NameCensus.

UK surname

Rahaman

A Muslim surname derived from the Arabic name Rahman meaning "merciful".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, Tower Hamlets and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rahaman is 333 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

2016

333 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Rahaman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rahaman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rahaman 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 5 #32,456
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 163 #20,038
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 172 #19,696
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 201 #18,168
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 310 #14,378
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 324 #13,751
2013 modern 322 #14,037
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 327 #13,871
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

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Where Rahamans 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 Newham, Tower Hamlets and Kingston upon Thames. 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 Newham 014 Newham
2 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
3 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
4 Kingston upon Thames 006 Kingston upon Thames
5 Tower Hamlets 013 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rahaman

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Rahaman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rahaman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Rahaman is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rahaman 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

Rahaman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rahaman 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 Rahaman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rahaman

The surname RAHAMAN is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Bengal (now divided between Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal). The name is derived from the Arabic name "Rahman," which means "the Merciful One" and is one of the names of God in Islam.

The earliest recorded instances of the RAHAMAN surname can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Mughal Empire's rule over the Indian subcontinent. During this period, many Muslims from Central Asia and Persia migrated to the region, and it is likely that the name was introduced to Bengal at that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the RAHAMAN surname was Maulana Abdul Rahaman, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in Bengal during the late 16th century. His works, which included poetry and religious texts, were widely influential in the region.

In the 18th century, the RAHAMAN surname was also found among the Muslim communities of the Sylhet region, which is now part of Bangladesh. One notable figure from this period was Haji Rahaman Syed, a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the region's trade and economy.

As the British Empire expanded its influence in the Indian subcontinent, the RAHAMAN surname began to appear in colonial records. One such record is the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document that recorded the names and details of various officials and landowners in the Mughal Empire, including individuals with the RAHAMAN surname.

In the 19th century, the RAHAMAN surname gained prominence in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), which was a major center of trade and culture in Bengal. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Sir Abdur Rahaman, a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court from 1890 to 1895.

Another notable figure with the RAHAMAN surname was Munshi Abdur Rahaman, a renowned Bengali writer and educator who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his contributions to Bengali literature and his efforts to promote education in the region.

Throughout history, the RAHAMAN surname has been associated with various professions, including scholars, merchants, landowners, and professionals. While the name originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rahaman surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rahaman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Rahaman a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Rahaman surname mean?

A Muslim surname derived from the Arabic name Rahman meaning "merciful".

What does the Rahaman map show?

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