NameCensus.

UK surname

Hafez

An Arabic surname meaning "preserver" or "memorizer" of the Quran.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hafez is 112 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2010

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Hafez surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hafez surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hafez 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 55 #32,114
1998 modern 59 #32,027
1999 modern 60 #32,078
2000 modern 68 #31,380
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 72 #31,488
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Hafez' 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Kirklees, Waltham Forest and Westminster. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Kirklees 013 Kirklees
3 Waltham Forest 024 Waltham Forest
4 Westminster 014 Westminster
5 Kirklees 012 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hafez

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hafez 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

Hafez 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hafez

The surname Hafez has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It is derived from the Arabic word "hafiz," which means "one who has memorized" or "guardian," often referring to someone who has memorized the entire Qur'an.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Hafez can be found in historical manuscripts and records from the 13th century in Persia (modern-day Iran). During this time, the name was often associated with scholars, poets, and religious figures who had achieved the prestigious title of "Hafiz" by committing the Qur'an to memory.

The renowned Persian poet and mystic Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez, also known as Hafez of Shiraz, is perhaps the most famous individual to bear this surname. Born in Shiraz, Iran, in the early 14th century (around 1315-1390), his works, particularly his ghazals (lyric poems), have had a profound influence on Persian literature and culture.

Another notable figure with the surname Hafez is Hafez al-Asad, the late president of Syria. He ruled from 1971 until his death in 2000 and played a significant role in shaping the modern history of Syria and the Middle East.

In the Indian subcontinent, the surname Hafez is also found among Muslim communities, particularly those with ancestral roots in Persia or the Arab world. One example is the Indian politician and diplomat Hafez Mohamad Ibrahim, who served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh from 1957 to 1958.

The surname Hafez has also been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, reflecting its association with Islamic scholarship and religious devotion. Some of these records date back to the 9th and 10th centuries, when the practice of memorizing the Qur'an became widespread in the region.

While the surname Hafez has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals with the surname Hafez can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of this historic name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hafez surname: questions and answers

How common is the Hafez surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Hafez a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Hafez surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "preserver" or "memorizer" of the Quran.

What does the Hafez map show?

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