NameCensus.

UK surname

Wali

A surname originating from Arabic meaning a governor or lord.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Pollokshields West and Maxwell Park.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wali is 403 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

403

2016, ranked #11,815

Peak year

2016

403 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016, ranked #11,815.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Wali surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wali surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wali 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
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 212 #17,540
2005 modern 238 #16,198
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 345 #13,370
2011 modern 346 #13,192
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 394 #12,064
2014 modern 400 #12,006
2015 modern 394 #12,038
2016 modern 403 #11,815

Geography

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Where Walis 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Pollokshields West, Maxwell Park, Little Earnock and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Pollokshields West Glasgow City
3 Maxwell Park Glasgow City
4 Little Earnock South Lanarkshire
5 Barking and Dagenham 016 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wali

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wali is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Wali 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

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

Meaning and origin of Wali

The surname WALI is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions such as present-day Pakistan and northern India. It is thought to have derived from the Arabic word "wali," which means a saint, a friend of God, or a guardian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WALI can be traced back to the 13th century during the Delhi Sultanate period. It is mentioned in some historical texts and manuscripts from that era, often referring to individuals associated with Sufi orders or spiritual lineages.

In the 16th century, during the Mughal Empire, the name WALI gained prominence as many individuals with this surname held positions of influence and authority within the imperial court or were respected scholars and religious figures.

One notable bearer of the WALI surname was Hazrat Mian Mir (1550-1635), a renowned Sufi saint and spiritual guide who played a significant role in the foundation of the city of Lahore, Pakistan. He is revered by both Muslims and Sikhs and is known for his teachings on universal love and harmony.

Another prominent figure with the WALI surname was Wali Dakhni (1667-1707), a celebrated Urdu poet and scholar from the Deccan region of India. His literary works, including the epic poem "Qutb Mushtari," are considered masterpieces of Urdu literature.

In the 18th century, the WALI surname was also found in parts of present-day Afghanistan, where it was associated with influential families and religious scholars. One such individual was Maulana Jami Wali (1742-1809), a renowned Islamic scholar and poet from Kandahar.

During the 19th century, the WALI surname continued to be prominent in various regions of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure was Mir Wali (1810-1870), a renowned Kashmiri poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the Kashmiri language and literature.

The surname WALI has also been associated with various place names and older spellings of place names in the Indian subcontinent. For example, the town of Wali in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan is believed to have been named after individuals bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Wali surname: questions and answers

How common is the Wali surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016. That gives Wali a modern rank of #11,815.

What does the Wali surname mean?

A surname originating from Arabic meaning a governor or lord.

What does the Wali map show?

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