NameCensus.

UK surname

Obaid

An Arabic surname meaning "servant" or "worshipper" of God.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Redbridge and South Leith.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Obaid is 115 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

2016

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Obaid surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Obaid surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Obaid 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
1997 modern 30 #34,701
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 33 #34,610
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 37 #34,082
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 50 #33,362
2004 modern 50 #33,566
2005 modern 62 #32,708
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 66 #32,948
2008 modern 69 #32,962
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 79 #32,759
2011 modern 82 #32,449
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Obaids 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 Brent, Redbridge, South Leith, Birmingham and Westminster. 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 Brent 005 Brent
2 Redbridge 029 Redbridge
3 South Leith City of Edinburgh
4 Birmingham 083 Birmingham
5 Westminster 004 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Obaid

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Obaid

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

Obaid 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

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

Meaning and origin of Obaid

The surname OBAID has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in regions that are now part of modern-day Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Gulf countries. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Ubaid," which means "servant" or "worshipper."

OBAID is considered an ancient name, with its roots tracing back to the early days of Islam. It is possible that the name was adopted by individuals who converted to Islam during the religion's initial spread across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. The name's connection to the concept of servitude or worship suggests that it may have been borne by those who dedicated themselves to the service of Allah or to their religion.

In terms of historical references, the name OBAID has been found in various Arabic manuscripts and records dating back to the medieval period. One notable example is the mention of an individual named Obaid bin Abdulrahman in the historic chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast empire spanning parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries.

The earliest recorded examples of the name OBAID can be traced back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Obaid bin Abi Al-Bah, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century CE.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname OBAID was Obaid Allah bin Ziyad, a notable Arab general and governor who served under the Umayyad Caliphate in the late 7th century CE. He played a significant role in the Muslim conquest of Central Asia and the expansion of the Islamic empire into what is now modern-day Iran and Afghanistan.

In the 9th century CE, Obaid bin Al-Abras was a renowned Arab poet and scholar who hailed from the city of Basra, located in present-day Iraq. His works and contributions to Arabic literature have been widely studied and celebrated throughout the ages.

During the 12th century, Obaid Al-Zakani was a prominent Arab poet and philosopher who lived in the city of Qazvin, located in modern-day Iran. His poetic works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, have left a lasting impact on Arabic literature.

In more recent times, one notable individual with the surname OBAID was Abdulrahman Obaid Yousef, a Kuwaiti businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1932 to 2021. He was known for his contributions to various charitable initiatives and his support for educational causes in Kuwait and the broader Gulf region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Obaid surname: questions and answers

How common is the Obaid surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Obaid a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Obaid surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "servant" or "worshipper" of God.

What does the Obaid map show?

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