NameCensus.

UK surname

Zaman

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "time" or "era," often bestowed to indicate good fortune or new beginnings.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zaman is 5,775 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

5,712

2016, ranked #1,174

Peak year

2010

5,775 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,712 in 2016, ranked #1,174.
  • 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.

Zaman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zaman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zaman 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 2,866 #2,251
1998 modern 3,129 #2,144
1999 modern 3,339 #2,029
2000 modern 3,507 #1,934
2001 modern 3,479 #1,905
2002 modern 3,882 #1,745
2003 modern 4,104 #1,602
2004 modern 4,352 #1,522
2005 modern 4,519 #1,449
2006 modern 4,749 #1,378
2007 modern 5,033 #1,311
2008 modern 5,216 #1,276
2009 modern 5,508 #1,225
2010 modern 5,775 #1,191
2011 modern 5,678 #1,197
2012 modern 5,498 #1,213
2013 modern 5,664 #1,197
2014 modern 5,757 #1,183
2015 modern 5,734 #1,172
2016 modern 5,712 #1,174

Geography

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Where Zamans 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 Birmingham and Luton. 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 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 082 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 077 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 035 Birmingham
5 Luton 015 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zaman

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

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

Zaman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Zaman

The surname Zaman is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "zaman" which means "time" or "era" in Arabic. This name has been prevalent in the Middle East and parts of South Asia for centuries.

The earliest known instances of the surname Zaman date back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age in the Middle East. It is believed to have been adopted by families who were scholars, philosophers, or intellectuals, as the concept of "time" and its significance was highly valued in Islamic culture and literature.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Zaman can be found in the "Kitab al-Aghani" (Book of Songs), a famous anthology of Arabic poetry and songs compiled in the 9th century CE by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani. The book includes references to several poets and scholars with the surname Zaman.

In the 11th century, the renowned Muslim polymath and philosopher Al-Ghazali, whose full name was Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE), was also known by the honorific title "Zaman" or "Zamaniyya," which means "the marvel of the time."

During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria (1250-1517 CE), the surname Zaman was particularly prominent among the ruling elite and scholarly circles. One notable figure from this period was Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Zaman (1284-1357 CE), a renowned Shafi'i jurist and scholar.

In the Indian subcontinent, the surname Zaman gained prominence during the Mughal Empire (1526-1857 CE). Several members of the Mughal nobility and courtiers bore the surname Zaman, including Mirza Muhammad Zaman (1604-1669 CE), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served under the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

Another notable figure was Nawab Mir Qasim Ali Khan Zaman (1735-1778 CE), the last independent Nawab of Bengal, who played a significant role in the struggle against British colonial rule in India.

Throughout history, the surname Zaman has been associated with scholars, intellectuals, and individuals of notable accomplishments, reflecting the meaning and significance of the word "zaman" in Arabic culture and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zaman surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zaman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,712 in 2016. That gives Zaman a modern rank of #1,174.

What does the Zaman surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "time" or "era," often bestowed to indicate good fortune or new beginnings.

What does the Zaman map show?

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