UK surname

Muhammed

An Arabic surname derived from the given name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muhammed is 563 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

563

2016, ranked #9,114

Peak year

2016

563 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016, ranked #9,114.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Muhammed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muhammed surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Muhammed 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	168	#19,642
1998	modern	186	#18,918
1999	modern	209	#17,771
2000	modern	226	#16,840
2001	modern	219	#16,967
2002	modern	254	#15,641
2003	modern	268	#14,897
2004	modern	328	#13,058
2005	modern	360	#12,112
2006	modern	383	#11,600
2007	modern	417	#11,001
2008	modern	441	#10,600
2009	modern	476	#10,227
2010	modern	525	#9,692
2011	modern	557	#9,170
2012	modern	540	#9,312
2013	modern	556	#9,249
2014	modern	552	#9,362
2015	modern	534	#9,543
2016	modern	563	#9,114

Geography

Where Muhammeds 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 Woodlands, Rochdale, Manchester, Southwark 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	Woodlands	Glasgow City
2	Rochdale 015	Rochdale
3	Manchester 027	Manchester
4	Southwark 021	Southwark
5	Birmingham 082	Birmingham

Forenames

First names often paired with Muhammed

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Noor Fatima Shaniece Aisha Amina Tolani Zainab Ida Nadia Adeola

Recent male names

Ali Imran Asif Saleem Hanif Iqbal Khalid Ahmed Arif Shafiq

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Muhammed

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

Muhammed 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

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Muhammed

The surname Muhammad is an Arabic name that has its origins in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic root word "hamd," which means "praise" or "to praise." The name is closely associated with the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca, Arabia, in the late 6th century AD.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Muhammad can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the 7th century AD onwards. One of the earliest references is in the Sirat Rasul Allah, a biographical work on the life of Prophet Muhammad written in the 8th century by Ibn Ishaq.

In the following centuries, the surname Muhammad became widespread across the Islamic world, particularly in regions where Arabic was the dominant language or had a strong cultural influence. It can be found in historical records from places like Persia, North Africa, and Spain, where Arab dynasties and rulers held sway.

One notable example of an early bearer of the surname Muhammad is Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century AD. He is credited with developing the concept of algebra and writing influential works on mathematics and astronomy.

Another prominent figure with the surname Muhammad is Muhammad al-Idrisi, a 12th-century Arab geographer and cartographer who was born in Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa. He is best known for his book "Nuzhat al-Mushtaq," which contained detailed maps and descriptions of the known world at the time.

In the 13th century, Muhammad ibn Rashid al-Fishtali, a Moroccan traveler and writer, embarked on a journey to Asia and documented his experiences in a travelogue called "Rihla." His work provides valuable insights into the cultures and societies he encountered during his travels.

Another notable bearer of the surname Muhammad is Muhammad al-Qalqashandi, an Egyptian scholar and writer who lived in the 15th century. He wrote extensively on various subjects, including history, geography, and administrative affairs, and his works are considered valuable sources for understanding the Mamluk era in Egypt.

Throughout history, the surname Muhammad has been associated with numerous scholars, rulers, and influential figures in the Islamic world. While its origins can be traced back to Arabia, the name has spread far and wide, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and historical significance of the Arabic language and Islamic civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Muhammed surname: questions and answers

How common is the Muhammed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016. That gives Muhammed a modern rank of #9,114.

What does the Muhammed surname mean?