UK surname

Mali

An Albanian surname indicating geographical origin from the Malësia region.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Birmingham and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mali is 189 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

2016

189 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Map

Mali surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mali surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Mali 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	4	#33,628
1891	historical	2	#34,436
1901	historical	2	#34,263
1911	historical	3	#33,789
1997	modern	70	#30,618
1998	modern	84	#29,537
1999	modern	88	#29,287
2000	modern	89	#29,173
2001	modern	87	#29,161
2002	modern	98	#28,243
2003	modern	107	#26,617
2004	modern	115	#25,740
2005	modern	120	#25,066
2006	modern	132	#23,834
2007	modern	142	#23,025
2008	modern	144	#23,037
2009	modern	163	#21,715
2010	modern	187	#20,309
2011	modern	172	#21,248
2012	modern	165	#21,782
2013	modern	172	#21,575
2014	modern	181	#21,033
2015	modern	178	#21,149
2016	modern	189	#20,334

Geography

Where Malis 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 Bristol, Birmingham, Barnet, Warwick and Gwynedd. 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	Bristol 057	Bristol, City of
2	Birmingham 039	Birmingham
3	Barnet 028	Barnet
4	Warwick 015	Warwick
5	Gwynedd 005	Gwynedd

Forenames

First names often paired with Mali

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Rani Joanne Anju Dawn Michelle Marina Rupa Malika Evelyn Anita

Recent male names

Gwyn Amarjit Leon Mahendra Robert Abhijeet Inderjeet Attila Ashok Sajid

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Mali

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Mali surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mali household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mali is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mali 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mali 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mali 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Mali

The surname MALI is of Italian origin, derived from the medieval Latin word "malus," meaning "evil" or "bad." It is believed to have originated in the 13th century as a nickname or descriptive name given to someone with an unpleasant or ill-tempered personality.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname MALI can be traced back to the city of Florence, Italy, in the late 1200s. It appears in several documents and records from that period, often associated with families residing in the Tuscan region.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname MALI was Francesco Mali, a renowned painter from Siena, who lived from 1489 to 1549. His works, primarily religious fresco paintings, can still be admired in various churches throughout Italy.

In the 16th century, a branch of the MALI family settled in the town of Montepulciano, where they established a successful winemaking business. The MALI family vineyards and wine cellars became renowned for producing some of the finest wines in the region.

Another individual of note was Girolamo Mali, a 17th-century scholar and philosopher from Venice. Born in 1612, he authored several treatises on ethics and moral philosophy, which were widely read and discussed among the intellectual circles of his time. He died in 1684.

During the Renaissance period, the surname MALI was also associated with a prominent family of architects and sculptors from the city of Verona. Notably, Bartolomeo Mali (1542-1617) was a highly skilled sculptor who created numerous works for churches and public buildings in Verona and the surrounding areas.

Over the centuries, the surname MALI has spread throughout Italy and beyond, with descendants carrying the name found in various regions and countries. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name MALI has become a part of the diverse tapestry of surnames worldwide.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mali surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mali surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Mali a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Mali surname mean?