NameCensus.

UK surname

Muhammad

An Arabic surname referring to a person who is praiseworthy, commendable, or highly lauded.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Newham and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muhammad is 2,219 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,219

2016, ranked #2,923

Peak year

2016

2,219 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,219 in 2016, ranked #2,923.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Muhammad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muhammad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Muhammad 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 3 #33,789
1997 modern 287 #13,912
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 415 #11,136
2000 modern 495 #9,707
2001 modern 513 #9,280
2002 modern 725 #7,308
2003 modern 821 #6,510
2004 modern 994 #5,631
2005 modern 1,197 #4,765
2006 modern 1,381 #4,239
2007 modern 1,605 #3,759
2008 modern 1,727 #3,548
2009 modern 1,858 #3,417
2010 modern 2,002 #3,279
2011 modern 2,108 #3,095
2012 modern 2,154 #2,973
2013 modern 2,202 #2,962
2014 modern 2,172 #3,015
2015 modern 2,111 #3,077
2016 modern 2,219 #2,923

Geography

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Where Muhammads 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 Manchester, Newham and Redbridge. 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 Manchester 027 Manchester
2 Newham 014 Newham
3 Manchester 008 Manchester
4 Newham 011 Newham
5 Redbridge 030 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Muhammad

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

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

Muhammad 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

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

Meaning and origin of Muhammad

The surname Muhammad originated in the Arab world during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic root word "hamd," which means "to praise" or "to glorify." The name itself means "praised one" or "one who is praiseworthy."

Muhammad is closely associated with the Islamic faith, as it is the name of the prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca in the late 6th century AD. The prophet's teachings and revelations formed the basis of Islam, and his name became revered among Muslims worldwide.

In the early days of Islam, the name Muhammad was not commonly used as a surname. It was primarily used as a personal name or a title to honor the prophet. However, as Islam spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia, the name gradually became a surname for those who claimed descent from the prophet or wished to associate themselves with his legacy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Muhammad can be found in the writings of Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries AD. These works often mentioned individuals with the name Muhammad, along with their lineage and geographical origins.

Over time, the surname Muhammad also became associated with certain regions and communities. For example, in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, the name was more prevalent among those with Arab ancestry or Islamic heritage.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Muhammad include:

1. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c. 780 - c. 850 AD), a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and geographer, known for his contributions to algebra and algorithms.

2. Muhammad al-Idrisi (c. 1099 - c. 1166 AD), an Arab geographer, cartographer, and Egyptologist, who created one of the most advanced world maps of his time.

3. Muhammad ibn Battuta (1304 - 1368 AD), a Moroccan scholar and explorer, known for his extensive travels across the medieval Islamic world and beyond.

4. Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (1703 - 1792 AD), an Arabian religious reformer and founder of the Wahhabi movement, a conservative branch of Sunni Islam.

5. Muhammad Ali (1942 - 2016), an American professional boxer, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, who changed his birth name Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam.

The surname Muhammad has a rich history and cultural significance, deeply rooted in the Islamic faith and the legacy of the prophet Muhammad. Over the centuries, it has been carried by scholars, explorers, religious leaders, and influential figures across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Muhammad surname: questions and answers

How common is the Muhammad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,219 in 2016. That gives Muhammad a modern rank of #2,923.

What does the Muhammad surname mean?

An Arabic surname referring to a person who is praiseworthy, commendable, or highly lauded.

What does the Muhammad map show?

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