NameCensus.

UK surname

Aga

A Turkish surname derived from the title "agha," meaning "chief," "master," or "lord."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, Blackburn with Darwen and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aga is 127 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

2016

127 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Aga surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aga surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aga 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1997 modern 38 #33,872
1998 modern 40 #33,856
1999 modern 39 #34,058
2000 modern 48 #33,288
2001 modern 47 #33,219
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 55 #32,895
2004 modern 55 #33,154
2005 modern 61 #32,814
2006 modern 73 #31,954
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Agas 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 Fylde, Blackburn with Darwen, East Staffordshire, Bromley and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Fylde 006 Fylde
2 Blackburn with Darwen 006 Blackburn with Darwen
3 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire
4 Bromley 001 Bromley
5 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aga

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Aga surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Aga 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Aga 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

Aga 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

Aga falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Aga

The surname Aga is of Turkish origin and traces its roots back to the Ottoman Empire in the late 15th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Turkish word "ağa," which translates to "master" or "chief." It was initially used as a title or honorific for high-ranking military officers, civil servants, and landowners within the Ottoman Empire.

During the height of the Ottoman Empire, the Aga surname was prominently associated with influential families and individuals who held positions of power and authority. Historical records from this era mention several notable figures bearing this surname, including Hüseyin Ağa, a renowned military commander who played a crucial role in the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The earliest recorded instances of the Aga surname can be found in Ottoman administrative documents and legal records from the 16th and 17th centuries. These documents often mentioned individuals with the surname in relation to land ownership, tax records, and administrative positions within the Empire.

One of the earliest known references to the Aga surname is found in the Codex Cumanicus, a linguistic manuscript from the 13th century that includes a list of Cuman (Kipchak) words and phrases, including the word "ağa" used as a title.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Aga surname. Ismail Ağa Çelebi, born in the late 16th century, was a renowned Ottoman historian and author who wrote extensively about the history of the Ottoman Empire. Another prominent figure was Mustafa Ağa, a influential military leader who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire in the late 17th century.

In the 19th century, the Aga surname gained prominence with the rise of the Aga Khan family, a prominent Ismaili Muslim dynasty that traced its ancestry back to the Ottoman Empire. The first Aga Khan, Hasan Ali Shah, was born in 1804 and played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of the Ismaili community.

As the Ottoman Empire declined and eventually dissolved in the early 20th century, many families with the Aga surname migrated to various parts of the world, carrying their surname and cultural heritage with them. Today, the Aga surname can be found in communities of Turkish descent across Europe, North America, and other regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aga families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aga surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 5 Agas recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.36x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 5 111.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 5 Agas recorded in 1881 and an index of 595.24x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 595.24x

FAQ

Aga surname: questions and answers

How common is the Aga surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Aga a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Aga surname mean?

A Turkish surname derived from the title "agha," meaning "chief," "master," or "lord."

What does the Aga map show?

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