NameCensus.

UK surname

Nour

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "light" or "radiance".

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Nour surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Manchester and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nour is 190 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9400.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2016

190 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nour had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nour surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nour surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nour 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
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 50 #32,899
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 50 #32,957
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 49 #33,456
2004 modern 57 #32,968
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Nours 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 South Norfolk, Manchester, Bexley, Birmingham 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 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 Manchester 030 Manchester
3 Bexley 007 Bexley
4 Birmingham 063 Birmingham
5 Coventry 007 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nour

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nour

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Nour surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nour 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nour 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

Nour 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nour

The surname Nour has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, among others. The name is derived from the Arabic word "nur," which means "light" or "radiance."

In ancient times, the name Nour was often used as a descriptive term or nickname for individuals who possessed a bright personality or a radiant demeanor. It was not uncommon for such names to eventually become hereditary surnames, passed down through generations within families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nour can be traced back to the 12th century, during the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt. Historical records mention a prominent scholar and poet named Nour al-Din al-Attar, who lived between 1166 and 1234 in Cairo.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Nour was Shaykh Nour al-Din al-Bitruji, a renowned astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 13th century. His contributions to the field of astronomy were significant, and his works were widely studied and referenced by scholars of his time.

In the 14th century, during the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt, the name Nour appeared in various administrative records and documents. One such example is the Mamluk historian and writer, Nour al-Din Ali al-Samhudi, who lived between 1332 and 1412 and authored several works on the history of Mecca and Medina.

Moving forward to the 19th century, the surname Nour gained prominence in the literary and political circles of the Arab world. Nour Al-Din Al-Turki was a prominent Syrian writer and poet who lived between 1845 and 1908 and played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance.

Another notable figure was Nour Pasha al-Nouri, an Iraqi politician and military leader who served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 1930 to 1932. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the modern Iraqi state and its independence from British rule.

Throughout history, the surname Nour has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, artists, politicians, and military leaders. While the name has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nour families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nour 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. Devon leads with 1 Nours recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.94x.

County Total Index
Devon 1 24.94x
Lancashire 1 4.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 1 Nours recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 1 322.58x
Withington 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 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 Nour households.

FAQ

Nour surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nour surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Nour surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nour surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Nour a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Nour surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "light" or "radiance".

What does the Nour map show?

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