NameCensus.

UK surname

Unal

An occupational surname of Turkish origin referring to a miller or flour grinder.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Unal is 164 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2014

164 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Unal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Unal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Unal 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
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 67 #30,915
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 67 #31,409
2000 modern 73 #30,881
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Unals 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 Enfield, Windsor and Maidenhead and Redbridge. 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 Enfield 035 Enfield
2 Windsor and Maidenhead 006 Windsor and Maidenhead
3 Enfield 015 Enfield
4 Enfield 033 Enfield
5 Redbridge 013 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Unal

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Unal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Unal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Unal is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Unal 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

Unal 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 Unal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Unal

The surname UNAL has its origins in Turkey, tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the Turkish word "un" meaning flour, suggesting a possible connection to a miller or someone involved in the flour trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname UNAL can be found in Ottoman Empire records from the late 15th century, particularly in the regions of Anatolia and the Balkans. Some variation in spelling, such as UNAL, ÜNAL, and ÜNALI, can be found in these historical documents.

In the 16th century, the surname UNAL appeared in various Ottoman administrative records and tax registers, indicating its presence among the population at the time. One notable mention is in the Defter-i Mufassal, a detailed tax register compiled during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566).

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname UNAL continued to be documented in various Ottoman records, including court proceedings, property deeds, and trade documents. This suggests that the name was well-established among both urban and rural populations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname UNAL was Mehmet UNAL, a merchant from Ankara who lived in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Hüseyin UNAL, a scholar and poet from Bursa, who lived in the early 17th century.

In the 19th century, as the Ottoman Empire underwent reforms, the surname UNAL became more widely documented in official records and population registers. During this period, several individuals with this surname gained prominence, such as Ahmet UNAL (1835-1912), a statesman and diplomat who served as the Ottoman ambassador to several European countries.

Throughout the 20th century, the surname UNAL continued to be prevalent in Turkey. Some notable individuals with this surname include Turgut UNAL (1919-2003), a prominent Turkish writer and journalist, and Nihan UNAL (born 1977), a successful actress and TV personality.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Unal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Unal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Unal a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Unal surname mean?

An occupational surname of Turkish origin referring to a miller or flour grinder.

What does the Unal map show?

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