NameCensus.

UK surname

Hirsi

A Somali surname meaning "lion" or "courageous one."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hirsi is 175 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

2016

175 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hirsi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hirsi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hirsi 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 21 #35,692
1998 modern 19 #36,009
1999 modern 20 #35,923
2000 modern 12 #36,749
2001 modern 16 #36,160
2002 modern 26 #35,338
2003 modern 33 #34,773
2004 modern 62 #32,478
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Hirsis 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 Bristol, Birmingham, Hillingdon, Sheffield and Hackney. 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 Bristol 056 Bristol, City of
2 Birmingham 040 Birmingham
3 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon
4 Sheffield 074 Sheffield
5 Hackney 022 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hirsi

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

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

Hirsi 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

Hirsi 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hirsi

The surname HIRSI is believed to have originated in Somalia, a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is thought to be derived from the Somali word "hirsi," which means "chastity" or "virtue." The name likely emerged during the medieval period when many Somali clans and lineages were established.

HIRSI is a common surname among the Somali people, particularly within the Hawiye clan, one of the major noble clans in Somalia. The name has been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts related to Somalia's rich cultural heritage.

One of the earliest known mentions of the HIRSI surname can be found in the "Kitab al-Shufara al-Somal" (The Book of Somali Poets), a compilation of Somali poetry dating back to the 16th century. This work includes poems by several poets with the HIRSI surname, indicating the name's prevalence during that time.

In the 19th century, the HIRSI surname gained prominence with the rise of the Somali scholar and philosopher, Abdullahi Nur HIRSI (1856-1935). He was a renowned Islamic scholar and played a significant role in the spread of education and religious teachings in Somalia.

Another notable figure with the HIRSI surname is Ayaan Hirsi Ali (born 1969), a Somali-born Dutch-American activist, writer, and former politician. She is known for her criticism of Islamic fundamentalism and her advocacy for women's rights and secularism.

Other individuals with the HIRSI surname throughout history include:

1. Mohammed Abdullahi HIRSI (1919-2008), a Somali politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from 1964 to 1967. 2. Abdirahman HIRSI (1938-2014), a Somali politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from 2010 to 2011. 3. Fadumo HIRSI (1936-2020), a Somali-American activist and community leader who worked tirelessly for the empowerment of Somali women and youth in Minnesota, United States. 4. Hawa Abdi HIRSI (born 1947), a renowned Somali human rights activist and pioneer in establishing the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and medical care to internally displaced people in Somalia.

The HIRSI surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Somali culture and tradition, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hirsi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Hirsi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Hirsi a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Hirsi surname mean?

A Somali surname meaning "lion" or "courageous one."

What does the Hirsi map show?

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