NameCensus.

UK surname

Abubakar

Father of Bakar, an Arabic surname referring to one of the first converts to Islam.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abubakar is 593 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

593

2016, ranked #8,799

Peak year

2016

593 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016, ranked #8,799.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Abubakar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abubakar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abubakar 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
1997 modern 160 #20,259
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 253 #15,583
2005 modern 291 #14,105
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 396 #11,581
2009 modern 425 #11,161
2010 modern 470 #10,524
2011 modern 474 #10,366
2012 modern 525 #9,526
2013 modern 559 #9,212
2014 modern 572 #9,102
2015 modern 572 #9,036
2016 modern 593 #8,799

Geography

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Where Abubakars 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, Camden, Manchester and Waltham Forest. 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 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Camden 018 Camden
4 Manchester 024 Manchester
5 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abubakar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abubakar

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Abubakar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Abubakar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Abubakar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Abubakar 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

Abubakar falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abubakar 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 Abubakar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Abubakar

The surname Abubakar is of Arabic origin and is derived from the combination of the Arabic words "Abu" meaning "father of" and "Bakar" which is a masculine given name meaning "young camel." The name can be traced back to the early days of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East region.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Abubakar can be found in historical records and manuscripts from the 7th and 8th centuries CE, particularly in writings related to the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. One notable figure bearing this surname was Abu Bakr, who was a close companion of the Prophet and later became the first Caliph of the Islamic empire after Muhammad's death in 632 CE.

As Islam spread across various regions, the surname Abubakar was carried along with the migration of Arab tribes and traders. It became prevalent in areas such as North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. In some regions, the name underwent slight variations in spelling or pronunciation, such as Abubakar, Abubakr, or Aboubacar.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Abubakar. One example is Abubakari II, who ruled the Songhai Empire in West Africa from 1493 to 1528. Another prominent figure was Abubakari Tafawa Balewa, a Nigerian politician and the first Prime Minister of Nigeria after the country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

Other individuals bearing the surname Abubakar include Abubakar Gumi (1922-1992), a renowned Islamic scholar and Sufi leader from Nigeria, and Abubakar Shekau (born c. 1965-1975), the former leader of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria. Additionally, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, named after the former Prime Minister, is a prominent educational institution located in Bauchi, Nigeria.

While the surname Abubakar has its roots in Arabic language and culture, it has become widely dispersed across various regions and communities, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia with significant Muslim populations. The name carries a rich historical legacy and continues to be a prominent surname in many parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Abubakar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Abubakar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016. That gives Abubakar a modern rank of #8,799.

What does the Abubakar surname mean?

Father of Bakar, an Arabic surname referring to one of the first converts to Islam.

What does the Abubakar map show?

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