NameCensus.

UK surname

Salah

An Arabic surname meaning prayer, supplication or worship.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Salah is 622 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

622

2016, ranked #8,471

Peak year

2016

622 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 622 in 2016, ranked #8,471.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Salah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Salah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Salah 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 1 #34,435
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 248 #15,721
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 308 #13,791
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 417 #11,346
2010 modern 487 #10,251
2011 modern 494 #10,042
2012 modern 560 #9,050
2013 modern 574 #9,026
2014 modern 600 #8,807
2015 modern 609 #8,643
2016 modern 622 #8,471

Geography

Back to top

Where Salahs 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, Greenwich, Barking and Dagenham, Hammersmith and Fulham and Newham. 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 022 Leicester
2 Greenwich 034 Greenwich
3 Barking and Dagenham 016 Barking and Dagenham
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Newham 031 Newham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Salah

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Salah

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Salah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Salah 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Salah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Salah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Salah

The surname SALAH has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is believed to have emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Arabic word "salah," which translates to "prayer" or "supplication." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who were deeply religious or held positions within religious institutions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SALAH can be found in historical documents from the region of modern-day Lebanon and Syria, dating back to the 12th century. These records often mention individuals bearing the name SALAH in connection with various professions, such as scholars, merchants, and artisans.

During the 13th century, the name SALAH gained prominence in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in the region of Andalusia, which was under Moorish rule at the time. Several prominent figures with the surname SALAH emerged during this period, including Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Salah, a renowned scholar and jurist who lived in the 13th century and authored several influential works on Islamic jurisprudence.

The surname SALAH can also be traced back to the city of Salah, located in present-day Morocco. It is possible that individuals from this city or region adopted the name SALAH as a way to identify their place of origin.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname SALAH. One such figure was Nur al-Din Salah, a Kurdish military leader and Sultan of Syria who lived from 1137 to 1174. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Muslim territories against the Crusaders and is remembered for his military campaigns and leadership.

Another prominent individual with the surname SALAH was Muhammad ibn Salah al-Bahnasi, an Egyptian scholar and historian who lived in the 13th century. He is best known for his work "Al-Isharah ila man Nala al-Wizarah," which provides valuable insights into the administrative and political structures of the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt.

In the realm of literature, Ahmad ibn Salah al-Misri, an Egyptian poet and scholar from the 15th century, left a lasting impact with his poetic works and contributions to Arabic literature.

It is worth noting that the surname SALAH has also been found in other regions, such as the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, suggesting that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or traveled to these areas over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Salah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Salah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 622 in 2016. That gives Salah a modern rank of #8,471.

What does the Salah surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning prayer, supplication or worship.

What does the Salah map show?

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