NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaffer

A Judaic surname derived from the Arabic name "Jafar".

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Jaffer surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 656, ranked #8,116, up from #32,243 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaffer is 667 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6460.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

656

2016, ranked #8,116

Peak year

2013

667 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaffer had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016, ranked #8,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Jaffer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaffer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaffer 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
1851 historical 18 #30,094
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 415 #10,709
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 469 #10,139
2000 modern 466 #10,163
2001 modern 459 #10,082
2002 modern 517 #9,418
2003 modern 563 #8,691
2004 modern 546 #8,906
2005 modern 561 #8,667
2006 modern 582 #8,469
2007 modern 619 #8,161
2008 modern 606 #8,343
2009 modern 636 #8,208
2010 modern 654 #8,199
2011 modern 654 #8,115
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 664 #8,115
2015 modern 660 #8,101
2016 modern 656 #8,116

Geography

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Where Jaffers 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 Gloucester, Sheffield, Three Rivers, Westminster and Harrow. 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 Gloucester 005 Gloucester
2 Sheffield 032 Sheffield
3 Three Rivers 010 Three Rivers
4 Westminster 011 Westminster
5 Harrow 033 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaffer

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jaffer, 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 Jaffer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Jaffer 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, Jaffer 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

Jaffer 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

Jaffer falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jaffer 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 Jaffer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jaffer

The surname Jaffer is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic name "Jafar," which means "stream" or "rivulet." This name was likely given to individuals who lived near a small body of water or a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jaffer can be found in the historical records of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast empire stretching from North Africa to Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries. During this time, the name Jaffer was commonly used among Arabic-speaking populations.

In the 11th century, the name Jaffer appeared in the writings of the famous Persian philosopher and polymath, Al-Biruni. He mentioned a scholar named Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, who made significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy.

As the Arabic influence spread across various regions, the name Jaffer also travelled to different parts of the world. In the Indian subcontinent, for instance, the name Jaffer became popular among Muslim communities during the Mughal Empire, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

One notable figure with the surname Jaffer was Jafar Khan Zand, an Iranian ruler who founded the Zand dynasty in the 18th century. He was born in 1714 and ruled from 1751 until his death in 1779.

Another prominent individual with the surname Jaffer was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Bahadur, an Indian Muslim philosopher, jurist, and scholar born in 1817. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Aligarh Muslim University and is considered a pioneer of modern education in the subcontinent.

In the 20th century, Jaffer Sharif, a Tanzanian politician and statesman, made a notable impact. He served as the first Vice President of Tanzania from 1964 to 1979 and played a crucial role in the country's independence movement.

Another notable figure was Jafar Sharif-Emami, an Iranian politician and Prime Minister of Iran from 1960 to 1961. He was born in 1910 and played a significant role in the country's political landscape during the mid-20th century.

Historically, the surname Jaffer has been associated with various regions and cultures, reflecting the spread of Arabic influence and the migration of individuals with this name across different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaffer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaffer 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Jaffers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 4.33x
Middlesex 3 3.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 7.63x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 5 Jaffers recorded in 1881 and an index of 147.93x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 5 147.93x
St Marylebone London 2 38.54x
Bradfield 1 270.27x
St Pancras London 1 12.77x
Styrrup 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Martha 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Robert 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 Jaffer households.

FAQ

Jaffer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaffer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Jaffer surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaffer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016. That gives Jaffer a modern rank of #8,116.

What does the Jaffer surname mean?

A Judaic surname derived from the Arabic name "Jafar".

What does the Jaffer map show?

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