NameCensus.

UK surname

Fazil

A surname meaning "virtuous" or "meritorious" in Arabic.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Bradford and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fazil is 329 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

316

2016, ranked #14,227

Peak year

2010

329 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016, ranked #14,227.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Fazil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fazil surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fazil 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 5 #33,418
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 219 #16,666
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 234 #16,205
2002 modern 262 #15,327
2003 modern 274 #14,680
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 280 #14,452
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 316 #13,933
2010 modern 329 #13,818
2011 modern 323 #13,868
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 323 #14,003
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 316 #14,227

Geography

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Where Fazils 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 Waltham Forest, Bradford and Leeds. 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 Waltham Forest 019 Waltham Forest
2 Bradford 039 Bradford
3 Bradford 048 Bradford
4 Leeds 053 Leeds
5 Waltham Forest 018 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fazil

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fazil

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Fazil is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Fazil 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fazil

The surname Fazil is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Pakistan and India. The name is derived from the Arabic word "fazil," which means "virtuous," "excellent," or "learned." It is thought to have first gained prominence during the medieval period, when it was used as a title or honorific for scholars and individuals of exceptional knowledge or virtue.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fazil can be found in historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The Mughals, who were of Turkic-Mongol descent, brought with them various cultural and linguistic influences, including Arabic and Persian, which contributed to the formation of many surnames in the region.

During the Mughal era, the surname Fazil was often associated with individuals who held prominent positions in the court or the administration. For example, Fazil Khan (1551-1609) was a prominent military commander and governor who served under the Mughal emperors Akbar and Jahangir.

As the Mughal Empire expanded and consolidated its rule, the surname Fazil spread to other parts of the subcontinent. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it gained popularity among Muslim communities in regions such as Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Hyderabad.

One notable figure bearing the surname Fazil was Fazil-e-Akbar (1805-1862), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Hyderabad, who made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and authored several influential works.

In the Subcontinent's literary tradition, the surname Fazil has also been associated with poets and writers. Fazil Lucknowi (1801-1878), a renowned Urdu poet from Lucknow, is celebrated for his ghazals and masnavis, which are still widely read and studied today.

Another prominent figure with the surname Fazil was Fazil Rizvi (1887-1938), a renowned educationist and social reformer from Uttar Pradesh, who played a significant role in promoting education and social upliftment among Muslims in British India.

While the surname Fazil has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to the rich cultural and intellectual traditions of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fazil surname: questions and answers

How common is the Fazil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016. That gives Fazil a modern rank of #14,227.

What does the Fazil surname mean?

A surname meaning "virtuous" or "meritorious" in Arabic.

What does the Fazil map show?

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