NameCensus.

UK surname

Hussein

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "good," "handsome," or "beautiful."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Hussein surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,870, ranked #1,387, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hussein is 4,889 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 486900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

4,870

2016, ranked #1,387

Peak year

2014

4,889 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hussein had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,870 in 2016, ranked #1,387.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hussein surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hussein surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hussein 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 2,123 #2,909
1998 modern 2,303 #2,809
1999 modern 2,384 #2,739
2000 modern 2,381 #2,724
2001 modern 2,343 #2,715
2002 modern 2,654 #2,487
2003 modern 2,822 #2,330
2004 modern 3,005 #2,182
2005 modern 3,147 #2,058
2006 modern 3,407 #1,905
2007 modern 3,620 #1,816
2008 modern 3,789 #1,750
2009 modern 4,156 #1,630
2010 modern 4,518 #1,543
2011 modern 4,393 #1,557
2012 modern 4,542 #1,486
2013 modern 4,796 #1,426
2014 modern 4,889 #1,407
2015 modern 4,852 #1,402
2016 modern 4,870 #1,387

Geography

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Where Husseins 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 Leicester and Manchester. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Leicester 022 Leicester
4 Manchester 025 Manchester
5 Leicester 027 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hussein

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hussein 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

Hussein 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

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

Meaning and origin of Hussein

The surname Hussein originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. It traces its roots back to the 7th century AD, during the early days of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Husayn," which means "good" or "handsome."

One of the earliest known references to the name Hussein can be found in the historical accounts of the Battle of Karbala, which took place in 680 AD. In this battle, Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred along with his family and companions. This event holds great significance in Shia Islam and has contributed to the widespread adoption of the name Hussein among Muslims, particularly in the Shia community.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Hussein date back to the 8th century AD, when it began appearing in various Arabic manuscripts and records. During this time, the name was often associated with individuals from prominent families or those with a strong religious or scholarly background.

In the centuries that followed, the surname Hussein spread across the Middle East and parts of North Africa, carried by traders, scholars, and travelers. It is believed that the name was introduced to other regions, such as South Asia and parts of Europe, through the expansion of Islamic empires and the migration of people.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Hussein. One of the most prominent was Taha Hussein (1889-1973), an Egyptian writer, novelist, and intellectual who played a significant role in the renaissance of modern Arabic literature. Another notable figure was Saddam Hussein (1937-2006), the former president of Iraq, whose controversial rule and policies had a lasting impact on the country and the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hussein include: 1. Zaki al-Arsuzi (1899-1968), a Syrian political theorist and philosopher. 2. Mahmoud Hussein (born 1946), a Sudanese writer and novelist. 3. Yasir Hussain (born 1980), a Pakistani actor and comedian. 4. Hussein Chalayan (born 1970), a British-Turkish Cypriot fashion designer. 5. Alia Hussain Pandor (born 1954), a South African politician and academic.

The surname Hussein has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Some examples include Hussein Dey, a town in Algeria, and Hussein Qalah, a village in Afghanistan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hussein families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hussein 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. Essex leads with 1 Husseins recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.63x.

County Total Index
Essex 1 52.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 1 Husseins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 1 2500.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Miha 1

FAQ

Hussein surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hussein surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Hussein surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hussein surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,870 in 2016. That gives Hussein a modern rank of #1,387.

What does the Hussein surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "good," "handsome," or "beautiful."

What does the Hussein map show?

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