NameCensus.

UK surname

Saleem

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "safe," "secure," or "peaceful."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Bradford and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saleem is 4,418 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

4,383

2016, ranked #1,559

Peak year

2014

4,418 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,383 in 2016, ranked #1,559.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Saleem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saleem surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saleem 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 2 #34,135
1997 modern 1,903 #3,172
1998 modern 2,012 #3,143
1999 modern 2,164 #2,984
2000 modern 2,270 #2,843
2001 modern 2,253 #2,801
2002 modern 2,626 #2,510
2003 modern 2,709 #2,407
2004 modern 2,933 #2,239
2005 modern 3,108 #2,075
2006 modern 3,282 #2,000
2007 modern 3,503 #1,881
2008 modern 3,742 #1,772
2009 modern 3,967 #1,713
2010 modern 4,247 #1,628
2011 modern 4,207 #1,621
2012 modern 4,161 #1,614
2013 modern 4,291 #1,600
2014 modern 4,418 #1,567
2015 modern 4,355 #1,571
2016 modern 4,383 #1,559

Geography

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Where Saleems 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 Manchester, Bradford, 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 Manchester 027 Manchester
2 Bradford 044 Bradford
3 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
4 Oldham 035 Oldham
5 Bradford 042 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saleem

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saleem

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

Saleem 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

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

Meaning and origin of Saleem

The surname Saleem has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. The name is derived from the Arabic word "salim," which means "peaceful" or "safe."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Saleem can be found in historical manuscripts from the 7th century AD, during the Islamic Golden Age. These manuscripts often referred to individuals with the name Saleem as scholars, poets, or prominent figures within the Islamic community.

In the 9th century, there are records of a renowned scholar named Saleem ibn Qutaybah, who was born in Baghdad and is known for his contributions to the fields of linguistics and literature. Another notable figure from this time period is Saleem al-Basri, a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar born in Basra, Iraq, in the early 9th century.

As the Arabic empire expanded, the name Saleem spread to various regions, including parts of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. During the Moorish rule in Spain, there were several prominent individuals with the surname Saleem, such as the 12th-century poet and philosopher Saleem ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes.

In the 13th century, the name Saleem appeared in records from the Ottoman Empire, with one of the earliest known references being to a Turkish statesman and military leader named Saleem Pasha, who served under Sultan Murad II in the 15th century.

Over the centuries, the surname Saleem has been associated with various place names and has undergone slight variations in spelling, such as Salim, Selim, or Salam. Some notable figures with the surname Saleem include Muhammad Saleem, a 16th-century Mughal emperor known for his architectural contributions, and Anwar Saleem, a prominent Pakistani businessman and philanthropist born in 1935.

Other historical figures with the surname Saleem include Syed Saleem Shervani, an Indian Muslim scholar and politician from the early 20th century, and Saleem Sinai, a fictional character from Salman Rushdie's novel "Midnight's Children," who serves as a symbolic representation of post-colonial India.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Saleem surname: questions and answers

How common is the Saleem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,383 in 2016. That gives Saleem a modern rank of #1,559.

What does the Saleem surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "safe," "secure," or "peaceful."

What does the Saleem map show?

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