NameCensus.

UK surname

Mir

A surname of Russian, Polish, or Jewish origin meaning "peace" or "world."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mir is 2,271 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,254

2016, ranked #2,881

Peak year

2014

2,271 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,254 in 2016, ranked #2,881.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Mir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mir surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mir 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
1851 historical 4 #32,658
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 1,072 #5,188
1998 modern 1,162 #5,015
1999 modern 1,244 #4,767
2000 modern 1,286 #4,624
2001 modern 1,276 #4,558
2002 modern 1,478 #4,118
2003 modern 1,510 #3,978
2004 modern 1,630 #3,709
2005 modern 1,716 #3,512
2006 modern 1,799 #3,376
2007 modern 1,885 #3,276
2008 modern 1,981 #3,168
2009 modern 2,072 #3,121
2010 modern 2,187 #3,034
2011 modern 2,204 #2,967
2012 modern 2,147 #2,979
2013 modern 2,216 #2,943
2014 modern 2,271 #2,902
2015 modern 2,230 #2,914
2016 modern 2,254 #2,881

Geography

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Where Mirs 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, Birmingham and Oldham. 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 033 Bradford
2 Birmingham 051 Birmingham
3 Bradford 056 Bradford
4 Birmingham 037 Birmingham
5 Oldham 022 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mir

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

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

Mir 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mir

The surname Mir is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. Its roots can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "miri," which means "head" or "chief." This suggests that the name was initially used to denote someone who held a position of authority or leadership within a community or tribe.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the name Mir was commonly used as a title or honorific, particularly among Muslim nobility and administrators. It was often combined with other titles, such as Mir Bakshi (head of the military) or Mir Munshi (head of the scribes).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mir can be found in the Persian chronicle "Akbarnama," written by Abul Fazl in the late 16th century. The book mentions several individuals with the title Mir, including Mir Abdul Malik, a prominent courtier during the reign of Emperor Akbar.

In the 18th century, the name Mir gained prominence in the region of Kashmir, where it was associated with several influential families and rulers. One notable figure was Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (1314-1384), a renowned Sufi scholar and preacher who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in Kashmir.

Another historically significant individual with the surname Mir was Mir Jafar (1691-1765), a Bengali military commander who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. His actions led to the establishment of British rule in Bengal and marked the beginning of the East India Company's dominance in the region.

In more recent times, the name Mir has been carried by several notable individuals, including Mir Anis (1912-1988), a celebrated Urdu poet and playwright from Pakistan, and Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman (1925-2021), a prominent Pakistani jurist and former Chief Justice of the country.

It is worth noting that the name Mir has also been found in other parts of the world, such as Central Asia and the Middle East, where it may have been adopted through cultural or historical exchanges with the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mir families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mir surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 1 Mirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 32.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Mirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.87x.

Place Total Index
Govan 1 129.87x

FAQ

Mir surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,254 in 2016. That gives Mir a modern rank of #2,881.

What does the Mir surname mean?

A surname of Russian, Polish, or Jewish origin meaning "peace" or "world."

What does the Mir map show?

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