NameCensus.

UK surname

Mallam

A surname indicating an Islamic teacher or religious leader.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Mallam surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 293, ranked #14,981, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Waltham Forest and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mallam is 297 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

293

2016, ranked #14,981

Peak year

1911

297 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mallam had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016, ranked #14,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mallam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mallam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mallam 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 262 #14,814
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 286 #14,412
2000 modern 278 #14,659
2001 modern 275 #14,540
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 275 #14,652
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 267 #15,042
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 284 #15,090
2013 modern 294 #14,961
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 293 #14,981

Geography

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Where Mallams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes, Bishop Wearmouth and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Waltham Forest, Stockton-on-Tees, North Lincolnshire and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 023 Sunderland
2 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest
3 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
4 North Lincolnshire 013 North Lincolnshire
5 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mallam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mallam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mallam, 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 Mallam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mallam 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mallam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mallam is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mallam 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 Mallam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mallam

The surname Mallam is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest records dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from an Old English word 'mal', meaning 'cross' or 'monument', and the word 'ham', meaning 'homestead' or 'village'. Thus, the name Mallam likely referred to someone who lived near a cross or monument in a particular village or hamlet.

One of the earliest known references to the name Mallam can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Malham and Malmam, indicating its presence in different regions of the country during that time.

In the 13th century, the name Mallam can be traced to the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales, where it was likely adopted as a locational surname by families residing in the area. The name Malham itself is derived from the Old English words 'mal' and 'ham', further cementing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

One notable bearer of the surname Mallam was Sir John Mallam (1342-1418), a prominent English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and later became a member of the Order of the Garter, one of the highest honors bestowed upon English knights.

Another historically significant figure with the surname Mallam was William Mallam (1592-1653), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1632 until his death. He was known for his strong support of the Church of England and his opposition to the Puritan movement during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name Mallam appears in connection with several notable figures, including Thomas Mallam (1720-1798), a British surveyor and cartographer who was instrumental in mapping the American colonies. His detailed maps of Virginia and North Carolina were widely used during the American Revolutionary War.

Another individual of note was Jane Mallam (1768-1844), a British artist and illustrator who is remembered for her exquisite botanical drawings and watercolor paintings. Her work was highly acclaimed during her lifetime and is now part of various museum collections around the world.

The surname Mallam continues to be found throughout England and other parts of the English-speaking world, with several variations in spelling, such as Malam, Malham, and Mellen, reflecting its historical evolution and geographic dispersal over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mallam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mallam 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. Durham leads with 52 Mallams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.

County Total Index
Durham 52 7.37x
Middlesex 43 1.81x
Oxfordshire 34 23.23x
Yorkshire 23 0.98x
Surrey 15 1.30x
Staffordshire 13 1.62x
Berkshire 10 5.62x
Kent 10 1.24x
Lancashire 9 0.32x
Sussex 6 1.50x
Wiltshire 6 2.86x
Worcestershire 5 1.62x
Anglesey 3 7.14x
Northumberland 3 0.85x
Glamorgan 2 0.48x
Lincolnshire 2 0.53x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.70x
Devon 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.38x
Rutland 1 5.75x
Shropshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oxford St Giles in Oxfordshire leads with 17 Mallams recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.55x.

Place Total Index
Oxford St Giles 17 243.55x
Thornaby 14 159.45x
Ealing 12 56.66x
Chelsea London 10 14.00x
Clapham 10 33.75x
Hetton Le Hole 9 100.67x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 50.84x
Silksworth 7 2121.21x
Westoe 7 17.51x
Iffley 6 487.80x
Kensington London 6 4.55x
Midhurst 6 458.02x
Oxford St Mary Virgin 6 2307.69x
Poole Keynes 6 5454.55x
Rushall 6 127.39x
Walsall Foreign 6 14.52x
Gorton 5 18.91x
Hammersmith London 5 8.56x
Lewisham 5 11.59x
Middlesbrough 5 16.35x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 5 746.27x
Redditch 5 79.62x
Kidlington 4 353.98x
Monk Hesleden 4 203.05x
Reading St Giles 4 22.91x
Ryhope 4 81.63x
Whitburn 4 243.90x
Doncaster 3 17.48x
Milton 3 909.09x
Paddington London 3 3.44x
Ramsgate 3 22.73x
Binbrooke 2 212.77x
Burdon 2 2500.00x
Gateshead 2 3.79x
Hayes 2 82.64x
Holyhead 2 25.54x
Leamington Priors 2 13.60x
Newington 2 2.28x
Oldham 2 2.20x
Reading St Mary 2 14.04x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 79.37x
St Pancras London 2 1.05x
Swansea Town 2 5.91x
Battersea 1 1.15x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.65x
Cound 1 256.41x
Didcot 1 333.33x
Elswick 1 3.55x
Falsgrave 1 28.90x
Farnham 1 11.14x
Great Barr 1 108.70x
Hackney London 1 0.75x
Hampstead London 1 2.71x
Ilfracombe 1 19.69x
Kearsley 1 16.89x
Lambeth 1 0.48x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.56x
Liverpool 1 0.59x
Llangefni 1 78.74x
Long Crendon 1 104.17x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.67x
Oxford St Clement 1 27.10x
Stannington 1 119.05x
Uppingham 1 48.31x
Wallsend 1 8.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 9
Jane 6
Ann 5
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Amy 1
Angler 1
Anne 1
Beatrex 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothea 1
Dorothy 1
E.A. 1
Ellizabeth 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
H.J. 1
Harriette 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Minni 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Roseann 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 13
Thomas 11
Richard 9
George 8
James 7
Henry 6
Robert 6
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Thos. 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Felix 2
Hy. 2
Alfd. 1
Chirstopher 1
Dalton 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Lawrence 1
Maciah 1
Miles 1
Paul 1
Rev 1
Ross 1
Sept. 1
Terence 1
Trotter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mallam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mallam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Mallam surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mallam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016. That gives Mallam a modern rank of #14,981.

What does the Mallam surname mean?

A surname indicating an Islamic teacher or religious leader.

What does the Mallam map show?

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