NameCensus.

UK surname

Suleman

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "follower of Solomon" or "peace".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Suleman is 2,327 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,295

2016, ranked #2,827

Peak year

2014

2,327 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,295 in 2016, ranked #2,827.
  • 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.

Suleman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Suleman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Suleman 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 1,310 #4,375
1998 modern 1,442 #4,186
1999 modern 1,537 #3,996
2000 modern 1,588 #3,883
2001 modern 1,568 #3,852
2002 modern 1,718 #3,624
2003 modern 1,784 #3,418
2004 modern 1,863 #3,289
2005 modern 1,908 #3,209
2006 modern 2,006 #3,090
2007 modern 2,083 #3,004
2008 modern 2,136 #2,963
2009 modern 2,237 #2,908
2010 modern 2,297 #2,901
2011 modern 2,324 #2,833
2012 modern 2,275 #2,834
2013 modern 2,306 #2,845
2014 modern 2,327 #2,840
2015 modern 2,300 #2,838
2016 modern 2,295 #2,827

Geography

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Where Sulemans 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 and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 022 Leicester
3 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Leicester 017 Leicester
5 Blackburn with Darwen 005 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Suleman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Suleman

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

Suleman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Suleman

The surname Suleman originates from the Arabic name Suleiman, which means "man of peace" or "peaceful". The name has its roots in the Middle East, specifically in the regions now known as Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It is believed to have been in use as early as the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islamic culture and civilization.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Suleman can be found in the Arabic manuscript "Kitab al-Buldan" (Book of Countries), written by Ibn al-Faqih in the 10th century AD. This work mentions several individuals bearing the name, suggesting its widespread use in the region during that time period.

The name Suleman is also closely associated with the biblical figure King Solomon, known for his wisdom and wealth. In the Islamic tradition, he is revered as a prophet and is referred to as Sulayman. This association has likely contributed to the popularity of the name among Muslim communities throughout history.

During the Middle Ages, the name Suleman was prominent among the ruling dynasties of the Middle East, such as the Seljuk Empire and the Ayyubid Dynasty. One notable figure was Saladin (Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub), the famous Kurdish Muslim sultan who led the Muslim forces against the Crusaders in the 12th century (1137-1193).

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Suleman gained widespread recognition during the Mughal Empire, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th century. Several princes and noblemen bore this name, including Prince Mirza Muhammad Suleman Shikoh (1639-1662), the son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Other notable individuals with the surname Suleman include Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566), the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and Suleiman Pasha (1838-1892), an Ottoman statesman and field marshal who played a significant role in the Tanzimat reforms.

It is worth noting that the name Suleman has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Suleiman, Soliman, and Soleiman, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences it has encountered throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Suleman surname: questions and answers

How common is the Suleman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,295 in 2016. That gives Suleman a modern rank of #2,827.

What does the Suleman surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "follower of Solomon" or "peace".

What does the Suleman map show?

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