NameCensus.

UK surname

Afsar

A Persian surname meaning "one who commands," referring to a high-ranking military or government official.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Afsar is 775 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

775

2016, ranked #7,102

Peak year

2016

775 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016, ranked #7,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Afsar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Afsar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Afsar 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 495 #9,370
1998 modern 526 #9,238
1999 modern 529 #9,245
2000 modern 550 #8,943
2001 modern 544 #8,875
2002 modern 594 #8,519
2003 modern 618 #8,139
2004 modern 635 #7,972
2005 modern 640 #7,855
2006 modern 676 #7,576
2007 modern 702 #7,405
2008 modern 719 #7,328
2009 modern 756 #7,208
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 747 #7,252
2013 modern 759 #7,274
2014 modern 766 #7,238
2015 modern 762 #7,210
2016 modern 775 #7,102

Geography

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Where Afsars 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, Bradford and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 082 Birmingham
2 Bradford 044 Bradford
3 Birmingham 077 Birmingham
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 022 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Bradford 053 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Afsar

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

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

Afsar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Afsar

The surname AFSAR originates from the Persian language and has its roots in the Indian subcontinent. The earliest recorded instances of this name can be traced back to the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.

The word "afsar" in Persian means "officer" or "commander," and it was traditionally used as a title for military or civil officials in the Mughal administration. Over time, this title became a hereditary surname for families associated with these positions.

One of the earliest known references to the surname AFSAR can be found in the Akbarnama, a biography of the Mughal Emperor Akbar written in the 16th century. The text mentions several individuals with the title "Afsar," indicating that it was already in use as a surname during that period.

In the 17th century, the AFSAR surname gained prominence in the regions of present-day Pakistan and northern India, particularly in the areas of Punjab and Kashmir. Notable figures from this era include Mirza Khizr Afsar, a prominent Mughal noble and military commander who served under Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 1600s.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the AFSAR surname continued to be associated with influential families and individuals in the region. One notable example is Nawab Mir Muhammad Khan Talpur Afsar, a ruler of the Talpur dynasty in Sindh, Pakistan, who lived from 1801 to 1842.

In the early 20th century, the AFSAR surname gained recognition beyond the Indian subcontinent. Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, the second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, was born in 1889 with the surname AFSAR before adopting the title "Ahmad" later in life.

Another prominent figure with the AFSAR surname was Syed Shamsuddin Afsar, an Indian politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of West Bengal from 1956 to 1962. He was born in 1892 and played a significant role in the independence movement of India.

Historically, the AFSAR surname has been associated with military and administrative roles, reflecting its origins as a title for officials in the Mughal Empire. While the surname is most prevalent in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and India, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Afsar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Afsar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016. That gives Afsar a modern rank of #7,102.

What does the Afsar surname mean?

A Persian surname meaning "one who commands," referring to a high-ranking military or government official.

What does the Afsar map show?

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