NameCensus.

UK surname

Dawood

An Arabic surname derived from the name David, meaning "beloved" or "friend."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Dawood surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 749, ranked #7,298, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Bradford and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dawood is 749 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10600.0%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

749

2016, ranked #7,298

Peak year

2016

749 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dawood had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016, ranked #7,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Dawood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dawood surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dawood 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
1851 historical 4 #32,658
1861 historical 39 #29,099
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 304 #13,409
1998 modern 345 #12,649
1999 modern 346 #12,726
2000 modern 357 #12,380
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 466 #9,973
2004 modern 498 #9,547
2005 modern 512 #9,286
2006 modern 549 #8,824
2007 modern 582 #8,555
2008 modern 596 #8,464
2009 modern 634 #8,232
2010 modern 677 #7,983
2011 modern 675 #7,916
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 731 #7,485
2014 modern 742 #7,448
2015 modern 742 #7,364
2016 modern 749 #7,298

Geography

Back to top

Where Dawoods 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 Kirklees, Bradford, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Kirklees 007 Kirklees
2 Bradford 034 Bradford
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 009 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kirklees 013 Kirklees

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dawood

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dawood

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dawood is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Dawood 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dawood

The surname Dawood has its origins in the Middle East, with roots tracing back to ancient Persia. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic name "Dawud," which itself is derived from the Hebrew name "David," meaning "beloved" or "uncle." The earliest known records of the name date back to the 7th century AD, during the early Islamic period.

In Persian literature, one of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in the epic poem "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi, written in the late 10th century. The poem refers to a character named Dawood, who was a renowned military commander and advisor to the legendary Persian king, Kaveh the Blacksmith.

During the medieval period, the name Dawood gained prominence in various parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. It is recorded in historical texts and documents from regions such as modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. One notable figure bearing this surname was Amir Dawood Khan, a 14th-century military leader and governor of Ghazni, a region in present-day Afghanistan.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the name Dawood traveled with them, eventually reaching regions such as the Indian subcontinent. In the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire, a prominent figure named Dawood Khan served as a military commander and governor under Akbar, one of the greatest Mughal rulers.

In the 18th century, the name Dawood gained recognition in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in regions such as Oman and Yemen. Historical records from this period mention individuals bearing the surname Dawood, who were involved in trade, politics, and religious scholarship.

Another notable figure with the surname Dawood was Muhammad Dawood Pasha, an Egyptian military leader and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in modernizing the Egyptian army and implementing reforms during the reign of Khedive Ismail Pasha.

Throughout history, the surname Dawood has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including rulers, military leaders, scholars, and merchants. While the name has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to other regions and continues to be a prominent surname in various parts of the world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dawood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dawood 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. Essex leads with 6 Dawoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.01x.

County Total Index
Essex 6 26.01x
Royal Navy 5 359.71x
Kent 1 2.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 6 Dawoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1395.35x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 6 1395.35x
Chatham 1 90.91x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Adam 1
Cullim 1
Henry 1
Mahon 1
Ooman 1
Shaik 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 Dawood households.

FAQ

Dawood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dawood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Dawood surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dawood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016. That gives Dawood a modern rank of #7,298.

What does the Dawood surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from the name David, meaning "beloved" or "friend."

What does the Dawood map show?

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