NameCensus.

UK surname

Nabi

An Arabic name meaning prophet or messenger.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, Salford and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nabi is 863 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

849

2016, ranked #6,584

Peak year

2014

863 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 849 in 2016, ranked #6,584.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Nabi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nabi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nabi 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 501 #9,288
1998 modern 549 #8,951
1999 modern 569 #8,746
2000 modern 575 #8,648
2001 modern 580 #8,485
2002 modern 615 #8,306
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 652 #7,813
2005 modern 692 #7,413
2006 modern 724 #7,175
2007 modern 746 #7,085
2008 modern 769 #6,964
2009 modern 806 #6,843
2010 modern 850 #6,693
2011 modern 833 #6,714
2012 modern 814 #6,743
2013 modern 834 #6,724
2014 modern 863 #6,590
2015 modern 844 #6,655
2016 modern 849 #6,584

Geography

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Where Nabis 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 Cherwell, Salford, North Tyneside, Trafford and Luton. 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 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
2 Salford 016 Salford
3 North Tyneside 027 North Tyneside
4 Trafford 004 Trafford
5 Luton 019 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nabi

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

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

Nabi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nabi

The surname Nabi originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab world. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "nabi," which means "prophet" or "messenger." This surname likely emerged during the early Islamic period, possibly as early as the 7th or 8th century CE.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Nabi can be traced back to historical records and manuscripts from the region, such as genealogical records and court documents. It is possible that the name appeared in some of the earliest Islamic texts or records, given its religious significance.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Nabi was Abu Nabi al-Khurasani, a renowned scholar and jurist who lived in the 9th century CE. He was born in Khurasan, a region spanning parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

Another notable figure was Imam Abdul Nabi, a revered Islamic scholar and Sufi saint who lived in the 12th century CE. He was born in Makkah, the holy city of Islam, and is believed to have played a significant role in the spread of Islamic teachings and Sufism in the region.

During the medieval period, the surname Nabi was particularly prevalent in areas with strong Islamic cultural influences, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. It was often associated with families or individuals who had religious or scholarly backgrounds.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Nabi Khan ruled over parts of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was a military leader and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, one of the major Islamic empires in the region.

Another notable individual with the surname Nabi was Muhibb Nabi, a celebrated poet and mystic who lived in the 16th century CE. He was born in Bijapur, a city in present-day Karnataka, India, and his poetic works were widely renowned for their spiritual and mystical themes.

As the centuries passed, the surname Nabi continued to be found in various parts of the world, particularly wherever Muslim communities settled or migrated. It is important to note that the name's prevalence and distribution may have varied over time due to historical events, migrations, and cultural influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nabi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nabi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 849 in 2016. That gives Nabi a modern rank of #6,584.

What does the Nabi surname mean?

An Arabic name meaning prophet or messenger.

What does the Nabi map show?

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