NameCensus.

UK surname

Khalaf

A surname suggesting descent from a successor, heir, or one who replaced another.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khalaf is 152 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

2014

152 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Khalaf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khalaf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khalaf 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 38 #33,872
1998 modern 44 #33,462
1999 modern 48 #33,233
2000 modern 54 #32,710
2001 modern 51 #32,850
2002 modern 59 #32,468
2003 modern 65 #31,979
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 71 #31,816
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Khalafs 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 Westminster, Suffolk Coastal, Croydon, Sutton and Waveney. 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 Westminster 015 Westminster
2 Suffolk Coastal 014 Suffolk Coastal
3 Croydon 025 Croydon
4 Sutton 002 Sutton
5 Waveney 007 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khalaf

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Khalaf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Khalaf 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Khalaf is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Khalaf 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

Khalaf falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Khalaf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Khalaf, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Khalaf

The surname Khalaf is of Arabic origin and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions that are now part of modern-day Iraq and Syria. The name is derived from the Arabic word "khalaf," which means "successor" or "one who comes after."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Khalaf can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and records, where it was used to refer to individuals who held positions of authority or succeeded others in leadership roles. These records date back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE, during the early years of the Islamic caliphates.

In the 11th century, the name Khalaf appeared in the works of renowned Persian scholars and poets, such as Ferdowsi's epic poem "Shahnameh." One notable figure from this time period was Abu'l-Qasim Khalaf ibn Abbas Al-Zahrawi (936-1013 CE), a renowned Arabic physician and surgeon known as the "Father of Modern Surgery."

As the Islamic empires expanded and trade routes opened up, the surname Khalaf began to spread across the Middle East and North Africa. In the 13th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Khalaf residing in cities such as Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over much of the Middle East and parts of North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century, the surname Khalaf was prevalent among both civilian and military populations. One notable figure from this period was Mustafa Khalaf Pasha (1826-1887), an Ottoman military officer and statesman who served as the Governor of Damascus.

In the 19th century, as migration and travel became more common, individuals with the surname Khalaf began to settle in other parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas. Among the notable figures from this time period was Khalaf Al-Numan (1840-1911), a prominent Arab nationalist and writer who played a significant role in the cultural and literary renaissance of the Arab world.

Other prominent individuals with the surname Khalaf throughout history include Saad Khalaf (1922-2007), an Iraqi politician and co-founder of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party; Faisal Khalaf (born 1966), a Saudi Arabian businessman and philanthropist; and Nizar Khalaf (born 1957), a Syrian-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khalaf surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khalaf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Khalaf a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Khalaf surname mean?

A surname suggesting descent from a successor, heir, or one who replaced another.

What does the Khalaf map show?

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