NameCensus.

UK surname

Arab

A surname referring to an Arab person or someone of Arabic descent.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Kensington and Chelsea and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arab is 157 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2014

157 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Arab surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arab surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arab 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 66 #31,038
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 68 #31,380
2001 modern 70 #31,016
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 84 #29,978
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Arabs 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 Leicester, Kensington and Chelsea, Ealing and Northampton. 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 Leicester 009 Leicester
2 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Ealing 035 Ealing
4 Ealing 011 Ealing
5 Northampton 004 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arab

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Arab surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Arab 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Arab 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

Arab 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

Arab falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Arab

The surname "ARAB" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab world. It is a name that can be traced back to the medieval era, around the 7th to 10th centuries.

The name is derived from the Arabic word "Arab," which refers to the ethnic group and language of the Arab people. It is likely that the surname was initially given to individuals who were of Arab descent or had connections to Arab culture and traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "ARAB" can be found in ancient manuscripts and chronicles from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 8th to the 13th centuries. These documents mention individuals with the surname "ARAB" holding various positions within the caliphate's administration and military.

In the 11th century, the name appeared in records related to the Seljuk Empire, which controlled vast territories across Asia and the Middle East. Several notable figures with the surname "ARAB" were mentioned, including scholars, poets, and military commanders.

During the Crusades, which took place between the 11th and 13th centuries, the name "ARAB" was also documented in chronicles and accounts written by European travelers and historians. These sources often referred to individuals with this surname as Arabs or individuals of Arab descent.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "ARAB" was Abu Bakr al-Arab, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Andalusia (present-day Spain) during the 11th century. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in various fields, including grammar and theology.

Another notable figure was Ibn al-Arab, a 12th-century Andalusian philosopher and mystic. He was widely regarded for his spiritual teachings and writings, which influenced the development of Sufism, a mystical tradition within Islam.

In the 13th century, the surname "ARAB" was mentioned in connection with the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over Egypt and parts of the Levant. One prominent individual was Baibars al-Arab, a Mamluk sultan who reigned from 1260 to 1277. He was known for his military campaigns against the Crusaders and for strengthening the Mamluk Empire.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the Middle East and parts of Europe, the surname "ARAB" continued to be present in various records and documents. One notable figure was Hasan al-Arab, a 16th-century Ottoman scholar and poet who contributed to the literary and intellectual life of the empire.

In the 19th century, the surname "ARAB" gained further recognition with the birth of Abd al-Rahman al-Arab, a Syrian-born scholar and reformer. He played a significant role in the intellectual and cultural renaissance of the Arab world, advocating for modernization and educational reforms.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Arab surname: questions and answers

How common is the Arab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Arab a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Arab surname mean?

A surname referring to an Arab person or someone of Arabic descent.

What does the Arab map show?

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