UK surname

Masih

A Muslim surname meaning "anointed one" or "messiah".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Masih is 1,575 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

1,516

2016, ranked #4,080

Peak year

2011

1,575 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 1,516 in 2016, ranked #4,080.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Masih surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Masih surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Masih 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
1891	historical	1	#34,674
1911	historical	1	#34,332
1997	modern	862	#6,169
1998	modern	1,036	#5,511
1999	modern	1,046	#5,504
2000	modern	1,117	#5,205
2001	modern	1,085	#5,230
2002	modern	1,210	#4,868
2003	modern	1,206	#4,789
2004	modern	1,236	#4,683
2005	modern	1,260	#4,559
2006	modern	1,328	#4,375
2007	modern	1,394	#4,245
2008	modern	1,467	#4,100
2009	modern	1,517	#4,077
2010	modern	1,541	#4,106
2011	modern	1,575	#3,970
2012	modern	1,460	#4,175
2013	modern	1,484	#4,184
2014	modern	1,510	#4,155
2015	modern	1,501	#4,137
2016	modern	1,516	#4,080

Geography

Where Masihs 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 Bedford, Sandwell, Coventry, Kirklees 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	Bedford 015	Bedford
2	Sandwell 024	Sandwell
3	Coventry 015	Coventry
4	Kirklees 031	Kirklees
5	Birmingham 034	Birmingham

Forenames

First names often paired with Masih

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Anita Parveen Sarah Elizabeth Seema Sonia Sunita Neelam Christina Usha

Recent male names

David Daniel John Michael William Joseph Andrew Stephen Samson Steven

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Masih

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

Masih 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Masih 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Masih 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Masih

The surname MASIH has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

MASIH is derived from the Arabic word "Masih," which means "anointed one" or "messiah." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were considered pious or revered within their communities. It is also possible that the name was adopted by those who had converted to Islam, as a way to signify their newfound religious identity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MASIH can be found in the chronicles of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 16th century. The name appears in various court records and historical documents from this period, indicating its prevalence among the nobility and scholarly classes.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, the surname MASIH gained further prominence. Several notable figures with this last name emerged during this time, including Maulana Masih ud-Din Alam (1570-1640), a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who served as a tutor to the Mughal princes.

Another prominent bearer of the MASIH surname was Mir Masih al-Din Salim (1670-1737), a renowned calligrapher and poet who served at the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His exquisite calligraphic works are still preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

In the 18th century, Mirza Masih ud-Din Khan (1753-1815) was a prominent military commander and statesman who served under the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Durrani. He played a crucial role in the consolidation of Afghan power in the region and is remembered for his military prowess and strategic acumen.

During the British Raj in India, the MASIH surname continued to be prominent, with several individuals making significant contributions to various fields. One notable figure was Sir Masih Yar Khan (1865-1936), a prominent politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of the Princely State of Bahawalpur.

Another illustrious bearer of the MASIH surname was Masih Wilayat Hussain (1877-1949), a renowned scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in the establishment of numerous educational institutions in British India. He was also a prolific writer and authored several books on Islamic theology and philosophy.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and significance of the surname MASIH, which has been associated with individuals of great prominence and achievement across various eras and regions of the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Masih surname: questions and answers

How common is the Masih surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,516 in 2016. That gives Masih a modern rank of #4,080.

What does the Masih surname mean?