NameCensus.

UK surname

Mahdavi

A surname indicating a descendant of Mehdi or someone from a city called Mahdavi.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Wycombe and Three Rivers.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mahdavi is 112 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2010

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mahdavi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mahdavi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mahdavi 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 37 #33,964
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 79 #30,499
2003 modern 73 #31,186
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Mahdavis 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, Wycombe and Three Rivers. 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 011 Westminster
2 Westminster 002 Westminster
3 Wycombe 008 Wycombe
4 Westminster 001 Westminster
5 Three Rivers 001 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mahdavi

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mahdavi, 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 Mahdavi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mahdavi 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Mahdavi is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mahdavi 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

Mahdavi falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mahdavi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
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 Mahdavi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mahdavi

The surname Mahdavi has its origins in Persia, now known as Iran, and can be traced back to the 9th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "Mahdi," which means "the guided one" or "the rightly guided one." This name was often given to individuals who were considered leaders or guides within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahdavi can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and philosopher, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, who lived from 1058 to 1111 AD. In his works, he mentions a scholar named Mahdavi, who was renowned for his knowledge and wisdom.

The Mahdavi name was also prominent among the ruling dynasties of Persia, particularly during the Safavid Empire, which ruled from 1501 to 1736 AD. Several members of the royal family bore this name, including Prince Mahdavi, who was a renowned military commander during the reign of Shah Abbas I in the early 17th century.

In the 12th century, a prominent Islamic scholar and theologian named Abu'l-Ma'ali Mahdavi al-Isfahani was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy. He was born in Isfahan, a major city in central Iran, and his works were widely studied and revered throughout the Islamic world.

During the 14th century, a Persian poet and mystic named Mahdavi Kashi gained fame for his spiritual writings and poetry. He was born in the city of Kashan and his works were highly influential in the development of Persian literature and Sufism.

Another notable figure with the Mahdavi surname was Mirza Muhammad Mahdavi, a 19th-century Persian diplomat and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1858 to 1861. He played a crucial role in modernizing Iran's government and establishing diplomatic relations with Western nations.

Throughout history, the Mahdavi name has been associated with scholars, poets, rulers, and influential figures in Persian and Islamic culture. While the name may have evolved and taken on various spellings over time, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of ancient Persia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mahdavi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mahdavi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Mahdavi a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Mahdavi surname mean?

A surname indicating a descendant of Mehdi or someone from a city called Mahdavi.

What does the Mahdavi map show?

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