NameCensus.

UK surname

Basit

An Arabic surname meaning "simple" or "plain."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Basit surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 335, ranked #13,611, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Oldham and Darlington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basit is 335 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

335

2016, ranked #13,611

Peak year

2016

335 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basit had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016, ranked #13,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Basit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basit surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basit 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 20 #31,364
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 71 #30,521
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 238 #16,640
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 296 #14,877
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 302 #14,451
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 322 #14,023
2016 modern 335 #13,611

Geography

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Where Basits 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 Tower Hamlets, Oldham, Darlington and Newham. 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 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
2 Oldham 016 Oldham
3 Darlington 008 Darlington
4 Newham 004 Newham
5 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basit

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Basit is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Basit 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

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

Meaning and origin of Basit

The surname "BASIT" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in present-day Pakistan. It is an Arabic word that means "simple" or "uncomplicated." The name likely has its roots in the 7th century, during the early Islamic period, when Arab traders and scholars brought their language and culture to the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BASIT" can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions several individuals with this surname, suggesting that it was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the late 18th century, the name appears in several British colonial records from the Indian subcontinent. One notable individual was Syed Basit Ali Khan (1786-1857), a prominent Muslim scholar and educator from the city of Lucknow, who played a significant role in preserving and promoting Islamic education during the East India Company's rule.

Another historical figure bearing the surname "BASIT" was Mohammad Basit (1827-1893), a renowned poet and writer from Hyderabad, India. His works, written in Urdu and Persian, explored themes of spirituality and love, and he was widely celebrated in literary circles of his time.

In the 20th century, the name gained recognition through Basit Jamal (1903-1978), a Pakistani politician and diplomat who served as the country's first ambassador to the United States after its independence in 1947. He played a crucial role in establishing Pakistan's diplomatic relations with the West.

One of the most celebrated individuals with the surname "BASIT" is Basit Ali (1916-1995), a legendary Pakistani cricketer who captained the national team in the 1930s and 1940s. He was widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his era and was awarded the prestigious Pride of Performance medal by the Pakistani government in recognition of his contributions to the sport.

While the surname "BASIT" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. The name continues to be prevalent in countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, as well as among Muslim communities in other regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basit surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1 Basits recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 1 Basits recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.19x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 1 185.19x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Basit surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Robert 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Basit households.

Occupation Count
Law Clerk 1

FAQ

Basit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Basit surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016. That gives Basit a modern rank of #13,611.

What does the Basit surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "simple" or "plain."

What does the Basit map show?

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