NameCensus.

UK surname

Rahim

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "merciful," derived from one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rahim is 1,691 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,689

2016, ranked #3,703

Peak year

2015

1,691 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,689 in 2016, ranked #3,703.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Rahim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rahim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rahim 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 7 #33,053
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 903 #5,947
1998 modern 992 #5,709
1999 modern 1,024 #5,607
2000 modern 1,036 #5,523
2001 modern 1,022 #5,487
2002 modern 1,125 #5,192
2003 modern 1,165 #4,928
2004 modern 1,246 #4,654
2005 modern 1,286 #4,476
2006 modern 1,325 #4,382
2007 modern 1,395 #4,242
2008 modern 1,452 #4,134
2009 modern 1,542 #4,015
2010 modern 1,648 #3,859
2011 modern 1,624 #3,865
2012 modern 1,614 #3,817
2013 modern 1,660 #3,784
2014 modern 1,681 #3,755
2015 modern 1,691 #3,704
2016 modern 1,689 #3,703

Geography

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Where Rahims 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 Birmingham, Tameside, Leicester and Merchiston and Greenhill. 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 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 070 Birmingham
3 Tameside 016 Tameside
4 Leicester 018 Leicester
5 Merchiston and Greenhill City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rahim

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

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

Rahim 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rahim

The surname RAHIM originated in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "rahim," which means "merciful" or "compassionate." The name likely emerged during the early centuries of Islamic civilization, as Arabic names and surnames became widespread across the region.

One of the earliest references to the name RAHIM can be found in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians. For instance, the 9th-century historian al-Tabari mentions individuals with the surname RAHIM in his chronicles of Islamic history.

The surname RAHIM has been particularly prevalent in regions such as modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of India and Pakistan, where Arabic linguistic and cultural influences have been strong. In these areas, the name has been associated with both religious and secular figures throughout history.

One notable individual who bore the surname RAHIM was the Persian poet and philosopher Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273), whose full name was Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi RAHIM. Rumi is widely regarded as one of the most influential poets in the Persian literary tradition and a major figure in Sufism.

Another prominent bearer of the RAHIM surname was the 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605), whose full name was Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar RAHIM. Akbar was known for his religious tolerance and administrative reforms, and his reign is considered a golden age in Indian history.

In the 19th century, Mirza Asadullah Khan RAHIM (1835-1891) was a prominent Indian Muslim scholar and author who wrote extensively on Islamic theology and jurisprudence. His works had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of the time.

The surname RAHIM has also been associated with various place names and geographic locations. For example, the town of Rahim Yar Khan in modern-day Pakistan is named after a local ruler who bore the surname RAHIM.

Throughout history, the RAHIM surname has been linked to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including religious scholars, poets, rulers, and intellectuals. While the name has its roots in the Arabic language, it has spread and taken on various cultural and regional variations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rahim surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rahim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,689 in 2016. That gives Rahim a modern rank of #3,703.

What does the Rahim surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "merciful," derived from one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam.

What does the Rahim map show?

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