NameCensus.

UK surname

Mostafa

A surname derived from the Arabic name meaning "the chosen one."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mostafa is 284 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

2016

284 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Mostafa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mostafa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mostafa 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 110 #25,529
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 216 #17,397
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 273 #15,802
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 283 #15,380
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Mostafas 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, Tower Hamlets, Ealing and Dudley. 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 009 Westminster
2 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
3 Westminster 004 Westminster
4 Ealing 005 Ealing
5 Dudley 019 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mostafa

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mostafa

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Mostafa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mostafa 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Mostafa is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mostafa 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

Mostafa falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mostafa 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 Mostafa, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mostafa

The surname Mostafa is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "Mustafa," which means "the chosen one" or "the elect." This name has its roots in the Islamic tradition and is closely associated with the Prophet Muhammad, who was also known as Mustafa.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Mostafa can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early days of Islamic expansion. As Arab armies and settlers spread across the Middle East and North Africa, the name Mostafa likely traveled with them, becoming integrated into local populations and gradually evolving into a hereditary surname.

In the 8th century, a notable figure named Mostafa ibn al-Husayn al-Baghdadi was a renowned scholar and jurist from Baghdad. He played a significant role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence and contributed to the preservation of the Prophet's teachings.

During the 12th century, the name Mostafa appeared in several historical manuscripts and records from the Abbasid Caliphate. One notable mention is found in the writings of the celebrated historian Ibn Khallikan, who documented the lives of prominent individuals from that era.

In the 14th century, a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Mostafa al-Rumi gained recognition for his spiritual teachings and literary works. Born in present-day Turkey, his writings continue to inspire and influence Islamic mysticism to this day.

The surname Mostafa can also be traced to various regions in the Middle East and North Africa, where it was commonly used. For instance, in Egypt, the name was associated with the city of Misr al-Qadima, one of the oldest settlements in the region, lending credence to the surname's ancient origins.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Mostafa include:

1. Mostafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, who played a pivotal role in the nation's modernization and secularization. 2. Mostafa Chamran (1932-1981), an Iranian military commander and politician who played a significant role in the Iranian Revolution. 3. Mostafa El-Sayed (born 1933), an Egyptian-American chemist and nanoscientist known for his contributions to the field of nanoplasmonics. 4. Mostafa Mir-Salim (1926-2012), an Iranian composer and conductor who was a prominent figure in the classical music scene of Iran. 5. Mostafa Moin (1930-2018), an Iranian scholar and linguist who played a crucial role in the standardization of the Persian language.

Throughout its history, the surname Mostafa has maintained its strong connections to the Islamic faith and the Arab world, while also gaining recognition in various fields across different regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mostafa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mostafa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Mostafa a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Mostafa surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic name meaning "the chosen one."

What does the Mostafa map show?

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