NameCensus.

UK surname

Farah

A Arabic surname referring to joy, cheerfulness, and merriment.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Farah surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,941, ranked #3,297, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farah is 1,941 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32250.0%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

1,941

2016, ranked #3,297

Peak year

2016

1,941 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farah had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,941 in 2016, ranked #3,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Farah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farah 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 394 #11,579
2000 modern 423 #10,941
2001 modern 432 #10,584
2002 modern 554 #8,933
2003 modern 631 #8,001
2004 modern 744 #7,071
2005 modern 908 #5,987
2006 modern 1,039 #5,400
2007 modern 1,151 #4,979
2008 modern 1,249 #4,680
2009 modern 1,393 #4,352
2010 modern 1,623 #3,908
2011 modern 1,596 #3,916
2012 modern 1,682 #3,677
2013 modern 1,816 #3,511
2014 modern 1,877 #3,436
2015 modern 1,881 #3,393
2016 modern 1,941 #3,297

Geography

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Where Farahs 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 Liverpool, Leicester, Ealing and Sheffield. 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 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
2 Leicester 018 Leicester
3 Ealing 033 Ealing
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Sheffield 022 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farah

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Farah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Farah 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Farah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Farah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Farah

The surname Farah is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language and is particularly prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa. It is derived from the Arabic word "farah," which means joy, happiness, or delight. The name's roots can be traced back to the 7th century, during the rise of Islam and the expansion of the Arab Empire.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Farah can be found in the Al-Muqaddasi's book "Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim" (The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions), written in the 10th century. This work mentions a town called "Farah" in present-day Afghanistan, suggesting that the name may have originated in that region.

During the medieval period, the name Farah appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly in regions under Islamic rule. For instance, in the 12th century, a scholar named Abu'l-Farah al-Isfahani authored a book titled "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), which is considered a significant contribution to Arabic literature and music.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Farah was Muhammad ibn Farah al-Qurtubi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Cordoba, Spain, who lived in the 12th century. Another notable figure was Abu al-Farah al-Isfahani, a Persian poet and literary critic who lived in the 10th century and was renowned for his work on Arabic poetry and literature.

In the 13th century, a place called "Farah" was mentioned in the writings of the Persian historian Rashid al-Din, indicating that the name may have been derived from a geographic location or settlement. Additionally, during the Ottoman Empire, there were several individuals with the surname Farah who held prominent positions, such as Mehmed Farah Pasha, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and military commander.

Other notable individuals with the surname Farah include:

1. Ismail Farah (1900-1965), an Egyptian playwright and novelist known for his works that explored social and political issues. 2. Abdisalam Issa-Salwe Farah (1919-2018), a Somali historian, writer, and politician who served as the first president of the Somali National University. 3. Nuruddin Farah (born 1945), a renowned Somali novelist and writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary African authors. 4. Mo Farah (born 1983), a British long-distance runner and one of the most successful track and field athletes of all time, winning multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medals. 5. Ahmed Farah (born 1978), a Djiboutian middle-distance runner who represented his country in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

While the surname Farah has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities, making it a surname found in diverse regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farah 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 2 Farahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 3.42x
Yorkshire 2 3.45x
Anglesey 1 96.15x
Cumberland 1 19.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 2 Farahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.55x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 2 42.55x
Holyhead 1 526.32x
Huddersfield 1 119.05x
Selby 1 833.33x
Wetheral 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Henrietta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 1
George 1
Wallace 1
William 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 Farah households.

FAQ

Farah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Farah surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,941 in 2016. That gives Farah a modern rank of #3,297.

What does the Farah surname mean?

A Arabic surname referring to joy, cheerfulness, and merriment.

What does the Farah map show?

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