UK surname

Kashif

A surname meaning "explorer" or "seeker of truth" in Arabic.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kashif is 577 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

577

2016, ranked #8,974

Peak year

2015

577 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 577 in 2016, ranked #8,974.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Kashif surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kashif surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Kashif 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	41	#33,552
1998	modern	49	#33,000
1999	modern	62	#31,893
2000	modern	66	#31,553
2001	modern	73	#30,699
2002	modern	117	#25,494
2003	modern	140	#22,634
2004	modern	168	#20,300
2005	modern	214	#17,378
2006	modern	250	#15,749
2007	modern	286	#14,496
2008	modern	315	#13,686
2009	modern	356	#12,800
2010	modern	406	#11,847
2011	modern	447	#10,847
2012	modern	531	#9,431
2013	modern	556	#9,249
2014	modern	576	#9,058
2015	modern	577	#8,985
2016	modern	577	#8,974

Geography

Where Kashifs 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 Manchester, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Newham. 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	Manchester 027	Manchester
2	Redbridge 030	Redbridge
3	Barking and Dagenham 015	Barking and Dagenham
4	Newham 010	Newham
5	Newham 025	Newham

Forenames

First names often paired with Kashif

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Hina Uzma Faiza Ayesha Sadia Sobia Saima Shazia Asma Sana

Recent male names

Muhammad Mohammad Mohammed Syed Raja Abdul Mahmood Ali Sheikh Muhammed

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Kashif

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Kashif is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Kashif 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kashif 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kashif 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Kashif

The surname Kashif has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic word "kashif," which means "discoverer" or "revealer." The name likely emerged during the medieval period when the Arabic language and culture had a significant influence across the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kashif can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in historical documents from the Abbasid Caliphate, a prominent Islamic empire that ruled over vast territories across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. The name was often associated with scholars, poets, and intellectuals who played a role in revealing and uncovering knowledge.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Muhammad ibn al-Kashif al-Baghdadi was a renowned scholar and author from Baghdad, who wrote extensively on topics such as literature, grammar, and poetry. His works were widely circulated and studied during that time, further contributing to the recognition of the name Kashif.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Kashif was Ali al-Kashif al-Ghita, a 15th-century Sufi mystic and poet from present-day Lebanon. His poetic works, which often explored spiritual and mystical themes, were highly regarded and influential in the region.

During the Ottoman Empire, which spanned from the 14th to the early 20th century, the name Kashif appeared in various records and documents. One such individual was Mustafa Kashif, a 17th-century Ottoman poet and writer who gained recognition for his literary works.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Ismail Kashif al-Ghita was a renowned Islamic scholar and reformer from present-day Lebanon. He played a significant role in promoting education and advocating for social and religious reforms in the region.

While the surname Kashif has its roots in the Arab world, it has also been adopted by various communities and cultures across different regions, particularly in South Asia and parts of Africa. This is due to the historical influence of the Arabic language and culture in these areas, as well as migration patterns and cultural exchanges over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kashif surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kashif surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 577 in 2016. That gives Kashif a modern rank of #8,974.

What does the Kashif surname mean?

A surname meaning "explorer" or "seeker of truth" in Arabic.

What does the Kashif map show?

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