UK surname

Salek

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "walker" or "wanderer."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Banff, Nairn West and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Salek is 117 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2016

117 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Salek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Salek surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Salek 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	26	#35,135
1998	modern	30	#34,833
1999	modern	33	#34,610
2000	modern	35	#34,420
2001	modern	36	#34,171
2002	modern	39	#34,219
2003	modern	42	#34,040
2004	modern	48	#33,742
2005	modern	52	#33,619
2006	modern	61	#33,142
2007	modern	67	#32,871
2008	modern	73	#32,555
2009	modern	83	#31,950
2010	modern	86	#32,081
2011	modern	92	#31,301
2012	modern	93	#31,409
2013	modern	94	#31,656
2014	modern	106	#30,030
2015	modern	111	#28,986
2016	modern	117	#28,033

Geography

Where Saleks 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 Banff, Nairn West, Leeds, Macduff and Greenwich. 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	Banff	Aberdeenshire
2	Nairn West	Highland
3	Leeds 094	Leeds
4	Macduff	Aberdeenshire
5	Greenwich 014	Greenwich

Forenames

First names often paired with Salek

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Anna Joanne Sian Katarzyna Elizabeth Agnieszka Nicola Kinga Angelika Maryam

Recent male names

Abdul Spencer Tomasz Krzysztof Christopher Zbigniew Michal Jaroslaw Slawomir Jacek

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Salek

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Salek is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Salek 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Salek falls in decile 3 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Salek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Salek

The surname "SALEK" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of modern-day Iran and Iraq. It is thought to have roots in the Persian language, where "Salek" means "traveler" or "wanderer."

One of the earliest records of this surname can be traced back to the 11th century, when a Persian scholar and poet named Salek al-Din Asadi was born in the city of Shiraz, Iran. He is known for his works on Sufism and Islamic mysticism.

In the 13th century, there are references to a Sufi mystic named Salek al-Din al-Qunawi, who was born in the city of Konya, in present-day Turkey. He was a prominent figure in the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi brotherhood founded by the famous poet Rumi.

During the 14th century, the name "Salek" appeared in various manuscripts and historical records from the Ottoman Empire. One notable figure was Salek bin Mustafa, a Turkish scholar and writer who lived in the city of Bursa.

In the 16th century, a Persian poet named Salek Isfahani gained recognition for his works on Sufism and mystical poetry. He was born in the city of Isfahan, Iran, and his poems were widely read and appreciated during his time.

Another historical figure with the surname "Salek" was Abdullah Salek, a 17th century Ottoman calligrapher and artist from Istanbul. His calligraphic works were highly regarded and can still be found in various museums and collections around the world.

Over time, the surname "Salek" spread to other regions, including parts of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where it may have undergone slight variations in spelling or pronunciation.

It is important to note that while the surname "Salek" has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Persian and Ottoman traditions, it is not a widely common surname in modern times. However, its roots in literature, art, and spirituality have left a lasting impact on the cultural heritage of the regions where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Salek surname: questions and answers

How common is the Salek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Salek a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Salek surname mean?