UK surname

Belal

An Arabic surname meaning "night splendor" or "night radiance".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Southwark and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belal is 102 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2014

102 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Belal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Belal 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
1997	modern	34	#34,282
1998	modern	29	#34,948
1999	modern	38	#34,142
2000	modern	43	#33,709
2001	modern	40	#33,842
2002	modern	43	#33,871
2003	modern	51	#33,266
2004	modern	55	#33,154
2005	modern	56	#33,264
2006	modern	67	#32,532
2007	modern	71	#32,484
2008	modern	77	#32,181
2009	modern	89	#31,235
2010	modern	97	#30,697
2011	modern	96	#30,721
2012	modern	94	#31,258
2013	modern	94	#31,656
2014	modern	102	#30,714
2015	modern	99	#31,168
2016	modern	100	#31,123

Geography

Where Belals 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 Westminster, Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham and Ealing. 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	Westminster 009	Westminster
2	Southwark 012	Southwark
3	Hammersmith and Fulham 002	Hammersmith and Fulham
4	Ealing 021	Ealing
5	Southwark 007	Southwark

Forenames

First names often paired with Belal

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Susan Jalila Amira Sherine Della Isabel Mona Anna Julie Tanya

Recent male names

Mohammed Ahmed Abu Tanvir Md Hany Abdul Mohamed Salah Mohammad

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Belal

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Belal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Belal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Belal 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

Belal 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

Belal 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Belal 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 Belal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Belal

The surname Belal has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a significant Arab population. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "bilal," which means "water" or "moisture."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Belal can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when a notable figure named Bilal ibn Rabah, a former Abyssinian slave, became one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad. Bilal played a significant role in the early days of Islam and was honored with the title of "Muadhin," which means "the one who calls for prayer."

During the medieval period, the name Belal appeared in various Arabic manuscripts and historical records, often associated with scholars, poets, and religious figures. One such individual was Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Belali, a renowned Islamic scholar and writer who lived in the 10th century CE in the city of Baghdad.

As the Arabic culture and language spread across North Africa and parts of Europe, the name Belal also found its way into these regions. In Spain, for instance, there are records of individuals bearing the surname Belal during the era of Muslim rule, particularly in regions like Andalusia and Valencia.

One notable figure with the surname Belal was Abul-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi, also known as Albucasis or Abulcasis, who was a renowned Arab Muslim surgeon, physician, and scientist born in 936 CE in Cordoba, Spain. His influential work, "Al-Tasrif," a medical encyclopedia, was widely studied and referenced in Europe for centuries.

Another individual of note was Sidi Belal, a revered Sufi saint and scholar who lived in the 16th century in the city of Fez, Morocco. His shrine and tomb have become a significant pilgrimage site for many Muslims in the region.

In more recent centuries, the surname Belal has been found in various parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and among Arab communities in other parts of the world. Some notable figures include:

1. Ahmed Belal (1936-2018), an Egyptian actor and comedian known for his roles in numerous films and television shows. 2. Ahmed Belal (born 1942), an Egyptian judge and former Vice President of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt. 3. Yousef Belal (born 1970), a Kuwaiti footballer who played as a defender for the Kuwaiti national team. 4. Khalid Belal (born 1981), a Moroccan-Dutch professional boxer who competed in the super middleweight division. 5. Belal Muhammad (born 1988), an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the UFC's welterweight division.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Belal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Belal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Belal a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Belal surname mean?