UK surname

Asghar

A surname derived from the Arabic name meaning "younger" or "superior".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asghar is 2,707 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

2,707

2016, ranked #2,480

Peak year

2016

2,707 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 2,707 in 2016, ranked #2,480.
• 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.

Map

Asghar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asghar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Asghar 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
1911	historical	4	#33,595
1997	modern	1,220	#4,649
1998	modern	1,360	#4,381
1999	modern	1,434	#4,220
2000	modern	1,513	#4,032
2001	modern	1,516	#3,949
2002	modern	1,749	#3,565
2003	modern	1,872	#3,275
2004	modern	1,953	#3,177
2005	modern	2,016	#3,067
2006	modern	2,142	#2,898
2007	modern	2,193	#2,870
2008	modern	2,329	#2,738
2009	modern	2,485	#2,662
2010	modern	2,607	#2,600
2011	modern	2,611	#2,571
2012	modern	2,522	#2,606
2013	modern	2,617	#2,565
2014	modern	2,670	#2,534
2015	modern	2,676	#2,508
2016	modern	2,707	#2,480

Geography

Where Asghars 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, Hyndburn, Birmingham and Oldham. 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 011	Pendle
2	Hyndburn 006	Hyndburn
3	Birmingham 139	Birmingham
4	Oldham 022	Oldham
5	Oldham 035	Oldham

Forenames

First names often paired with Asghar

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Shazia Nazia Parveen Noreen Shabana Yasmin Saima Salma Sobia Samina

Recent male names

Ali Mohammed Muhammad Mohammad Imran Nadeem Naveed Ghulam Raja Rizwan

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Asghar

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

Asghar 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Asghar 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Asghar 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Asghar

The surname ASGHAR has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. The name is derived from the Persian word "asghar," which means "younger" or "smaller," suggesting that it may have initially been used as a descriptive term to distinguish between siblings or family members.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ASGHAR surname can be found in the "Tarikh-e Beyhaghi," a historical chronicle written in the 11th century by the Persian historian Abu'l-Fazl Beyhaqi. This work mentions several individuals with the surname, indicating its usage during the Ghaznavid dynasty in the region.

During the Timurid period in the 14th and 15th centuries, the ASGHAR name gained prominence, particularly in the city of Herat, which was a cultural and intellectual center at the time. One notable figure from this period was Mir Asghar, a renowned Persian poet who lived in the late 15th century and was renowned for his mastery of the ghazal form of poetry.

In the 16th century, the ASGHAR surname appears in records from the Safavid Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning modern-day Iran, parts of Afghanistan, and the Caucasus region. During this time, the name was associated with several influential families and individuals, including Asghar Beg, a military commander who served under Shah Ismail I.

As the centuries passed, the ASGHAR surname spread to other parts of the Persian cultural sphere, including Central Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure from this period was Mirza Asghar Khan, a prominent noble and statesman from the Mughal Empire in the 17th century.

In more recent history, the ASGHAR surname has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Asghar Ali Engineer, an Indian Muslim scholar and activist who worked towards promoting inter-religious understanding and social justice (1939-2013). Another prominent figure was Asghar Khan, a former Pakistani Air Force officer and politician who played a significant role in the country's politics in the latter half of the 20th century (1921-2018).

Throughout its long history, the ASGHAR surname has maintained its Persian roots and has been associated with various cultural and intellectual achievements across the regions where it has been found. While its origins may have been humble, the name has left an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of Persian and Islamic history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Asghar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Asghar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,707 in 2016. That gives Asghar a modern rank of #2,480.

What does the Asghar surname mean?