NameCensus.

UK surname

Arshad

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "rightly guided" or "righteous".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arshad is 3,450 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

3,450

2016, ranked #1,973

Peak year

2016

3,450 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,450 in 2016, ranked #1,973.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Arshad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arshad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arshad 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
1997 modern 1,334 #4,312
1998 modern 1,467 #4,126
1999 modern 1,540 #3,989
2000 modern 1,663 #3,714
2001 modern 1,651 #3,663
2002 modern 1,923 #3,278
2003 modern 2,002 #3,114
2004 modern 2,089 #3,002
2005 modern 2,250 #2,773
2006 modern 2,393 #2,637
2007 modern 2,578 #2,494
2008 modern 2,717 #2,419
2009 modern 2,915 #2,325
2010 modern 3,091 #2,230
2011 modern 3,146 #2,166
2012 modern 3,207 #2,102
2013 modern 3,331 #2,058
2014 modern 3,414 #2,026
2015 modern 3,398 #2,012
2016 modern 3,450 #1,973

Geography

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Where Arshads 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 Rochdale, Pollokshields East, Pendle and Manchester. 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 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
2 Pollokshields East Glasgow City
3 Pendle 011 Pendle
4 Manchester 027 Manchester
5 Pendle 009 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arshad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arshad

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

Arshad 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

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

Meaning and origin of Arshad

The surname Arshad originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "arshada," which means "to guide" or "to lead." The name likely referred to someone who was a guide or leader within their community.

The earliest known references to the name Arshad date back to the 9th century, when it appeared in various Arabic manuscripts and historical records. Some of the earliest recorded examples include Arshad ibn al-Walid, a famous poet and scholar who lived in Basra during the 9th century, and Arshad al-Baghdadi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Baghdad in the 10th century.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the name Arshad became more widespread as the Arab conquests and the spread of Islam brought the name to different regions of the Middle East and North Africa. One notable figure from this period was Arshad al-Dimashqi, a Syrian historian and geographer who lived in Damascus in the 12th century.

As the name spread, it also took on various spellings and variations in different regions. For example, in some parts of North Africa, the name was spelled "Arshid," while in parts of the Levant, it was sometimes spelled "Arshad."

One of the most famous bearers of the name Arshad was Arshad al-Dawla, a Persian prince and military commander who ruled over parts of modern-day Iran and Iraq in the 10th century. He was known for his skills on the battlefield and his patronage of the arts and sciences.

Another notable figure with the surname Arshad was Arshad Khan, a Mughal nobleman and military commander who served under the emperors Akbar and Jahangir in the 16th and 17th centuries. He was known for his bravery and loyalty and played a significant role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Arshad also appeared in various place names throughout the Middle East and North Africa, such as the town of Arshad in modern-day Iran and the village of Arshad in Morocco.

Over time, the surname Arshad has spread to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations. However, its origins can be traced back to the Arabian Peninsula, where it first emerged as a name associated with guidance and leadership.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Arshad surname: questions and answers

How common is the Arshad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,450 in 2016. That gives Arshad a modern rank of #1,973.

What does the Arshad surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "rightly guided" or "righteous".

What does the Arshad map show?

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