NameCensus.

UK surname

Jafari

A surname of Arabic origin meaning a maker of mud or clay products like bricks and tiles.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jafari is 279 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

2016

279 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Jafari surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jafari surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jafari 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 46 #33,077
1998 modern 50 #32,899
1999 modern 54 #32,660
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 205 #18,722
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 235 #17,328
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

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Where Jafaris 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, Westminster, Birmingham and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 015 Bristol, City of
2 Westminster 002 Westminster
3 Birmingham 066 Birmingham
4 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Westminster 003 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jafari

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

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

Jafari 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

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

Meaning and origin of Jafari

The surname Jafari is of Arabic origin, traced back to the Middle East, particularly Iran. It is believed to have emerged during the Islamic Golden Age, between the 8th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Jafar," which means "stream" or "rivulet." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a stream or a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jafari can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and scholar, Jalaluddin Rumi, who lived in the 13th century. Rumi's works contain references to individuals with the surname Jafari, indicating their presence in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Ahmad al-Jafari, also known as Ibn al-Jafari, was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Isfahan, Iran. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology were widely influential during his time and beyond.

The surname Jafari has also been associated with several places in Iran, such as the village of Jafari located in the province of Khorasan. This suggests a possible connection between the name and specific geographic locations within the country.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Jafari. One such person was Mirza Mohammad Khan Jafari (1785-1854), a prominent Persian statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Persia (now Iran) to the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.

Another significant figure was Shaykh Ahmad Jafari (1892-1976), an influential Shia Islamic scholar and religious leader from Iran. He was widely respected for his teachings and contributions to Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

In the literary realm, Sadegh Jafari (1928-2005) was a renowned Iranian poet and writer who was recognized for his contributions to contemporary Persian literature. His works explored themes of socio-political commentary and human emotions.

The name Jafari has also been associated with various fields, including science and academia. For instance, Jalal Jafari (1919-1994) was an Iranian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics.

Additionally, Masoud Jafari Jozani (born 1955) is a prominent Iranian-American architect and scholar known for his work in sustainable architecture and urban design.

While the surname Jafari has its roots in the Middle East, particularly Iran, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name making notable contributions across various disciplines and sectors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Jafari surname: questions and answers

How common is the Jafari surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Jafari a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Jafari surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning a maker of mud or clay products like bricks and tiles.

What does the Jafari map show?

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