NameCensus.

UK surname

Hawa

An Arabic surname meaning wind, breeze or air.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hawa is 168 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2009

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hawa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hawa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hawa 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 2 #34,135
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 121 #24,677
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 161 #22,599
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Hawas 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, Birmingham 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 Waltham Forest 012 Waltham Forest
2 Birmingham 033 Birmingham
3 Waltham Forest 014 Waltham Forest
4 Waltham Forest 016 Waltham Forest
5 Westminster 003 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hawa

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

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

Hawa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hawa

The surname "HAWA" has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is believed to have emerged from the Middle East region, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq, during the medieval period.

The name "HAWA" is derived from the Arabic word "hawa," which means "air" or "wind." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in windy or arid regions or perhaps had an occupation related to the natural elements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "HAWA" can be traced back to the 12th century, where it was found in ancient manuscripts and records from the Abbasid Caliphate, a prominent Islamic empire that ruled over a vast territory spanning from North Africa to Central Asia.

In the 14th century, there are mentions of a renowned scholar and poet named Ahmed ibn Abdul-Hawa, who hailed from the city of Baghdad in present-day Iraq. His works and contributions to Arabic literature are still celebrated today.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign, which spanned from the 13th to the 20th centuries, the surname "HAWA" was present among the Turkish population, particularly in regions like Anatolia and the Levant. One notable figure from this period was Mustafa Hawa, a military commander who fought in the Ottoman-Venetian Wars in the late 16th century.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname "HAWA" was Muhammad al-Hawa, a reformist scholar and jurist from Yemen. He played a significant role in the Revivalist movement within Islam and advocated for modernization and educational reforms.

Another individual worth mentioning is Ismail Hawa, a Syrian-born Islamic scholar and author who lived from 1907 to 1989. He wrote several influential works on Islamic theology, spirituality, and ethics, which gained widespread recognition across the Muslim world.

While the surname "HAWA" is predominantly found in Arab countries and regions with historical ties to the Middle East, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the Arabic language and the rich cultural heritage of the Middle Eastern region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hawa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Hawa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Hawa a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Hawa surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning wind, breeze or air.

What does the Hawa map show?

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