NameCensus.

UK surname

Noor

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "light," often referring to the light of God or divine guidance.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Noor surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,275, ranked #2,854, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Noor is 2,275 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 227400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

2,275

2016, ranked #2,854

Peak year

2016

2,275 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Noor had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,275 in 2016, ranked #2,854.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Noor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Noor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Noor 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 1,030 #5,352
1998 modern 1,096 #5,283
1999 modern 1,139 #5,150
2000 modern 1,139 #5,123
2001 modern 1,145 #5,010
2002 modern 1,263 #4,698
2003 modern 1,322 #4,420
2004 modern 1,431 #4,151
2005 modern 1,521 #3,904
2006 modern 1,632 #3,682
2007 modern 1,708 #3,559
2008 modern 1,817 #3,407
2009 modern 1,959 #3,275
2010 modern 2,102 #3,144
2011 modern 2,096 #3,108
2012 modern 2,042 #3,136
2013 modern 2,146 #3,039
2014 modern 2,195 #2,990
2015 modern 2,228 #2,916
2016 modern 2,275 #2,854

Geography

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Where Noors 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 Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, Oldham and Coventry. 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 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
2 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
3 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
4 Oldham 016 Oldham
5 Coventry 024 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Noor

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Noor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Noor 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

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

Meaning and origin of Noor

The surname "NOOR" is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, deriving from the word "nur" which means "light" or "radiance". This name is commonly found in regions with significant Muslim populations, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "NOOR" can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam and the spread of Arabic culture and language across the Middle East and North Africa. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by those who embraced Islam and sought names with religious or spiritual connotations.

In the medieval period, the surname "NOOR" appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those documenting trade and migration patterns in the Islamic world. One notable example is the "Rihla" (travel narrative) of Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan scholar and explorer who journeyed across the Islamic lands in the 14th century.

As the Islamic empires expanded and trade routes flourished, the surname "NOOR" spread across various regions, including parts of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Over time, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, such as "NURI" and "NOORI", reflecting the diverse linguistic influences of different regions.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the surname "NOOR". One noteworthy figure was Noor al-Din Mahmoud Zangi (1118-1174), a renowned Muslim leader and military commander who played a significant role in the Crusades. Another prominent bearer of this name was Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944), a British spy and Special Operations Executive agent during World War II, who was awarded the George Cross for her bravery.

Other notable individuals with the surname "NOOR" include Noor Hussain (1892-1944), a prominent Indian poet and writer known for his contributions to Urdu literature, and Noor Muhammad Kaka Khel (1928-2021), a Pakistani politician and former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Today, the surname "NOOR" continues to be widely used across various Muslim communities around the world, serving as a reminder of its rich cultural and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Noor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Noor 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. Cheshire leads with 1 Noors recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.95x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 1 46.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Congleton in Cheshire leads with 1 Noors recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Congleton 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alexandra 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 Noor households.

Occupation Count
No Occupation 1

FAQ

Noor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Noor surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Noor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,275 in 2016. That gives Noor a modern rank of #2,854.

What does the Noor surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "light," often referring to the light of God or divine guidance.

What does the Noor map show?

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