NameCensus.

UK surname

Musa

Derived from the Arabic name Musa, meaning "Moses," or an occupational surname for a writer or scribe.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Musa is 1,880 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,880

2016, ranked #3,382

Peak year

2016

1,880 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,880 in 2016, ranked #3,382.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Musa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Musa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Musa 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 3 #33,861
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 779 #6,679
1998 modern 842 #6,485
1999 modern 905 #6,174
2000 modern 964 #5,859
2001 modern 974 #5,696
2002 modern 1,064 #5,414
2003 modern 1,113 #5,122
2004 modern 1,181 #4,876
2005 modern 1,256 #4,582
2006 modern 1,339 #4,345
2007 modern 1,455 #4,104
2008 modern 1,520 #3,967
2009 modern 1,607 #3,862
2010 modern 1,701 #3,764
2011 modern 1,683 #3,744
2012 modern 1,736 #3,578
2013 modern 1,825 #3,491
2014 modern 1,842 #3,488
2015 modern 1,856 #3,434
2016 modern 1,880 #3,382

Geography

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Where Musas 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 Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 Bolton 023 Bolton
2 Bolton 005 Bolton
3 Bolton 025 Bolton
4 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Bolton 011 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Musa

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Musa is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Musa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Musa

The surname Musa has its origins in the Arabic language, derived from the word "Mūsā," which means "Moses" or "drawn out of water." This surname traces its roots to the Middle East and North Africa, where it was historically borne by adherents of the Islamic faith.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Musa can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and records, often referring to individuals of scholarly or religious significance. One notable example is Abu Bakr al-Musa, a renowned 9th-century mathematician and astronomer from Persia.

In the 8th century, the Musa dynasty ruled over parts of present-day Morocco and Algeria, with Idris Musa founding the Idrisid dynasty in 788 CE. This dynasty played a significant role in the spread of Islam and the development of Islamic culture in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Musa was also found in parts of the Iberian Peninsula, where it was borne by individuals of Moorish or Arab descent. In the 12th century, a scholar and philosopher named Ibn Musa lived in Seville, Spain, and made notable contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the surname Musa spread to other parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. In the 16th century, a renowned explorer and navigator named Musa Bin Nair hailed from Sumatra and played a crucial role in the Malacca Sultanate's maritime expeditions.

Another notable figure associated with the surname Musa is Hakim Musa Naqshbandi, a 16th-century Sufi mystic and scholar from Central Asia, who was instrumental in the spread of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

Other historical figures bearing the surname Musa include Ali Musa al-Rida, an 8th-century Shia Imam revered for his knowledge and piety, and Musa al-Kazim, a 7th-century Islamic scholar and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Throughout history, the surname Musa has been found in various spellings and regional variations, such as Moosa, Moussa, and Mossa, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences it has encountered in different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Musa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Musa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,880 in 2016. That gives Musa a modern rank of #3,382.

What does the Musa surname mean?

Derived from the Arabic name Musa, meaning "Moses," or an occupational surname for a writer or scribe.

What does the Musa map show?

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