NameCensus.

UK surname

Nas

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "people" or "companion".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Nas surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Milnathort and Crook of Devon and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nas is 182 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2016

182 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nas had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Nas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nas 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 43 #33,361
1998 modern 52 #32,732
1999 modern 56 #32,461
2000 modern 44 #33,602
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Nas' 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 Taunton Deane, Milnathort and Crook of Devon and Southwark. 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 Taunton Deane 006 Taunton Deane
2 Milnathort and Crook of Devon Perth and Kinross
3 Southwark 013 Southwark
4 Southwark 015 Southwark
5 Southwark 016 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nas

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nas, 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 Nas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nas 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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nas 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

Nas 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

Nas 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 Nas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nas

The surname NAS has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic language. It is believed to have originated around the 7th century CE, during the rise of the Islamic caliphates in the region.

One of the earliest known references to the name NAS can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet Al-Mutanabbi, who lived from 915 to 965 CE. In his poetry, he mentioned a person with the surname NAS, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time period.

The name NAS is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "nas," which means "people" or "mankind." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for someone who had a close association with people or was known for their sociability.

In the 11th century, a historical figure named Ibn Nas al-Baghdadi, born in 1002 CE, gained prominence as a renowned scholar and writer in Baghdad. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and literature were widely studied and circulated, further spreading the recognition of the surname NAS.

Another notable individual with the surname NAS was Nur ad-Din Mahmud Zanjani, who lived from 1156 to 1242 CE. He was a prominent Sufi mystic and poet from Persia, and his works were highly regarded in the Islamic world at the time.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the 20th century, the surname NAS was also found among Turkish and Arabic populations. One such individual was Hasan Pasha Nas, a high-ranking Ottoman statesman and military leader who lived in the 16th century.

In more recent times, the surname NAS has been carried by several notable figures, such as the American rapper and actor Nas, born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones in 1973. His stage name reflects the initial letters of his given names, further highlighting the influence of the Arabic word "nas" in his moniker.

It is important to note that the surname NAS has likely undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, influenced by regional dialects and transliterations from Arabic to other languages. However, the core meaning and origin of the name seem to be rooted in the Arabic concept of "people" or "mankind."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nas surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1 Nas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Nas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.53x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 1 107.53x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Emma 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nas households.

Occupation Count
Income From Dividends 1

FAQ

Nas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Nas surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Nas a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Nas surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "people" or "companion".

What does the Nas map show?

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