UK surname

Ghafoor

A surname referring to someone who is forgiving and merciful.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ghafoor is 1,467 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

1,407

2016, ranked #4,332

Peak year

2010

1,467 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 1,407 in 2016, ranked #4,332.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Ghafoor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ghafoor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Ghafoor 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	794	#6,573
1998	modern	863	#6,357
1999	modern	918	#6,109
2000	modern	986	#5,760
2001	modern	965	#5,752
2002	modern	1,052	#5,463
2003	modern	1,082	#5,254
2004	modern	1,154	#4,989
2005	modern	1,212	#4,724
2006	modern	1,279	#4,507
2007	modern	1,319	#4,433
2008	modern	1,367	#4,333
2009	modern	1,398	#4,333
2010	modern	1,467	#4,258
2011	modern	1,442	#4,266
2012	modern	1,422	#4,248
2013	modern	1,438	#4,283
2014	modern	1,431	#4,317
2015	modern	1,422	#4,304
2016	modern	1,407	#4,332

Geography

Where Ghafoors 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 Bradford, Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester and Middlesbrough. 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	Bradford 033	Bradford
2	Oldham 035	Oldham
3	Rochdale 015	Rochdale
4	Manchester 008	Manchester
5	Middlesbrough 001	Middlesbrough

Forenames

First names often paired with Ghafoor

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Shazia Saima Uzma Nazia Yasmin Samina Nasreen Fozia Saira Robina

Recent male names

Abdul Mohammed Imran Mohammad Muhammad Asif Sohail Faisal Javed Kamran

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Ghafoor

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

Ghafoor 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

Ghafoor 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ghafoor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 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 Ghafoor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Ghafoor

The surname GHAFOOR is of Arabic origin, traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "Ghafur" which means "the Forgiver" or "the Oft-Forgiving". This name was originally bestowed upon individuals known for their compassionate and forgiving nature.

The earliest known records of the surname GHAFOOR date back to the 9th century, where it was found in ancient manuscripts and genealogical records from the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed that the name first emerged in cities such as Mecca and Medina, where Islamic culture and traditions were deeply rooted.

As the Islamic faith spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, the surname GHAFOOR traveled with those who embraced the religion. In the 11th century, the name appeared in various historical documents from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Iran to Morocco.

One notable figure with the surname GHAFOOR was Abu Bakr al-Ghafoor, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his extensive works on Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence, which greatly influenced the development of Islamic thought during that era.

In the 13th century, the name GHAFOOR gained prominence in the Middle East, particularly in regions like Syria and Egypt. During this period, several individuals with this surname held prestigious positions in the courts of various Muslim rulers, serving as advisors, scholars, and administrators.

Another notable figure was Imam al-Ghafoor al-Andalusi, a revered Islamic scholar and philosopher who lived in the 14th century. Born in the city of Granada, which was part of the Muslim-ruled territories in present-day Spain, he made significant contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, and ethics.

In the 16th century, the surname GHAFOOR appeared in Ottoman Empire records, where it was associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including religious scholars, poets, and military leaders. One such figure was Hafiz Ahmed al-Ghafoor, a renowned Ottoman poet whose works were widely acclaimed during his time.

As the centuries passed, the surname GHAFOOR continued to be prevalent in various regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe where Muslim communities had established themselves. It remains a prominent surname among Arabic-speaking populations today, carrying the historical significance of its origin and the virtues associated with forgiveness and compassion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ghafoor surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ghafoor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,407 in 2016. That gives Ghafoor a modern rank of #4,332.

What does the Ghafoor surname mean?