NameCensus.

UK surname

Tijani

A surname indicating descent from a person named Tijan, derived from the Arabic name Taha.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Lewisham and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tijani is 273 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

269

2016, ranked #15,956

Peak year

2010

273 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016, ranked #15,956.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tijani surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tijani surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tijani 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 53 #32,329
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 76 #30,546
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 73 #30,699
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 244 #16,922
2012 modern 248 #16,618
2013 modern 255 #16,551
2014 modern 257 #16,598
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 269 #15,956

Geography

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Where Tijanis 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 Southwark, Lewisham, Hackney 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 Southwark 019 Southwark
2 Southwark 018 Southwark
3 Lewisham 039 Lewisham
4 Hackney 019 Hackney
5 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tijani

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tijani

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Tijani surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Tijani household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tijani is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tijani 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

Tijani falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tijani is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Tijani, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tijani

The surname Tijani is of Arabic origin and traces its roots to the Middle East, specifically the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed to have emerged during the early centuries of Islam, around the 7th or 8th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic word "tijan," which means "crowns" or "diadems."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tijani can be found in historical Islamic texts, where it was associated with a prominent Sufi order founded by Ahmad al-Tijani, a renowned Islamic scholar and mystic born in Algeria in 1737. This order, known as the Tijaniyyah, played a significant role in spreading Islamic teachings and practices across North Africa and parts of West Africa.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Abu Bakr Tijani, a prominent scholar and poet from Seville, Spain, gained recognition for his contributions to Arabic literature. His works have been preserved in various manuscripts and have influenced subsequent generations of writers and scholars.

The name Tijani also appears in historical records from the Ottoman Empire, where it was associated with individuals from various regions, including present-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. One notable bearer of the name was Tijani Bey, a 16th-century Ottoman statesman and military commander who played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire's territories.

In West Africa, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali, the name Tijani has been prevalent since the 19th century, when the Tijaniyyah Sufi order gained a significant following in the region. Several influential figures have carried this surname, including Usman dan Fodio, a renowned Islamic scholar and leader of the Sokoto Caliphate in present-day Nigeria, born in 1754.

Another important figure with the surname Tijani is Al-Hajj Umar Tal, a Tijani Muslim preacher and revolutionary leader from present-day Senegal, who lived from 1794 to 1864 and played a significant role in the spread of Islam and the establishment of several Islamic states in West Africa.

It is worth noting that the name Tijani has also been associated with various place names, such as the city of Tijani in Algeria and the Tijani Mosque in Zaria, Nigeria, further reflecting its historical significance and cultural impact.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tijani surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tijani surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016. That gives Tijani a modern rank of #15,956.

What does the Tijani surname mean?

A surname indicating descent from a person named Tijan, derived from the Arabic name Taha.

What does the Tijani map show?

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