NameCensus.

UK surname

Abbass

An Arabic surname meaning "lion," derived from the Arabic word "al-'abbas."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Manchester and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abbass is 144 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2013

144 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Abbass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abbass surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abbass 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 3 #33,861
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 72 #30,775
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Abbass' 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 Bury, Manchester, Newham and Wyre. 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 Bury 009 Bury
2 Manchester 027 Manchester
3 Newham 006 Newham
4 Bury 011 Bury
5 Wyre 013 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abbass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abbass

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Abbass 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

Abbass 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

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

Meaning and origin of Abbass

The surname Abbass has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "Abbas," which means "lion" or "stern and firm." The name is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic period, around the 7th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abbass can be found in the historical accounts of the Abbasid Caliphate, a prominent Islamic dynasty that ruled a vast empire spanning from North Africa to Central Asia between 750 and 1258 AD. The dynasty was founded by Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah, whose descendants took on the surname Abbass.

The Abbass surname is closely associated with the city of Kufa, located in present-day Iraq, which served as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate during its early years. Many prominent figures from the Abbasid dynasty hailed from this region, and the name Abbass became prevalent among the local population.

One notable figure bearing the surname Abbass was Abbas Ibn Firnas (810-887 AD), a renowned polymath and inventor from Andalusia, modern-day Spain. He is credited with designing and constructing the first known flying machine, and his contributions to various fields, including engineering, astronomy, and optics, have earned him recognition as a pioneer of early aviation.

Another prominent individual with the surname Abbass was Abbas I of Persia (1571-1629 AD), also known as Abbas the Great. He was the fifth Safavid Shah of Iran and is celebrated for his military achievements, administrative reforms, and patronage of the arts and architecture. During his reign, the city of Isfahan became a cultural and economic hub, with numerous architectural masterpieces constructed under his patronage.

In the 19th century, Abbas Effendi (1844-1921 AD), also known as Abdu'l-Baha, was a prominent figure in the Bahai Faith. He played a crucial role in spreading the teachings of the Bahai religion and is revered as the perfect exemplar of the Bahai way of life.

The surname Abbass has also been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts, particularly those related to the Abbasid Caliphate and the subsequent Islamic dynasties that ruled in the Middle East and parts of North Africa.

While the name Abbass has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic history, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. The surname can now be found among diverse communities, carrying with it a rich heritage and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Abbass surname: questions and answers

How common is the Abbass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Abbass a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Abbass surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "lion," derived from the Arabic word "al-'abbas."

What does the Abbass map show?

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