NameCensus.

UK surname

Latifi

A surname derived from Arabic meaning "gracious" or "pleasing".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Latifi is 113 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2014

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Latifi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Latifi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Latifi 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 18 #36,053
1998 modern 20 #35,885
1999 modern 21 #35,810
2000 modern 26 #35,295
2001 modern 29 #34,839
2002 modern 37 #34,390
2003 modern 37 #34,432
2004 modern 36 #34,717
2005 modern 44 #34,255
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 57 #33,800
2008 modern 58 #33,918
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Latifis 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 Taunton Deane, Barnet, Barking and Dagenham, Kensington and Chelsea and Plymouth. 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 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
2 Barnet 030 Barnet
3 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
4 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Plymouth 023 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Latifi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Latifi

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Latifi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Latifi 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Latifi is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Latifi 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

Latifi 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 Latifi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Latifi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Latifi

The surname Latifi is believed to have originated in Iran, tracing its roots back to the Persian language. Its earliest known usage dates back to the 8th century AD, during the Islamic Golden Age, when Persian culture flourished across the Middle East and Central Asia.

Latifi is derived from the Persian word "latif," which means "subtle," "delicate," or "refined." It was likely used initially as a descriptive nickname or a title, referring to someone with refined manners, eloquence, or artistic talents. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname.

In the 11th century, a Persian poet and scholar named Abu'l-Qasim Firdausi mentioned a person named Latifi in his epic poem, the Shahnameh, which is considered one of the world's greatest literary masterpieces. This early reference suggests that the name was already in use during the late 10th or early 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Latifi was Muhammed ibn Ahmad Latifi, a Persian poet and scholar who lived in the 13th century. His work, "Latai'f al-Tawa'if," a collection of anecdotes and witticisms, is considered a significant contribution to Persian literature.

Another notable figure was Mirza Abul Hassan Khan Ilchi Latifi, a 17th-century Persian diplomat and ambassador who played a crucial role in the diplomatic relations between Persia and Russia during the reign of Shah Abbas I.

In the 19th century, Mirza Aqa Khan Nuri Latifi, a prominent Iranian statesman and reformer, was instrumental in the modernization efforts of the Qajar dynasty. He served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1858 to 1859.

Latifi is also the surname of several contemporary Iranian figures, including Simin Daneshvar Latifi (1921-2012), a celebrated novelist and influential figure in Persian literature, and Masoud Latifi (born 1983), an Iranian professional football player.

While the surname Latifi is primarily associated with Iran and the Persian cultural sphere, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange, particularly in regions with significant Iranian diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Latifi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Latifi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Latifi a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Latifi surname mean?

A surname derived from Arabic meaning "gracious" or "pleasing".

What does the Latifi map show?

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