NameCensus.

UK surname

Afshar

A Persian surname referring to a person from the city of Afshar or belonging to the Afshar tribe.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, Southampton and Newington and Dalkeith Road.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Afshar is 183 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2010

183 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Afshar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Afshar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Afshar 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 93 #27,932
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Afshars 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 Test Valley, Southampton, Newington and Dalkeith Road, Kensington and Chelsea 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 Test Valley 015 Test Valley
2 Southampton 001 Southampton
3 Newington and Dalkeith Road City of Edinburgh
4 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Westminster 001 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Afshar

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Afshar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Afshar 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Afshar is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Afshar 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

Afshar falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Afshar

The surname Afshar has its origins in Iran, with roots that can be traced back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "Afshar," which refers to a Turkic tribal group that settled in various regions of Iran, particularly in the provinces of Kerman and Yazd.

During the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736), the Afshar tribe gained prominence as they played a significant role in the military campaigns and political affairs of the empire. One notable figure from this period was Nader Shah Afshar (1688-1747), a renowned military leader who rose to become the Shah of Iran, establishing the short-lived Afsharid dynasty.

The earliest known records of the Afshar surname can be found in historical documents and chronicles from the Safavid era. These manuscripts often mentioned prominent individuals bearing the name, such as military commanders, governors, and officials who served under the Safavid rulers.

In addition to Nader Shah Afshar, other notable historical figures with the Afshar surname include Amir Khan Afshar (1693-1748), a military leader and nephew of Nader Shah, who played a crucial role in the conquest of Delhi during the Afsharid invasion of India. Another prominent figure was Ebrahim Khan Afshar (1815-1890), a influential military commander and governor during the Qajar dynasty.

The Afshar surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Iran, such as Afshar Village in Kerman Province and Afshar District in Yazd Province. These place names likely derived from the settlements established by members of the Afshar tribe in those regions.

Other notable individuals with the Afshar surname include Sohrab Afshar (1889-1973), an Iranian painter and sculptor who played a significant role in the development of modern art in Iran, and Samad Afshar (1919-2008), a respected Iranian linguist and scholar of Persian literature.

It is important to note that while the Afshar surname has its roots in Iran, individuals bearing this name can be found in various parts of the world today, as a result of migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Afshar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Afshar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Afshar a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Afshar surname mean?

A Persian surname referring to a person from the city of Afshar or belonging to the Afshar tribe.

What does the Afshar map show?

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