NameCensus.

UK surname

Salim

An Arabic surname meaning "safe," "secure," or "peaceful," often referring to a virtuous or pious person.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Salim surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,061, ranked #3,137, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Salim is 2,063 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 206000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

2,061

2016, ranked #3,137

Peak year

2015

2,063 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Salim had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,061 in 2016, ranked #3,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Salim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Salim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Salim 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 9 #32,724
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 883 #6,051
1998 modern 895 #6,186
1999 modern 945 #5,977
2000 modern 988 #5,745
2001 modern 999 #5,582
2002 modern 1,159 #5,062
2003 modern 1,239 #4,678
2004 modern 1,314 #4,447
2005 modern 1,416 #4,154
2006 modern 1,520 #3,919
2007 modern 1,581 #3,806
2008 modern 1,658 #3,677
2009 modern 1,810 #3,489
2010 modern 1,923 #3,382
2011 modern 1,894 #3,393
2012 modern 1,918 #3,303
2013 modern 2,009 #3,226
2014 modern 2,051 #3,198
2015 modern 2,063 #3,150
2016 modern 2,061 #3,137

Geography

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Where Salims 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 Brent, Manchester, Redbridge, Liverpool and Waltham Forest. 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 Brent 027 Brent
2 Manchester 024 Manchester
3 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
4 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
5 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Salim

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

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

Salim 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

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

Meaning and origin of Salim

The surname SALIM originated in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab regions. Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century AD, shortly after the rise of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "salim," which means "safe" or "peaceful."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SALIM surname can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts dating back to the 9th century. These manuscripts often mentioned individuals with the name, indicating its widespread use during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 11th century, the SALIM surname appeared in various records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast territory stretching from North Africa to Central Asia. One notable figure was Salim al-Dawla, a prominent military commander and governor who lived from 1025 to 1087.

During the Crusades, the SALIM name was also documented in Christian records, as the Crusaders encountered individuals with this surname in the Holy Land and neighboring regions. For instance, a nobleman named Salim ibn Khalid was mentioned in a 12th-century chronicle written by the Frankish historian William of Tyre.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the SALIM surname spread across various regions, including Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In the 16th century, a renowned Persian poet named Salim Athar (1516-1600) gained recognition for his literary works.

In the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning from southeastern Europe to the Arabian Peninsula, the SALIM surname was also widely used. One notable figure was Sultan Salim I, who reigned from 1512 to 1520 and oversaw the conquest of Egypt and the Levant.

The SALIM surname has also been recorded in various parts of Africa, particularly in regions with significant Arab influence, such as North Africa and the Horn of Africa. In the 19th century, a prominent Somali scholar and poet named Salim al-Barani (1825-1891) made significant contributions to the literary traditions of the region.

Over time, the SALIM surname has spread globally, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Australia. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Middle Eastern and Islamic cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Salim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Salim surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 1 Salims recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.92x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 1 76.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 1 Salims recorded in 1881 and an index of 294.12x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 1 294.12x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Salim surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ann 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Salim households.

Occupation Count
Independent 1

FAQ

Salim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Salim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Salim surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Salim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,061 in 2016. That gives Salim a modern rank of #3,137.

What does the Salim surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "safe," "secure," or "peaceful," often referring to a virtuous or pious person.

What does the Salim map show?

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