NameCensus.

UK surname

Latif

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "gentle, kind, pleasant, or friendly."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Kirklees and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Latif is 3,799 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

3,737

2016, ranked #1,818

Peak year

2010

3,799 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,737 in 2016, ranked #1,818.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Latif surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Latif surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Latif 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
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 1,986 #3,072
1998 modern 2,183 #2,937
1999 modern 2,302 #2,823
2000 modern 2,387 #2,721
2001 modern 2,374 #2,685
2002 modern 2,650 #2,490
2003 modern 2,760 #2,370
2004 modern 2,881 #2,288
2005 modern 3,004 #2,156
2006 modern 3,136 #2,071
2007 modern 3,316 #1,998
2008 modern 3,424 #1,936
2009 modern 3,595 #1,896
2010 modern 3,799 #1,832
2011 modern 3,746 #1,833
2012 modern 3,604 #1,866
2013 modern 3,677 #1,865
2014 modern 3,703 #1,864
2015 modern 3,720 #1,835
2016 modern 3,737 #1,818

Geography

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Where Latifs 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 Luton, Kirklees, Pendle and Bradford. 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 Luton 015 Luton
2 Kirklees 019 Kirklees
3 Pendle 011 Pendle
4 Bradford 044 Bradford
5 Bradford 033 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Latif

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Latif

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

Latif 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

Latif falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Latif

The surname Latif has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Latif" which means "kind" or "gentle." It is a common surname found predominantly in the Middle East, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 7th century, during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed that the name was initially used as a descriptive term to denote individuals who possessed qualities of kindness and gentleness.

In the 9th century, the name Latif appeared in several Arabic manuscripts and historical records, including the works of renowned scholars and poets. One notable individual bearing this surname was Abu'l-Qasim al-Latif al-Baghdadi, a renowned Iraqi mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century.

During the medieval period, the surname Latif became more widespread, particularly among Muslim communities in the Middle East and South Asia. It was often associated with individuals from scholarly or religious backgrounds, as well as those involved in various trades and professions.

Throughout history, several prominent figures have borne the surname Latif. One example is Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, a renowned Urdu and Persian poet who lived in the 19th century (1797-1869). Another notable individual was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who lived from 1835 to 1908.

In more recent times, the surname Latif has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, artists, and public figures. A few examples include Asma Jahangir (1952-2018), a renowned Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist, and Khaled Hosseini (born 1965), an Afghan-American novelist best known for his book "The Kite Runner."

While the surname Latif has its roots in the Arabic language, it has since spread to various regions and cultures, often adapting to local linguistic traditions and spelling variations. However, its core meaning and association with qualities of kindness and gentleness have remained consistent throughout its rich history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Latif surname: questions and answers

How common is the Latif surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,737 in 2016. That gives Latif a modern rank of #1,818.

What does the Latif surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "gentle, kind, pleasant, or friendly."

What does the Latif map show?

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