NameCensus.

UK surname

Haji

A surname referring to someone who has completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Manchester and Preston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haji is 1,032 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,027

2016, ranked #5,681

Peak year

2014

1,032 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,027 in 2016, ranked #5,681.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Haji surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Haji surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Haji 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 2 #34,020
1997 modern 314 #13,136
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 373 #11,996
2001 modern 367 #11,968
2002 modern 413 #11,170
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 490 #9,639
2005 modern 538 #8,933
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 659 #7,784
2008 modern 763 #7,017
2009 modern 858 #6,527
2010 modern 917 #6,297
2011 modern 924 #6,199
2012 modern 904 #6,231
2013 modern 958 #6,031
2014 modern 1,032 #5,710
2015 modern 1,006 #5,780
2016 modern 1,027 #5,681

Geography

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Where Hajis 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 Blackburn with Darwen, Manchester, Preston, Newham and Kirklees. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Manchester 008 Manchester
3 Preston 011 Preston
4 Newham 010 Newham
5 Kirklees 024 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Haji

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Haji

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

Haji 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

Haji falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Haji 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 Haji, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Haji

The surname "Haji" originates from the Arabic language and is believed to have its roots in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a significant Muslim population. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Hajji," which refers to a person who has completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a sacred journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Haji" can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the early years of the Islamic caliphate. It was commonly used as an honorific title for those who had undertaken the Hajj pilgrimage, signifying their religious devotion and the spiritual significance of their journey. Over time, the title became a surname, passed down through generations of Muslim families.

One of the earliest known references to the name "Haji" can be found in the historical accounts of the Umayyad Caliphate, which ruled from 661 to 750 AD. During this period, several prominent figures bore the surname, including Haji Ibn Battuta, a renowned Moroccan explorer and traveler who journeyed across vast regions of Asia and Africa in the 14th century (1304-1369 AD).

Another notable figure was Haji Bektash Veli, a 13th-century Turkish mystic and philosopher who founded the Bektashi Sufi order. His teachings and spiritual guidance had a profound impact on the development of Sufism in Anatolia and beyond (1209-1271 AD).

In the realm of literature, the name "Haji" is associated with Haji Molla Panah Vagif, an 18th-century Azerbaijani poet and satirist who is considered one of the most influential figures in the golden age of Azerbaijani literature (1717-1797 AD).

During the Ottoman Empire, the surname "Haji" gained prominence, and many influential figures bore it, such as Haji Bayram Veli, a 15th-century Turkish poet and Sufi mystic who founded the Bayramiyya order of dervishes (1352-1429 AD).

In more recent times, Haji Muhammad Mohsin, a prominent Indian Muslim scholar and author from the 19th century, made significant contributions to the study of Islamic law and jurisprudence (1804-1880 AD).

While the surname "Haji" has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic traditions, it has been adopted by various cultures and communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and regions with significant Muslim populations. The name continues to hold spiritual and cultural significance, serving as a reminder of the Hajj pilgrimage and the shared heritage of those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Haji surname: questions and answers

How common is the Haji surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,027 in 2016. That gives Haji a modern rank of #5,681.

What does the Haji surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who has completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

What does the Haji map show?

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