NameCensus.

UK surname

Altaf

A surname derived from the Arabic word meaning "kindness" or "gentleness".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Altaf is 936 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

930

2016, ranked #6,144

Peak year

2014

936 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016, ranked #6,144.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Altaf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Altaf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Altaf 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 347 #12,251
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 482 #9,901
2001 modern 478 #9,783
2002 modern 556 #8,909
2003 modern 573 #8,592
2004 modern 629 #8,041
2005 modern 694 #7,401
2006 modern 734 #7,105
2007 modern 775 #6,873
2008 modern 811 #6,668
2009 modern 869 #6,456
2010 modern 905 #6,357
2011 modern 913 #6,258
2012 modern 883 #6,331
2013 modern 922 #6,237
2014 modern 936 #6,200
2015 modern 918 #6,236
2016 modern 930 #6,144

Geography

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Where Altafs 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 Newham. 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 139 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 048 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 051 Birmingham
4 Bradford 033 Bradford
5 Newham 025 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Altaf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Altaf

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

Altaf 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

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

Meaning and origin of Altaf

The surname ALTAF has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have been derived from the word "al-taff," which means "the kind one" or "the generous one." The name is most commonly found in regions with a strong Islamic influence, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East.

This surname is thought to have emerged during the medieval period, when Arabic naming conventions began to spread across various regions alongside the expansion of Islam. The earliest recorded instances of the name ALTAF can be traced back to historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, where it was often used to identify individuals renowned for their kindness and generosity.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname ALTAF was Altaf al-Din, a Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 13th century. He was renowned for his contributions to literature and philosophy, and his works were widely celebrated during his lifetime and for centuries thereafter.

In the 14th century, the name ALTAF appeared in several manuscripts and records from the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. These documents often referred to individuals with this surname as respected members of the nobility or as high-ranking officials within the court.

During the 16th century, the ALTAF surname gained prominence in the Ottoman Empire, with several notable figures bearing this name. One such individual was Altaf Bey, a military commander who played a crucial role in the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes in 1522.

In the 17th century, the name ALTAF was associated with a renowned family of scholars and poets in the city of Isfahan, Persia (modern-day Iran). Among the most famous members of this family was Altaf Ali Isfahani, a celebrated poet who was highly regarded for his mastery of the Persian language and his contributions to literature.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname ALTAF continued to be found in various parts of the Middle East and South Asia, often associated with individuals from prominent families or those who held positions of authority within their respective communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Altaf surname: questions and answers

How common is the Altaf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016. That gives Altaf a modern rank of #6,144.

What does the Altaf surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic word meaning "kindness" or "gentleness".

What does the Altaf map show?

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