NameCensus.

UK surname

Naz

A surname with Turkish or Middle Eastern origins denoting a place name or status.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Naz is 1,782 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,782

2016, ranked #3,537

Peak year

2016

1,782 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,782 in 2016, ranked #3,537.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Naz surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Naz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Naz 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 432 #10,395
1998 modern 502 #9,562
1999 modern 554 #8,929
2000 modern 616 #8,276
2001 modern 612 #8,164
2002 modern 759 #7,045
2003 modern 803 #6,630
2004 modern 867 #6,261
2005 modern 967 #5,685
2006 modern 1,063 #5,279
2007 modern 1,135 #5,049
2008 modern 1,233 #4,735
2009 modern 1,315 #4,559
2010 modern 1,401 #4,401
2011 modern 1,470 #4,207
2012 modern 1,600 #3,846
2013 modern 1,674 #3,751
2014 modern 1,707 #3,705
2015 modern 1,720 #3,643
2016 modern 1,782 #3,537

Geography

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Where Naz' 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 Bradford, Rochdale, Birmingham and Pendle. 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 Bradford 044 Bradford
2 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
3 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
4 Bradford 042 Bradford
5 Pendle 011 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Naz

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Naz

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

Naz 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

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

Meaning and origin of Naz

The surname "Naz" is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "Naaz" meaning "delicate" or "tender". This name is predominantly found in regions with significant Muslim populations, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa.

The earliest known records of the surname "Naz" can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in various Islamic manuscripts and historical documents from regions like Persia (modern-day Iran) and the Indian subcontinent. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals who possessed a refined and graceful demeanor.

In the 13th century, the name gained prominence in parts of modern-day Turkey, where it was linked to several influential figures in the Ottoman Empire. One notable person was Naz Bey, a high-ranking military commander who played a crucial role in the expansion of Ottoman territories during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II in the mid-15th century.

As Muslim traders and travelers ventured across the Indian Ocean, the surname "Naz" found its way to regions like Indonesia and Malaysia, where it became associated with local communities that embraced Islam. In the 16th century, historical records from the Sultanate of Malacca mention a prominent merchant named Naz al-Din, who facilitated trade between the Malay Archipelago and the Middle East.

During the Mughal Empire in India, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th century, the surname "Naz" was often borne by individuals from the aristocratic classes and those associated with the royal courts. One notable figure was Naz Begum, a female poet and courtesan who lived in the 17th century and was renowned for her literary works and cultural influence.

In more recent times, the surname "Naz" has been carried by several notable individuals, such as Naz Ikramullah (1915-1963), a pioneering Pakistani diplomat and women's rights activist, and Naz Khialvi (1936-2011), a renowned Pakistani poet and writer known for his contributions to Urdu literature.

While the surname "Naz" has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic cultural traditions, it has since spread and taken on various local variations and spellings across different regions, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations of people over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Naz surname: questions and answers

How common is the Naz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,782 in 2016. That gives Naz a modern rank of #3,537.

What does the Naz surname mean?

A surname with Turkish or Middle Eastern origins denoting a place name or status.

What does the Naz map show?

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