NameCensus.

UK surname

Khalifa

A surname derived from the Arabic term "Khalifa" meaning "successor" or "ruler".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khalifa is 1,714 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,714

2016, ranked #3,641

Peak year

2016

1,714 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,714 in 2016, ranked #3,641.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Khalifa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khalifa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khalifa 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 729 #7,021
1998 modern 826 #6,590
1999 modern 903 #6,189
2000 modern 985 #5,769
2001 modern 971 #5,717
2002 modern 1,062 #5,427
2003 modern 1,119 #5,108
2004 modern 1,210 #4,785
2005 modern 1,260 #4,559
2006 modern 1,321 #4,390
2007 modern 1,382 #4,269
2008 modern 1,456 #4,120
2009 modern 1,538 #4,024
2010 modern 1,629 #3,898
2011 modern 1,619 #3,877
2012 modern 1,575 #3,906
2013 modern 1,606 #3,899
2014 modern 1,666 #3,795
2015 modern 1,670 #3,749
2016 modern 1,714 #3,641

Geography

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Where Khalifas 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 Leicester, Nuneaton and Bedworth 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 005 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Coventry 015 Coventry
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 009 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khalifa

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Khalifa 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

Khalifa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khalifa

The surname "KHALIFA" originated in the Arab world during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "khalifah" which means "successor" or "ruler". The name was initially used to refer to the successors of the Prophet Muhammad who ruled the Islamic caliphate after his death.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of medieval Arab historians and chroniclers who documented the lives and reigns of the various caliphs who ruled over the Islamic empires. The name was particularly prevalent among the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over much of the Middle East and North Africa from 750 to 1258 CE.

The Khalifa surname can be traced back to the city of Baghdad, which was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. It was here that many of the caliphs and their descendants lived and ruled, and it is likely that the name originated as a way to identify those who were part of the ruling dynasty.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the Khalifa surname. One of the most famous was Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who was the sixth Fatimid caliph and ruled over Egypt and parts of North Africa from 996 to 1021 CE. Another prominent figure was Al-Mustansir Billah, who was the eighth Fatimid caliph and ruled from 1036 to 1094 CE.

In the modern era, the Khalifa surname has spread across the Arab world and can be found in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. It has also been adopted by some Muslim communities in other parts of the world, such as South Asia and Africa.

Other notable individuals with the Khalifa surname include:

1. Abdel Rahman Khalifa (1859-1932), an Egyptian politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1928 to 1929.

2. Muhammad Ali Khalifa (1875-1952), an Egyptian writer and intellectual who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

3. Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa (1935-2020), a member of the Bahraini royal family who served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain from 1964 to 2020.

4. Ismail Khalifa (born 1964), an Egyptian-American actor and writer known for his work in films such as "The Siege" and "The Insider".

5. Maryam Khalifa (born 1984), a Jordanian-Palestinian artist and writer known for her work exploring themes of identity, displacement, and gender.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khalifa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khalifa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,714 in 2016. That gives Khalifa a modern rank of #3,641.

What does the Khalifa surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic term "Khalifa" meaning "successor" or "ruler".

What does the Khalifa map show?

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