NameCensus.

UK surname

Hussain

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "good," "handsome," or "beautiful," and referring to the grandson of Muhammad.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hussain is 66,659 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

66,659

2016, ranked #70

Peak year

2016

66,659 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 66,659 in 2016, ranked #70.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Hussain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hussain surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hussain 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 23 #31,039
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 29,944 #175
1998 modern 33,558 #152
1999 modern 36,070 #141
2000 modern 38,703 #131
2001 modern 38,002 #129
2002 modern 43,404 #109
2003 modern 45,817 #105
2004 modern 48,361 #97
2005 modern 50,831 #87
2006 modern 53,728 #82
2007 modern 56,810 #78
2008 modern 59,179 #75
2009 modern 62,885 #73
2010 modern 66,251 #71
2011 modern 66,195 #69
2012 modern 63,693 #71
2013 modern 65,728 #69
2014 modern 66,263 #71
2015 modern 66,170 #70
2016 modern 66,659 #70

Geography

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Where Hussains 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 Bradford, Birmingham and Hyndburn. 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 Bradford 033 Bradford
2 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
3 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
4 Birmingham 140 Birmingham
5 Bradford 042 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hussain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hussain

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Hussain is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hussain 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hussain

The surname "HUSSAIN" is of Arabic origin and is believed to have emerged in the 7th century CE during the Islamic Golden Age. It is derived from the Arabic word "Husayn," which means "good" or "handsome." The name is closely associated with Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the most revered figures in Islam.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "HUSSAIN" can be found in various historical texts and manuscripts from the Middle East. One notable example is the "Kitab al-Aghani" (Book of Songs), a 10th-century anthology of Arabic poetry and literature, which mentions individuals bearing the surname.

In the 11th century, the surname "HUSSAIN" gained prominence in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran, Iraq, and Syria. During this period, several notable figures with the surname emerged, including Abu al-Husayn Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Sufi (903-986 CE), a renowned Persian astronomer and mathematician.

As Islam spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, the surname "HUSSAIN" became more widespread. In the 12th century, the name appeared in records from the Iberian Peninsula, where the Moors (Muslims from North Africa) had established a significant presence.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "HUSSAIN" was Husayn ibn Ali (626-680 CE), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a central figure in Shia Islam. He is revered for his martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala, which is commemorated annually during the Ashura mourning rituals.

Other notable figures with the surname "HUSSAIN" include:

1. Mir Husayn Isfahani (1554-1637 CE), a renowned Persian calligrapher and artist. 2. Badr al-Din al-Husayn (1292-1363 CE), a Persian mystic and Sufi master. 3. Husayn al-Kurdi (1617-1689 CE), a Kurdish scholar and poet. 4. Husayn ibn Ali al-Tusi (1018-1095 CE), a Persian philosopher and mathematician. 5. Husayn Bayqara (1438-1506 CE), the Sultan of the Timurid Empire in modern-day Afghanistan and Iran.

The surname "HUSSAIN" has also been associated with various place names, such as Husaynabad (meaning "town of Husayn") and Husayniyah, which can be found in several countries with significant Muslim populations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hussain surname: questions and answers

How common is the Hussain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 66,659 in 2016. That gives Hussain a modern rank of #70.

What does the Hussain surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "good," "handsome," or "beautiful," and referring to the grandson of Muhammad.

What does the Hussain map show?

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