NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashraf

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "most honorable," "most noble," or "most distinguished."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashraf is 5,065 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

5,046

2016, ranked #1,344

Peak year

2010

5,065 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,046 in 2016, ranked #1,344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ashraf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashraf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ashraf 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 1 #34,332
1997 modern 2,431 #2,591
1998 modern 2,703 #2,452
1999 modern 2,888 #2,339
2000 modern 3,067 #2,197
2001 modern 3,076 #2,137
2002 modern 3,406 #1,991
2003 modern 3,562 #1,852
2004 modern 3,784 #1,753
2005 modern 3,956 #1,647
2006 modern 4,154 #1,573
2007 modern 4,394 #1,506
2008 modern 4,558 #1,459
2009 modern 4,841 #1,404
2010 modern 5,065 #1,374
2011 modern 5,025 #1,361
2012 modern 4,897 #1,368
2013 modern 4,988 #1,371
2014 modern 5,055 #1,356
2015 modern 5,025 #1,349
2016 modern 5,046 #1,344

Geography

Back to top

Where Ashrafs 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, Pollokshields East 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 Pendle 011 Pendle
2 Pollokshields East Glasgow City
3 Manchester 027 Manchester
4 Manchester 008 Manchester
5 Pendle 013 Pendle

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ashraf

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ashraf

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

Ashraf 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ashraf

The surname ASHRAF is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the Middle East, specifically the Arabian Peninsula, during the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "Ashrāf," which means "noble" or "distinguished." The name was initially used to refer to individuals who belonged to the noble class or had a close connection to the Prophet Muhammad's family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ASHRAF can be found in historical manuscripts from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast region spanning from North Africa to Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries AD. These manuscripts often mentioned individuals with the surname ASHRAF who held positions of authority or played significant roles in the caliphate's administration.

As the Islamic empire expanded, the name ASHRAF spread to various regions, including Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. In some regions, the name took on variations in spelling, such as ASHRAF or ASHRAFI, reflecting local linguistic influences.

One notable figure with the surname ASHRAF was Mir Ashraf Jahangir Simnani, a 14th-century Persian poet and mystic who was revered for his poetic works and contributions to Sufism. Another prominent individual was Ashrafi Hussain Khan, a 16th-century Mughal administrator and military commander who served under the emperor Akbar.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign in the Middle East and parts of Europe between the 14th and 20th centuries, the surname ASHRAF was also found among the ruling elite and influential families. One such individual was Ismail Ashraf Bey, an 18th-century Ottoman governor and diplomat who played a crucial role in the empire's affairs.

In the Indian subcontinent, the surname ASHRAF gained prominence during the Mughal Empire and the subsequent era of Muslim rule. Notable figures include Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, a 19th-century poet and scholar considered one of the greatest contributors to Urdu literature, and Muhammad Ashraf Ali Thanawi, a renowned 19th-century Islamic scholar and theologian.

Throughout history, the surname ASHRAF has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, administrators, and military leaders, reflecting the name's noble and distinguished origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ashraf surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ashraf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,046 in 2016. That gives Ashraf a modern rank of #1,344.

What does the Ashraf surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "most honorable," "most noble," or "most distinguished."

What does the Ashraf map show?

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