NameCensus.

UK surname

Mattar

A surname common among Arabic speakers indicating a spice vendor or seller.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Camden and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mattar is 108 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2011

108 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mattar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mattar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mattar 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
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 66 #31,038
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 75 #30,481
2002 modern 74 #31,048
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 74 #31,306
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Mattars 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 West Dorset, Camden, Wandsworth, Westminster 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 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
2 Camden 013 Camden
3 Wandsworth 001 Wandsworth
4 Westminster 021 Westminster
5 Birmingham 123 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mattar

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

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

Mattar 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

Mattar falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mattar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Mattar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mattar

The surname MATTAR has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in the Arab world. It is believed to have emerged in the region during the medieval period, around the 7th to 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Arabic word "mattar," which means "rain" or "rainwater."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MATTAR can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and historical documents from the Abbasid Caliphate era (750-1258 AD). These texts mention individuals with the name MATTAR, often associated with professions related to agriculture or water management.

During the Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517) in Egypt and the Levant, the MATTAR surname gained prominence. It is mentioned in several administrative records and tax registers from that period, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in various cities and villages.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Mahmoud Al-MATTAR (1290-1368) was a renowned scholar and jurist from Damascus. He authored several influential works on Islamic jurisprudence and was highly respected in his time.

Another prominent individual with the MATTAR surname was Fatima Al-MATTAR (1525-1597), a renowned poet and literary figure from Aleppo, Syria. Her poetry collection, "The Garden of Roses," is considered a masterpiece of Arabic literature.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the Middle East (1516-1918), the MATTAR surname continued to be widely used. In the 18th century, a wealthy merchant named Hassan Al-MATTAR (1710-1784) from Baghdad is recorded as having established several successful trading ventures throughout the region.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was Khalil Al-MATTAR (1830-1901), a prominent scholar and educator from Lebanon. He founded one of the first modern schools in Beirut and played a significant role in promoting education and intellectual discourse in the region.

While the MATTAR surname has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to different parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Arab world, particularly in regions where Arabic was the predominant language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mattar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mattar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Mattar a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Mattar surname mean?

A surname common among Arabic speakers indicating a spice vendor or seller.

What does the Mattar map show?

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