NameCensus.

UK surname

Ansar

A surname meaning "the helpers" or "companions" in Arabic.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Ansar surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 390, ranked #12,089, up from #32,765 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ansar is 390 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5471.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

390

2016, ranked #12,089

Peak year

2016

390 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ansar had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016, ranked #12,089.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ansar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ansar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ansar 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 2 #34,135
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 201 #18,236
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 213 #17,492
2005 modern 213 #17,435
2006 modern 240 #16,177
2007 modern 271 #15,042
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 334 #13,690
2011 modern 336 #13,498
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 357 #12,984
2014 modern 369 #12,745
2015 modern 375 #12,470
2016 modern 390 #12,089

Geography

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Where Ansars 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 Pendle, Newham, Sheffield and Peterborough. 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 Pendle 012 Pendle
2 Newham 017 Newham
3 Sheffield 022 Sheffield
4 Pendle 011 Pendle
5 Peterborough 012 Peterborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ansar

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

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

Ansar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ansar

The surname Ansar is believed to have originated in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East and North Africa. It is derived from the Arabic word "ansar," which translates to "helpers" or "supporters." The name is thought to have emerged during the early days of Islam, referring to the people of Medina who welcomed and supported the Prophet Muhammad and his companions after their migration from Mecca.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ansar can be traced back to medieval Islamic texts and chronicles. One notable mention is found in the work of the renowned Islamic historian, Ibn Ishaq, who documented the lives of the Ansar and their pivotal role in the establishment of the first Muslim community in Medina.

In the 8th century, a famous figure named Abdullah bin Ansar gained prominence as a scholar and theologian in the city of Basra, located in present-day Iraq. His contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad made him a revered figure among the Ansar community.

During the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from Baghdad between the 8th and 13th centuries, several prominent individuals bearing the surname Ansar held influential positions within the administration and scholarly circles. One such individual was Abu al-Qasim al-Ansar, a renowned poet and literary figure who lived in the 10th century.

In the 12th century, a renowned Sufi mystic and philosopher, Abu Bakr al-Ansar, gained a significant following in Andalusia, the Islamic-ruled region of modern-day Spain and Portugal. His teachings on the spiritual path and his poetry have left a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism.

Another notable figure was Fatima al-Ansar, a 13th-century scholar and poet from Granada, who made significant contributions to the literary and intellectual circles of her time. Her works on Islamic philosophy and theology were widely celebrated and studied.

Over the centuries, the surname Ansar has spread across various regions, with families bearing this name found in countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and other parts of the Arab world. While the name's origins can be traced back to the early Islamic period, it has since become a part of the cultural heritage and identity of many communities throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ansar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ansar 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Ansars recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 10.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 7 Ansars recorded in 1881 and an index of 546.88x.

Place Total Index
Poplar London 7 546.88x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ansar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 2
Emily 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ansar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 2
Alfred 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ansar households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 4
Infant 1
Tug Master 1

FAQ

Ansar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ansar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Ansar surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ansar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016. That gives Ansar a modern rank of #12,089.

What does the Ansar surname mean?

A surname meaning "the helpers" or "companions" in Arabic.

What does the Ansar map show?

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