NameCensus.

UK surname

Jafar

An Arabic surname derived from the name Jafar, meaning "stream" or "river".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Darlington and Langside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jafar is 197 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2013

197 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Jafar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jafar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jafar 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 5 #33,418
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 58 #31,831
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 71 #31,082
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 85 #29,867
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 197 #19,774
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Jafars 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 Blackburn with Darwen, Darlington, Langside, Harrow and Coventry. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 003 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Darlington 008 Darlington
3 Langside Glasgow City
4 Harrow 002 Harrow
5 Coventry 037 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jafar

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Jafar is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Jafar 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

Jafar falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jafar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
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 Jafar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jafar

The surname Jafar is of Arabic origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle East in the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Arabic word "jafr," which means "stream" or "small river." It is believed that the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to people who lived near or around a stream or river.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jafar can be found in historical records from the 9th and 10th centuries in regions of the Middle East, particularly in present-day Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. During this period, the name was often associated with scholars, poets, and influential figures within the Islamic world.

One of the most notable historical references to the name Jafar is found in the "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a renowned collection of Arabic poetry and literature compiled in the 9th century. The book mentions several poets and writers with the surname Jafar, indicating the name's prevalence among literary circles of that time.

In the 11th century, the name Jafar gained recognition through the influential scholar and philosopher Abu Muhammad al-Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Naqib al-Hilli, also known as Al-Jafar al-Hilli (1042-1106). He was a renowned figure in the field of Islamic jurisprudence and made significant contributions to the development of Shia Islamic thought.

During the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, the surname Jafar continued to be prominent in various regions of the Middle East. In the 14th century, the Egyptian historian and writer Shams al-Din al-Jafar al-Suyuti (1445-1505) gained acclaim for his works on Islamic studies and Arabic literature.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Jafar was the 16th-century Persian poet and mystic Shah Jafar Isfahani (1501-1567), whose works had a profound influence on the literary and spiritual traditions of the region.

As the surname spread across the Middle East and North Africa, it also found its way into other regions through trade, migration, and cultural exchanges. In the 18th century, the name Jafar was recorded in parts of South Asia, particularly in areas with significant Muslim populations, such as present-day Pakistan and India.

Throughout history, the surname Jafar has been carried by numerous other individuals, including scholars, artists, and political figures, further solidifying its place in the cultural tapestry of the Middle East and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Jafar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Jafar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Jafar a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Jafar surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from the name Jafar, meaning "stream" or "river".

What does the Jafar map show?

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