NameCensus.

UK surname

Qayyum

An Arabic surname meaning self-existing, eternal, or everlasting.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Middlesbrough and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Qayyum is 938 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

932

2016, ranked #6,137

Peak year

2014

938 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 932 in 2016, ranked #6,137.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Qayyum surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Qayyum surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Qayyum 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 329 #12,734
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 404 #11,361
2000 modern 430 #10,804
2001 modern 428 #10,653
2002 modern 517 #9,418
2003 modern 562 #8,700
2004 modern 582 #8,530
2005 modern 639 #7,879
2006 modern 697 #7,378
2007 modern 754 #7,023
2008 modern 780 #6,893
2009 modern 819 #6,746
2010 modern 882 #6,500
2011 modern 877 #6,457
2012 modern 886 #6,322
2013 modern 928 #6,204
2014 modern 938 #6,190
2015 modern 917 #6,239
2016 modern 932 #6,137

Geography

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Where Qayyums 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 Luton, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Rochdale and Oldham. 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 Luton 015 Luton
2 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
3 Oxford 015 Oxford
4 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
5 Oldham 022 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Qayyum

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

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

Qayyum 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

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

Meaning and origin of Qayyum

The surname Qayyum is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots to the Middle Eastern region. It dates back to the early Islamic period, around the 7th century AD. The name is derived from the Arabic word "al-Qayyum," which means "the Self-Sustaining" or "the Eternal," and is one of the divine attributes of God in Islamic theology.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Qayyum can be found in ancient Islamic manuscripts and historical records from the Middle East. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Abu Bakr al-Qayyum, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century AD.

During the medieval period, the name Qayyum gained prominence in various regions of the Islamic world, including the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Central and South Asia. It was often associated with individuals who held esteemed positions in religious, scholarly, or administrative circles.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Qayyum al-Din ibn Abi al-Fath al-Nabulusi, a Syrian scholar and poet, made significant contributions to Arabic literature and Islamic philosophy. His works were widely circulated and studied in the Arab world.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname Qayyum was Mir Qayyum Ansari, a revered Sufi saint and spiritual leader who lived in India during the 16th century. His teachings and writings influenced the Sufi tradition in the Indian subcontinent, and his shrine in Fatehpur Sikri, India, remains a popular pilgrimage site for devotees.

In the 18th century, Qayyum Khan, a military commander and statesman, played a vital role in the Mughal Empire's administration during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. He was appointed as the governor of several provinces and gained recognition for his administrative skills and military prowess.

Qayyum Ali Khan, a renowned poet and writer from the Indian subcontinent, lived in the 19th century. His literary works, particularly his Urdu poetry, were widely acclaimed and contributed significantly to the development of Urdu literature during that period.

The surname Qayyum has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, spanning various regions and cultures influenced by Islamic civilization. Its Arabic roots and association with religious and scholarly spheres have made it a prominent and respected name in many parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Qayyum surname: questions and answers

How common is the Qayyum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 932 in 2016. That gives Qayyum a modern rank of #6,137.

What does the Qayyum surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning self-existing, eternal, or everlasting.

What does the Qayyum map show?

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