NameCensus.

UK surname

Abas

A patronymic surname of Arabic origin meaning "lion" or referring to someone who is lion-like.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abas is 126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2016

126 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Abas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abas 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 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 26 #35,135
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 38 #34,146
2001 modern 42 #33,658
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 52 #33,160
2004 modern 54 #33,248
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 72 #32,397
2008 modern 75 #32,373
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Abas' 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, Brent, Ealing and Westminster. 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 051 Birmingham
2 Brent 020 Brent
3 Ealing 001 Ealing
4 Westminster 017 Westminster
5 Brent 021 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abas

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

Abas 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

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

Meaning and origin of Abas

The surname Abas has its roots in the Middle East, originating from the Arabic word "abbas" which means "lion" or "stern". This name was likely adopted by individuals or families who displayed strength, courage, or a fiercely protective nature, similar to the characteristics of a lion.

The earliest known references to the surname Abas can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early Islamic period. It is believed that some of the first individuals to bear this name were companions or descendants of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent figure in early Islamic history.

In the 12th century, the Abas surname appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records from the Levant region, including present-day Syria, Lebanon, and parts of Turkey. One notable example is the mention of an individual named Abas al-Dimashqi, a scholar and poet from Damascus, who lived during the Ayyubid period (1171-1260 CE).

As the Arab world expanded and trade routes flourished, the Abas surname spread to other regions, including the Iberian Peninsula during the Moorish rule in Spain. In the 14th century, records show the presence of individuals with the surname Abas in the city of Granada, which was then under Islamic rule.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Abas surname in Europe can be found in the archives of the Republic of Venice, where a merchant named Ahmed Abas is mentioned in documents dating back to the late 15th century. This indicates that the name had begun to spread through trade and migration from the Middle East to Europe.

Other notable individuals with the surname Abas include Abas I, the Shah of Persia from the Safavid dynasty, who reigned from 1587 to 1629. In the literary world, Ismail Abas was a renowned 18th-century Ottoman poet and calligrapher who lived in Istanbul.

The Abas surname has also been present in various parts of Asia, as evidenced by historical records from the Mughal Empire in India, where individuals bearing this name held positions of influence and authority. One such example is Mirza Abas, a prominent noble and military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century.

Throughout its long history, the surname Abas has been associated with individuals from diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds, reflecting the widespread influence and migration patterns of the Arabic-speaking world over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Abas surname: questions and answers

How common is the Abas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Abas a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Abas surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Arabic origin meaning "lion" or referring to someone who is lion-like.

What does the Abas map show?

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