NameCensus.

UK surname

Usman

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "little lion" or "brave warrior".

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Usman surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,415, ranked #4,313, up from #32,581 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Usman is 1,415 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17587.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

1,415

2016, ranked #4,313

Peak year

2016

1,415 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Usman had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,415 in 2016, ranked #4,313.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Usman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Usman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Usman 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 8 #32,581
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1997 modern 286 #13,942
1998 modern 321 #13,275
1999 modern 347 #12,696
2000 modern 358 #12,356
2001 modern 369 #11,928
2002 modern 499 #9,648
2003 modern 543 #8,932
2004 modern 627 #8,061
2005 modern 722 #7,151
2006 modern 803 #6,606
2007 modern 886 #6,157
2008 modern 978 #5,750
2009 modern 1,087 #5,370
2010 modern 1,196 #5,057
2011 modern 1,247 #4,827
2012 modern 1,274 #4,654
2013 modern 1,363 #4,465
2014 modern 1,410 #4,364
2015 modern 1,373 #4,417
2016 modern 1,415 #4,313

Geography

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Where Usmans 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, Blackburn with Darwen, Manchester, Bradford and Oldham. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 003 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Manchester 008 Manchester
4 Bradford 044 Bradford
5 Oldham 035 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Usman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Usman

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

Usman 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

Usman 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 Usman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Usman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Usman

The surname Usman has its origins in the Arab world, where it was first recorded in the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic name Uthman, which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." This name was popular among the early Muslims, as it was the name of the third Caliph of Islam, Uthman ibn Affan, who ruled from 644 to 656 CE.

In the following centuries, the name Usman spread to various regions of the Muslim world, including Persia, Central Asia, and South Asia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Usman in written records is in the 10th century Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, by the poet Ferdowsi.

The name Usman also has a long history in the Indian subcontinent, where it was brought by Muslim traders, scholars, and warriors during the medieval period. One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Usman in the region was Syed Usman Marwandi, a Sufi saint who lived in the 13th century and is buried in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh.

In the 16th century, the Usman surname gained prominence with the rise of the Mughal Empire in India. One of the most notable individuals with this surname was Mir Usman Ali Khan Bahadur, a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar and was awarded the title of "Khan Bahadur" for his bravery in battle.

Another significant figure with the surname Usman was Mir Qasim Usman, a Bengali Muslim who served as the Nawab of Bengal from 1760 to 1763. He played a crucial role in the conflict between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal, which ultimately led to the Battle of Plassey and the establishment of British rule in India.

In more recent history, the surname Usman has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Muhammad Usman Ghani, a Pakistani politician and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, and Usman Khawaja, an Australian cricketer of Pakistani descent who has represented the Australian national team.

Overall, the surname Usman has a rich history that spans centuries and continents, reflecting the spread of Islam and the cultural exchanges that occurred along the trade routes and during periods of conquest and migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Usman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Usman 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. Lanarkshire leads with 7 Usmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.74x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 7 27.74x
Sussex 1 7.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Usmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.18x.

Place Total Index
Govan 7 112.18x
Rumbolds Wyke 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 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 Usman households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Usman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Usman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Usman surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Usman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,415 in 2016. That gives Usman a modern rank of #4,313.

What does the Usman surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "little lion" or "brave warrior".

What does the Usman map show?

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