NameCensus.

UK surname

Alsaffar

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "the goldsmith" or "the jeweler."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Perth Road, Kingston upon Thames and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alsaffar is 112 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2014

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Alsaffar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alsaffar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alsaffar 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 32 #34,472
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 50 #33,041
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 54 #32,583
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 65 #31,979
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 73 #31,954
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Alsaffars 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 Perth Road, Kingston upon Thames, Bromley, Sutton 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 Perth Road Dundee City
2 Kingston upon Thames 002 Kingston upon Thames
3 Bromley 033 Bromley
4 Sutton 006 Sutton
5 Westminster 015 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alsaffar

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Alsaffar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Alsaffar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Alsaffar is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alsaffar 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

Alsaffar falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alsaffar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
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 Alsaffar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Alsaffar

The surname Alsaffar has its origins in the Arabic language, and can be traced back to the Middle East region, particularly the countries of Iraq, Iran, and Syria. It is derived from the Arabic word "saffar," which means "coppersmith" or "one who works with copper."

The earliest recorded instances of the Alsaffar surname can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the Middle Ages, such as tax records and court proceedings. It is believed that the name was initially adopted by individuals or families who were involved in the copper trade or worked as coppersmiths.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Alsaffar name was Abu al-Qasim al-Saffar, a 9th-century military leader and the founder of the Saffarid dynasty, which ruled parts of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan between 861 and 1003 AD. His full name, al-Saffar, translates to "the coppersmith," indicating that his family was likely involved in the copper trade or metalworking industry.

Another notable figure with the Alsaffar surname was Ibn al-Saffar, a 10th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He was known for his contributions to the study of algebra and his work on calculating the sine and cosine functions.

In the 13th century, there are records of an individual named Al-Saffar al-Baghdadi, who was a renowned Arabic poet and philosopher from Baghdad. His poetic works were widely celebrated and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.

During the Ottoman Empire period, the Alsaffar name was prevalent among families in various regions, including modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Several Ottoman-era documents mention individuals with the Alsaffar surname, indicating their presence and involvement in various professions and trades.

Another notable figure with the Alsaffar surname was Muhammad al-Saffar, a 17th-century Arab scholar and writer from Aleppo, Syria. He authored several books on various subjects, including history, literature, and Islamic jurisprudence.

Throughout history, the Alsaffar surname has been associated with various professions and trades, not limited to metalworking and coppersmithing. It has been carried by scholars, poets, writers, and individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse cultural and historical roots of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Alsaffar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Alsaffar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Alsaffar a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Alsaffar surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "the goldsmith" or "the jeweler."

What does the Alsaffar map show?

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