NameCensus.

UK surname

Mahmood

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Mahmud," an Arabic given name meaning "praiseworthy" or "commendable."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Oldham and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mahmood is 17,905 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

17,889

2016, ranked #337

Peak year

2014

17,905 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,889 in 2016, ranked #337.
  • 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.

Mahmood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mahmood surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mahmood 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 6,805 #954
1998 modern 7,829 #856
1999 modern 8,520 #781
2000 modern 9,226 #712
2001 modern 9,158 #700
2002 modern 10,810 #593
2003 modern 11,299 #550
2004 modern 12,176 #515
2005 modern 12,963 #472
2006 modern 13,806 #438
2007 modern 14,571 #422
2008 modern 15,301 #402
2009 modern 16,427 #379
2010 modern 17,427 #362
2011 modern 17,410 #354
2012 modern 17,009 #358
2013 modern 17,714 #349
2014 modern 17,905 #347
2015 modern 17,823 #340
2016 modern 17,889 #337

Geography

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Where Mahmoods 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 Bradford, Oldham and Birmingham. 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 Bradford 042 Bradford
2 Oldham 035 Oldham
3 Bradford 033 Bradford
4 Birmingham 140 Birmingham
5 Bradford 044 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mahmood

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

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

Mahmood 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mahmood

The surname Mahmood has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions that are now known as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Muhammad," which means "praised one" or "praiseworthy."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mahmood can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and the early days of Islam. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this surname were either direct descendants or followers of the Prophet Muhammad, who adopted the name as a mark of respect and reverence.

In the centuries that followed, the surname Mahmood spread across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as parts of Central and South Asia, as Islam expanded its reach. The name can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from these regions, including records of trade, governance, and religious texts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahmood is found in the writings of the 9th century Arab scholar and historian, Al-Tabari, who mentions a person named Mahmood ibn Ismail, a military commander during the Abbasid Caliphate. Another notable figure bearing the surname Mahmood is Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi, a 10th century ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire, which spanned parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Mahmood gained prominence during the Delhi Sultanate period, which lasted from the 13th to the 16th century. One of the most famous rulers of this period was Sultan Mahmood Shah Khalji, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1436 to 1469 CE. Another notable figure was Mahmood Begarha, the sultan of Gujarat from 1459 to 1511 CE, who was known for his architectural contributions, including the construction of the famous Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad.

Over the centuries, the surname Mahmood has been adopted by people of various ethnicities and cultures, particularly those with Muslim heritage or connections to the regions where the name originated. Some other notable historical figures bearing this surname include Mahmood Ayaz, a 12th century Turkish commander in the service of the Seljuk Empire, and Mahmood Gawan, a 15th century Persian poet and statesman who served under the Timurid dynasty.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mahmood surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mahmood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,889 in 2016. That gives Mahmood a modern rank of #337.

What does the Mahmood surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Mahmud," an Arabic given name meaning "praiseworthy" or "commendable."

What does the Mahmood map show?

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