NameCensus.

UK surname

Hassan

An Arabic surname indicating descent from Hassan, a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Hassan surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13,328, ranked #483, up from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hassan is 13,328 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9558.0%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

13,328

2016, ranked #483

Peak year

2016

13,328 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hassan had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13,328 in 2016, ranked #483.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hassan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hassan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hassan 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 5,054 #1,293
1998 modern 5,317 #1,279
1999 modern 5,604 #1,222
2000 modern 5,794 #1,165
2001 modern 5,775 #1,146
2002 modern 6,532 #1,046
2003 modern 6,775 #976
2004 modern 7,400 #889
2005 modern 8,035 #796
2006 modern 8,797 #723
2007 modern 9,417 #666
2008 modern 9,998 #630
2009 modern 10,883 #594
2010 modern 11,818 #561
2011 modern 11,711 #560
2012 modern 12,038 #535
2013 modern 12,671 #514
2014 modern 12,990 #498
2015 modern 13,091 #493
2016 modern 13,328 #483

Geography

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Where Hassans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, London parishes, Govan Combination and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leicester. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
2 Birmingham 083 Birmingham
3 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
4 Leicester 018 Leicester
5 Birmingham 071 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hassan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hassan

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hassan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hassan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hassan

The surname HASSAN has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions of modern-day Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Arabic word "hasan," which means "good" or "handsome."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HASSAN can be found in historical documents from the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic expansion across the Middle East and North Africa. The name is believed to have been adopted by individuals who were considered to possess admirable qualities or were deemed to be of noble or virtuous character.

In the 9th century, the HASSAN surname appeared in various manuscripts and records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which was centered in Baghdad, Iraq. One notable bearer of the name was Al-Hassan ibn Ali, a prominent Islamic scholar and theologian who lived from 836 to 923 AD.

During the medieval period, the HASSAN surname spread across the Middle East and North Africa, carried by traders, scholars, and travelers. In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Abu'l-Hassan Ali ibn Ridwan was a renowned physician and philosopher from Egypt who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the HASSAN surname found its way to other parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent and parts of Europe. In the 16th century, Noor ud-Din Muhammad Hassan was a famous Sufi saint and poet from Persia (modern-day Iran), who lived from 1516 to 1593.

Another notable bearer of the HASSAN surname was Abd al-Qadir al-Hassan, a Sudanese religious leader and political figure who led an uprising against the British colonial rule in the late 19th century, from 1856 to 1923.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the HASSAN surname was Tawfiq al-Hakim, an Egyptian writer and playwright who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Arabic literature. He lived from 1898 to 1987 and made significant contributions to the literary and cultural landscape of the Arab world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hassan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hassan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 27 Hassans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 27 6.16x
Middlesex 20 1.48x
Lancashire 15 0.93x
Northumberland 15 7.44x
Surrey 12 1.82x
Renfrewshire 10 9.52x
Durham 8 1.98x
Hampshire 6 2.16x
Rutland 5 50.25x
Dunbartonshire 4 10.98x
Lincolnshire 4 1.85x
Devon 3 1.06x
Essex 2 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.09x
Ayrshire 1 0.99x
Glamorgan 1 0.42x
Midlothian 1 0.55x
Royal Navy 1 6.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.29x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hamilton in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Hassans recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.94x.

Place Total Index
Hamilton 11 89.94x
Lambeth 8 6.77x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 66.39x
Bishopwearmouth 7 20.22x
Glasgow 7 8.99x
Houston Killallan 6 588.24x
Holdenhurst 5 68.59x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 188.68x
Oakham Lordshold 5 480.77x
Hackney London 4 5.26x
Kingston On Thames 4 25.20x
Lesmahagow 4 86.21x
St Pancras London 4 3.67x
Stamford St George 4 412.37x
Barony 3 2.70x
Habergham Eaves 3 20.39x
Mile End Old Town London 3 10.40x
Old Kilpatrick 3 69.61x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 13.80x
Salford 3 6.34x
Toxteth Park 3 5.51x
East Ham 2 40.24x
Eastwood 2 30.91x
Kirkdale 2 7.39x
Poplar London 2 7.82x
Sharples 2 114.29x
Acton 1 12.58x
Ayr 1 20.88x
Cornsay 1 91.74x
Dumbarton 1 19.72x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.37x
Everton 1 1.95x
Hampstead London 1 4.73x
Islington London 1 0.76x
Llandaff 1 12.74x
Lochwinnoch 1 63.69x
Longbenton 1 11.71x
Mearns 1 54.35x
New Monkland 1 7.72x
North Shields 1 24.81x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.12x
Nottingham St Peter 1 49.02x
Portsmouth 1 15.63x
Royal Navy 1 7.24x
Rutherglen 1 15.55x
Sheffield 1 2.34x
St Bride London 1 126.58x
St Marylebone London 1 1.38x
Studley 1 68.49x
Wavertree 1 19.42x
Westminster St James 1 7.17x
Westminster St John 1 6.06x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Alexander 3
Edward 3
William 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Judah 2
Patrick 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alexr.A. 1
Barnard 1
Benjamin 1
Emil 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Houssei 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
L. 1
Mahmoud 1
Moses 1
Philip 1
Soloman 1
Stoor 1
Syed 1
Syne 1
T. 1
Thomas 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Hassan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hassan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Hassan surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hassan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13,328 in 2016. That gives Hassan a modern rank of #483.

What does the Hassan surname mean?

An Arabic surname indicating descent from Hassan, a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

What does the Hassan map show?

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