NameCensus.

UK surname

Amir

A noble or aristocratic surname derived from the Arabic word for prince or ruler.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Amir surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,042, ranked #5,595, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amir is 1,042 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

1,042

2016, ranked #5,595

Peak year

2016

1,042 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Amir had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016, ranked #5,595.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Amir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Amir surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amir 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 3 #33,861
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 246 #15,445
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 333 #13,049
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 345 #12,504
2002 modern 421 #11,026
2003 modern 450 #10,293
2004 modern 501 #9,511
2005 modern 543 #8,873
2006 modern 604 #8,246
2007 modern 655 #7,815
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 813 #6,799
2010 modern 897 #6,404
2011 modern 942 #6,103
2012 modern 967 #5,891
2013 modern 975 #5,943
2014 modern 1,005 #5,837
2015 modern 1,014 #5,743
2016 modern 1,042 #5,595

Geography

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Where Amirs 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 Blackburn with Darwen, Manchester, Newham, Slough and Bradford. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 007 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Manchester 027 Manchester
3 Newham 018 Newham
4 Slough 004 Slough
5 Bradford 033 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amir

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Amir

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

Amir 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

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

Meaning and origin of Amir

The surname Amir originated in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East and North Africa. It is derived from the Arabic word "amir," which means "prince" or "ruler." The name can be traced back to the medieval period when it was used as a title for various Islamic rulers and military commanders.

One of the earliest known references to the name Amir is found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. The word "amir" is mentioned several times in the Quran, often referring to leaders or commanders. Additionally, many historical texts and manuscripts from the Islamic Golden Age, spanning the 8th to 13th centuries, contain references to individuals bearing the title "amir."

In the 10th century, during the Abbasid Caliphate, there were several prominent figures with the title "amir." One notable example is Amir al-Mu'minin, which translates to "Commander of the Faithful," and was a title held by the Abbasid caliphs.

Another historical figure with the name Amir was Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), a renowned Persian poet and scholar from the Indian subcontinent. He was a prolific writer and is considered one of the greatest poets in the Persian language.

In the 14th century, there was Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane (1336-1405), a powerful Turko-Mongol conqueror who established the Timurid Empire. His military campaigns and conquests significantly reshaped the political landscape of Central Asia and the Middle East.

During the 16th century, in the Ottoman Empire, there was Amir Husayn Mirza (1537-1598), a prince and military commander who played a significant role in the Ottoman-Safavid Wars. He is also known for his contributions to Persian literature.

The name Amir has also been associated with various places and regions historically connected to the Arabic-speaking world. For instance, the city of Amir Kabir in present-day Iran was named after the 19th-century Iranian reformer and statesman, Amir Kabir.

While the surname Amir has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic history, it has since been adopted by various ethnic and cultural groups across regions with historical ties to the Middle East and North Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Amir families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amir 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. Angus leads with 1 Amirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.36x.

County Total Index
Angus 1 112.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 1 Amirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 303.03x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 1 303.03x

FAQ

Amir surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amir surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Amir surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016. That gives Amir a modern rank of #5,595.

What does the Amir surname mean?

A noble or aristocratic surname derived from the Arabic word for prince or ruler.

What does the Amir map show?

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