NameCensus.

UK surname

Nisa

A surname possibly derived from Sanskrit meaning "night" or "dark".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nisa is 940 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

937

2016, ranked #6,112

Peak year

2013

940 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016, ranked #6,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Nisa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nisa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nisa 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
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 522 #9,015
1998 modern 576 #8,608
1999 modern 589 #8,548
2000 modern 607 #8,367
2001 modern 593 #8,365
2002 modern 676 #7,722
2003 modern 696 #7,416
2004 modern 749 #7,028
2005 modern 742 #7,020
2006 modern 796 #6,658
2007 modern 838 #6,447
2008 modern 841 #6,484
2009 modern 861 #6,508
2010 modern 897 #6,404
2011 modern 903 #6,310
2012 modern 902 #6,239
2013 modern 940 #6,143
2014 modern 935 #6,204
2015 modern 931 #6,173
2016 modern 937 #6,112

Geography

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Where Nisas 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 Birmingham and Bradford. 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 Birmingham 082 Birmingham
2 Bradford 039 Bradford
3 Bradford 042 Bradford
4 Bradford 033 Bradford
5 Bradford 034 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nisa

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

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

Nisa 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

Nisa 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 Nisa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Nisa, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nisa

The surname NISA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "nisha" or "nisa," which means "night." This suggests that the name may have been associated with professions or activities related to the night, such as night watchmen or astronomers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NISA can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The document mentions a man named Nisa Khan, who served as a nobleman in Akbar's court.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname NISA was Mulla Nisa, a celebrated poet and scholar from Persia (modern-day Iran). He was renowned for his mastery of Persian literature and his contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence.

During the 18th century, the NISA surname can be found in various Persian and Urdu literary works, indicating its presence among the intellectual and literary circles of the time.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname NISA was Mirza Nisa, a renowned Urdu poet and writer from Delhi. He was born in 1829 and is credited with introducing new literary styles and themes to Urdu poetry.

Another notable figure was Begum Nisa, a 19th-century noble woman from the princely state of Bhopal in central India. She was known for her philanthropic endeavors and her support for women's education.

As the NISA surname spread throughout the Indian subcontinent, it also acquired regional variations and alternate spellings, such as Nisha, Nisha, and Neesa, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region.

While the surname NISA has its roots in South Asia, it has since been adopted by people of various ethnic backgrounds and cultures around the world, reflecting the global diaspora of the Indian community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nisa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nisa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016. That gives Nisa a modern rank of #6,112.

What does the Nisa surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from Sanskrit meaning "night" or "dark".

What does the Nisa map show?

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