84x
Morpeth 1 22.27x
Oswestry Rural 1 29.41x
Saxby In Lincoln 1 1000.00x
Scarborough 1 4.33x
South Willingham 1 344.83x
Stranton 1 3.89x
Swindon 1 555.56x
Westminster St 1 10.57x
Westoe 1 2.31x
Willoughton 1 217.39x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Malam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Ann 8
Annie 8
Emma 5
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edna 2
Eliza 2
Elizebeth 2
Frances 2
Maria 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bethy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Daisy 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Roseanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Malam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 19
William 15
James 11
George 10
Thomas 10
Samuel 6
Edward 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Peter 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Alexr. 1
Arthur 1
Aurthur 1
Chester 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Freidrick 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Joel 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Paul 1
Robert 1
Rowland 1
Rupt. 1
Stanley 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Malam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Malam surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016. That gives Malam a modern rank of #11,837.

What does the Malam surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a Malay word meaning "evening" or "night".

What does the Malam map show?

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