NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaffar

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "maker of jugs or pots".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Jaffar surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaffar is 237 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2016

237 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaffar had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Jaffar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaffar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaffar 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 3 #33,861
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 182 #19,618
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 202 #19,154
2012 modern 213 #18,422
2013 modern 235 #17,515
2014 modern 234 #17,662
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Jaffars 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 Sheffield, Calderdale, Westminster and Barnet. 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 Sheffield 032 Sheffield
2 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
3 Westminster 015 Westminster
4 Sheffield 042 Sheffield
5 Barnet 008 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaffar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaffar

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Jaffar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Jaffar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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, Jaffar 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

Jaffar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Jaffar

The surname Jaffar has its roots in the Middle East, originating from the Arabic name "Jafar". It is derived from the Arabic word "jafr", which means "stream" or "rivulet". The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the early Islamic era.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Jaffar can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when Jafar ibn Abi Talib, a cousin of Prophet Muhammad, was born in Mecca. He was a prominent figure in early Islamic history and played a significant role in the expansion of Islam.

As the Islamic empire expanded, the name Jaffar spread across various regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In these areas, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Jaffar, Jaffer, Jafri, and Jafari, among others.

One notable bearer of the name Jaffar was Jafar al-Sadiq, born in 702 AD in Medina. He was a prominent Islamic scholar and the sixth Imam of Shia Islam. His teachings and works had a profound influence on the development of Islamic jurisprudence and theology.

During the medieval period, the surname Jaffar appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly in the regions under Islamic rule. For example, the name can be found in the records of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast territory from its capital in Baghdad.

Another significant figure with the surname Jaffar was Jafar Khan Zand, born in 1714 in Persia (present-day Iran). He was the founder of the Zand dynasty, which ruled over parts of Iran from 1750 to 1794. Jafar Khan Zand played a crucial role in unifying various regions of Persia under his rule.

In the Indian subcontinent, the surname Jaffar gained prominence during the Mughal Empire. One notable individual was Jafar Khan Bahadur, born in the 17th century, who served as a prominent military commander and governor under the Mughal emperors.

Other notable individuals with the surname Jaffar include Jafar al-Tayyar, a companion of Prophet Muhammad and one of the earliest converts to Islam, and Jafar al-Barmaki, a vizier (minister) during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century, known for his wisdom and patronage of arts and sciences.

Throughout history, the surname Jaffar has been associated with various place names and regions, such as Jaffarabad (a city in Pakistan), Jafarnagar (a town in India), and Jafar Khan (a village in Iran), reflecting the geographical spread and influence of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaffar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaffar 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. Sussex leads with 1 Jaffars recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 1 61.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 1 Jaffars recorded in 1881 and an index of 303.03x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizth. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jaffar households.

Occupation Count
Ladysmaid Dom 1

FAQ

Jaffar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaffar surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Jaffar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Jaffar a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Jaffar surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "maker of jugs or pots".

What does the Jaffar map show?

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