NameCensus.

UK surname

Assad

A surname denoting a member of the Alawite Muslim minority sect of Syria.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bournemouth, Nottingham and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Assad is 111 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2014

111 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Assad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Assad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Assad 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 36 #34,071
1998 modern 43 #33,557
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 44 #33,490
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 74 #31,522
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 92 #31,528
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Assads 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 Bournemouth, Nottingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dudley and Poole. 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 Bournemouth 012 Bournemouth
2 Nottingham 006 Nottingham
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 022 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Dudley 026 Dudley
5 Poole 017 Poole

Forenames

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First names often paired with Assad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Assad

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Assad is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Assad 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

Assad 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 Assad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Assad, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Assad

The surname Assad is of Arabic origin, believed to have emerged in the Levant region during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "asad," meaning "lion," which was often used as a symbolic epithet or descriptive byname for individuals perceived as brave, courageous, or formidable.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Assad surname can be traced back to the 12th century, appearing in medieval Arabic manuscripts and chronicles from the region. During this time, the name was commonly associated with prominent families and individuals who held positions of power or influence in the societies of the Levant.

In the 13th century, the Assad name gained further prominence with the rise of the Ayyubid dynasty, a Sunni Muslim Kurdishfamily that ruled over parts of modern-day Syria, Egypt, and Yemen. One notable figure from this period was Al-Malik Al-Ashraf Musa Assad, a Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty who ruled over parts of Syria from 1237 to 1237 CE.

The Assad surname continued to be prevalent in the Levant region throughout the subsequent centuries, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in areas such as Damascus, Aleppo, and other Syrian cities. One notable example from the 17th century is Ahmad Assad, a scholar and poet from Damascus who was renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature.

During the Ottoman era, the Assad name was also found among influential families in the region, with some members holding administrative positions or serving in the military ranks of the Ottoman Empire. One such figure was Mustafa Assad, a prominent military commander who served in the Ottoman army during the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Assad surname gained further recognition with the birth of Khaled Assad (1934-2015), a renowned Syrian archaeologist and scholar who dedicated his life to preserving and studying the ancient ruins of Palmyra. His work in documenting and protecting the cultural heritage of Syria earned him international acclaim and recognition.

Throughout its history, the Assad surname has been associated with various place names and locations within the Levant region, such as the town of Assad in northern Syria, as well as the Assad Valley and Assad Lake, both located in the coastal region of Syria.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Assad surname: questions and answers

How common is the Assad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Assad a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Assad surname mean?

A surname denoting a member of the Alawite Muslim minority sect of Syria.

What does the Assad map show?

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