NameCensus.

UK surname

Memon

A surname referring to a Muslim trade group originating in the Indian subcontinent.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Memon surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 461, ranked #10,625, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Memon is 487 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22950.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

461

2016, ranked #10,625

Peak year

2013

487 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Memon had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016, ranked #10,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Memon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Memon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Memon 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 161 #20,176
1998 modern 170 #20,030
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 230 #16,730
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 302 #13,788
2006 modern 342 #12,652
2007 modern 359 #12,356
2008 modern 383 #11,876
2009 modern 395 #11,838
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 449 #10,807
2012 modern 474 #10,254
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 484 #10,338
2015 modern 474 #10,418
2016 modern 461 #10,625

Geography

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Where Memons 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 Leicester and Redbridge. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 027 Leicester
3 Leicester 017 Leicester
4 Leicester 022 Leicester
5 Redbridge 036 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Memon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Memon

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Memon 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

Memon 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

Memon 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 Memon 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 Memon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Memon

The surname MEMON originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Sindh, which is now a part of modern-day Pakistan. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when Arab traders and missionaries arrived in the region. The name MEMON is derived from the Arabic word "mu'min," which means "believer" or "one who has faith."

During the medieval period, the MEMON community established itself as a prosperous group of merchants and traders, with a strong presence in the coastal cities of Sindh and Gujarat. They played a significant role in the vibrant maritime trade routes that connected the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name MEMON can be found in the historical accounts of the Samma Dynasty, which ruled over parts of Sindh between the 14th and 16th centuries. Several MEMON merchants are mentioned as influential figures in the court chronicles of that era.

In the 16th century, a prominent MEMON named Nur Muhammad Memon served as the governor of Thatta, a major port city in Sindh, under the Mughal Empire. His legacy is celebrated in various historical manuscripts and inscriptions from that period.

Another notable figure was Haji Memon, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the 18th century, who funded the construction of several mosques, caravanserais, and educational institutions in the region. His legacy can be traced through the architectural marvels that still stand today.

In the 19th century, the MEMON community expanded its presence across the Indian subcontinent, with significant populations in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), and Karachi. Several MEMON families played a crucial role in the development of these urban centers, contributing to the economic and cultural fabric of the region.

One of the most prominent MEMON figures of the 20th century was Sir Adamjee Hajee Dawood Memon, a successful businessman and philanthropist from Bombay. He established the Adamjee Group, a diversified conglomerate, and was recognized for his philanthropy, receiving numerous honors, including knighthood from the British Empire.

Another notable MEMON individual was Hashoo Kemal, born in 1954, a Pakistani business magnate and hotelier who founded the Hashoo Group, one of the largest hospitality chains in Pakistan. His contributions to the tourism industry and entrepreneurship have been widely recognized.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Memon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Memon 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1 Memons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.03x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 16.03x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Memons recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.94x.

Place Total Index
Govan 1 64.94x
Willesden 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1

FAQ

Memon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Memon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Memon surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Memon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016. That gives Memon a modern rank of #10,625.

What does the Memon surname mean?

A surname referring to a Muslim trade group originating in the Indian subcontinent.

What does the Memon map show?

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