NameCensus.

UK surname

Salma

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "peace" or "safety".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Salma surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Salma is 150 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14800.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2014

150 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Salma had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Salma surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Salma surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Salma 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 14 #32,072
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 65 #31,141
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 77 #30,486
2001 modern 77 #30,277
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Salmas 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 Rochdale, Oldham, Birmingham, Bradford and Walsall. 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 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
2 Oldham 022 Oldham
3 Birmingham 051 Birmingham
4 Bradford 051 Bradford
5 Walsall 034 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Salma

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

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

Salma 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

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

Meaning and origin of Salma

The surname Salma has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and North Africa. It is derived from the word "salam," which means peace or tranquility. This surname first emerged in regions where Arabic was the predominant language, such as the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and parts of the Levant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Salma can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and historical texts from the 7th to 10th centuries. These documents often mentioned individuals with the name, indicating its widespread use during the Islamic Golden Age.

In later centuries, the surname Salma spread beyond the Arab world as a result of migration, trade, and cultural exchange. It can be found in various historical records from different parts of the world, such as the Ottoman Empire, Spain, and even parts of South Asia.

One notable bearer of the surname Salma was Abu al-Qasim al-Salma (born around 1035 CE), a renowned poet and literary figure from Andalusia, modern-day Spain. His works were highly influential during the period of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

Another historically significant individual with the surname Salma was Yahya al-Salma (1173-1242 CE), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Damascus. He was known for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to the field of Sharia law.

In the 15th century, there was a notable family with the surname Salma in the city of Granada, which was the last stronghold of the Nasrid dynasty in Spain before the Christian Reconquista. The Salma family played an important role in the cultural and intellectual life of the city during that period.

Moving forward in time, Ahmed Salma (1662-1728 CE) was a renowned calligrapher and artist from Ottoman Istanbul. His works were highly sought after, and he was renowned for his mastery of the Arabic calligraphic scripts.

In the 19th century, there was a prominent Egyptian scholar and historian named Rifa'a al-Tahtawi al-Salma (1801-1873 CE). He played a significant role in the intellectual and cultural revival of Egypt during the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha, and his writings were instrumental in introducing modern ideas and concepts to the Arab world.

While the surname Salma has its origins in the Middle East and North Africa, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. The individuals mentioned above are just a few examples of the historical figures who have borne this surname and made their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Salma families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Salma 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Salmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 1 Salmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 1 128.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 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 Salma households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Salma surname: questions and answers

How common was the Salma surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Salma surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Salma a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Salma surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "peace" or "safety".

What does the Salma map show?

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