NameCensus.

UK surname

Diab

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "wolf" or "jackal".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diab is 138 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2015

138 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Diab surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diab surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Diab 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
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 56 #32,313
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 77 #30,709
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 73 #31,403
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Diabs 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, The Grange, Liverpool, Harrow and Hertsmere. 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 016 Westminster
2 The Grange City of Edinburgh
3 Liverpool 048 Liverpool
4 Harrow 023 Harrow
5 Hertsmere 001 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Diab

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Diab

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Diab surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Diab 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Diab is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Diab 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

Diab falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Diab is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
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 Diab, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Diab

The surname Diab has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "dib," which means "wolf." The name likely originally referred to someone who possessed wolf-like characteristics, such as strength, fierceness, or cunning.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Diab can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the Islamic conquests of the Middle East and North Africa. It is mentioned in several historical manuscripts and records from that era, indicating its presence among Arab tribes and communities.

In the 11th century, the name appears in the famous Arabic manuscript "Kitab al-Ansab" (Book of Genealogies), which chronicles the lineages and ancestries of prominent Arab families. This suggests that the Diab surname had gained recognition and was associated with notable individuals during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Diab was Abd al-Rahman al-Diab, a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 9th century AD. His works and contributions to Arabic literature and culture have been widely studied and celebrated.

In the 12th century, the name is found in records from the city of Damascus, Syria, where a family of merchants and traders by the name of Diab was prominent. Their name was also associated with the neighboring town of Diab, which may have been named after them or vice versa.

Another notable figure bearing the Diab surname was Ibn Diab al-Qurtubi, a 13th-century Arab philosopher and theologian from the city of Cordoba in present-day Spain. His influential writings on Islamic jurisprudence and theology have been widely studied and debated.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the Middle East, the Diab surname continued to be prevalent, with several individuals bearing the name serving in various positions within the Ottoman administration and military ranks.

Fast-forwarding to more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the Diab surname was Mahmoud Diab, a renowned Egyptian actor and filmmaker who lived from 1923 to 1983. He was known for his contributions to the golden age of Egyptian cinema and his performances in several critically acclaimed films.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Diab surname: questions and answers

How common is the Diab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Diab a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Diab surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "wolf" or "jackal".

What does the Diab map show?

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