NameCensus.

UK surname

Kadir

A Turkish surname derived from the Arabic word 'qadir' meaning 'mighty' or 'powerful'.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Newham and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kadir is 940 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

940

2016, ranked #6,094

Peak year

2016

940 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016, ranked #6,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Kadir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kadir surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kadir 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 438 #10,282
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 510 #9,517
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 578 #8,658
2003 modern 591 #8,428
2004 modern 635 #7,972
2005 modern 657 #7,709
2006 modern 677 #7,565
2007 modern 722 #7,259
2008 modern 774 #6,934
2009 modern 836 #6,655
2010 modern 893 #6,431
2011 modern 872 #6,488
2012 modern 883 #6,331
2013 modern 908 #6,310
2014 modern 924 #6,260
2015 modern 931 #6,173
2016 modern 940 #6,094

Geography

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Where Kadirs 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 Tower Hamlets, Newham, Burnley 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 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
2 Newham 008 Newham
3 Burnley 003 Burnley
4 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
5 Coventry 024 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kadir

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Kadir is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Kadir 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kadir

The surname KADIR has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Middle East and North Africa regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "qadir," which means "powerful" or "able." The name is believed to have been initially used as a descriptive term or as a form of praise for someone with authority or strength.

In the early Islamic era, surnames were not commonly used, and people were often identified by their personal names, patronymics (father's name), or descriptive nicknames. The adoption of hereditary surnames became more prevalent during the medieval period, particularly among urban populations and elite classes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KADIR can be found in historical documents from the 12th century, where it appeared as a family name among Arab and Berber communities in regions such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Over time, the name spread to other parts of the Islamic world, including the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

In the 13th century, the name KADIR was mentioned in various manuscripts and records related to Islamic scholars, poets, and administrative officials. One notable figure bearing this surname was Abu al-Qasim al-Kadir (1215-1292), a renowned Sufi mystic and spiritual leader from Baghdad, Iraq.

During the medieval and early modern periods, the surname KADIR was also present in parts of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in regions like Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and the Balkans. This was due to the expansion of Ottoman rule and the migration of populations across the empire.

Other notable historical figures with the surname KADIR include:

1. Al-Kadir Billah (944-1031), an Abbasid caliph who ruled from Baghdad between 991 and 1031. 2. Muhammad al-Kadir (1346-1405), a Sufi saint and scholar from Gujarat, India, who founded the Kadiri order of Sufism. 3. Sidi Ahmed al-Kadir (1508-1573), a Moroccan scholar and Sufi leader who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in West Africa. 4. Ali Kadir (1807-1878), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) of the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century. 5. Molla Kadir (1896-1960), an Albanian writer, linguist, and educator who contributed to the development of the modern Albanian language and literature.

The surname KADIR has also been associated with various place names and geographic locations, particularly in areas with a significant Arab or Islamic influence. Examples include Kadir Havuz in Istanbul, Turkey, and Kadir Bey in Egypt, both named after historical figures with the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kadir surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kadir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 940 in 2016. That gives Kadir a modern rank of #6,094.

What does the Kadir surname mean?

A Turkish surname derived from the Arabic word 'qadir' meaning 'mighty' or 'powerful'.

What does the Kadir map show?

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