NameCensus.

UK surname

Omar

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "flourishing," "long-lived," or "eloquent."

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Omar surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,704, ranked #1,840, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Omar is 3,704 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61633.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

3,704

2016, ranked #1,840

Peak year

2016

3,704 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Omar had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,704 in 2016, ranked #1,840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Omar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Omar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Omar 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 23 #31,466
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 831 #6,350
1998 modern 896 #6,183
1999 modern 957 #5,917
2000 modern 996 #5,706
2001 modern 992 #5,608
2002 modern 1,157 #5,070
2003 modern 1,242 #4,666
2004 modern 1,494 #4,020
2005 modern 1,701 #3,540
2006 modern 1,907 #3,221
2007 modern 2,111 #2,975
2008 modern 2,323 #2,741
2009 modern 2,615 #2,545
2010 modern 2,973 #2,319
2011 modern 2,983 #2,288
2012 modern 3,238 #2,078
2013 modern 3,412 #2,008
2014 modern 3,522 #1,961
2015 modern 3,588 #1,898
2016 modern 3,704 #1,840

Geography

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Where Omars 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 Manchester, Leicester, Liverpool and Cardiff. 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 Manchester 024 Manchester
2 Leicester 018 Leicester
3 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
4 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
5 Leicester 022 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Omar

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

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

Omar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Omar

The surname Omar has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have first emerged in the Middle East region during the early centuries of the Islamic era.

Omar is derived from the Arabic word 'Amir', which translates to 'prince' or 'commander'. It was initially used as a title or honorific for individuals of high status and authority within Arab societies.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Omar can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and chronicles, dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE. One notable example is the mention of Omar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, who ruled from 634 to 644 CE.

As the Islamic faith and Arabic culture spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, the name Omar became more widely adopted as a surname. It is thought to have first appeared in regions such as present-day Syria, Iraq, and Egypt.

Over time, variations of the name emerged, including Omer, Umar, and Umair, reflecting regional linguistic differences and dialects. Some of these variations can be traced back to place names or geographic locations where the surname was prevalent.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname Omar include:

1. Omar Khayyam (1048-1131 CE), a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet renowned for his literary works, including the Rubaiyat. 2. Omar ibn Said (1770-1864), a West African Muslim scholar and autobiographer who was enslaved and brought to the United States. 3. Omar Mukhtar (1858-1931), a Libyan revolutionary and prominent leader in the resistance against Italian colonization. 4. Omar Sharif (1932-2015), an Egyptian actor best known for his roles in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago". 5. Omar Torrijos (1929-1981), a Panamanian military leader and former President of Panama.

The surname Omar has maintained a strong presence across various regions and cultures influenced by the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle East, it has since become a global surname, reflecting the spread of Arabic culture and the widespread adoption of Islamic names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Omar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Omar 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. Angus leads with 2 Omars recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.70x.

County Total Index
Angus 2 31.70x
Derbyshire 2 18.76x
Lancashire 2 2.48x
Middlesex 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chesterfield in Derbyshire leads with 2 Omars recorded in 1881 and an index of 500.00x.

Place Total Index
Chesterfield 2 500.00x
Dundee 2 85.11x
Hulme 1 59.17x
Islington London 1 15.15x
Manchester 1 27.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Esther 1
Mary 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Mark 1
Robert 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 Omar households.

FAQ

Omar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Omar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Omar surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Omar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,704 in 2016. That gives Omar a modern rank of #1,840.

What does the Omar surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "flourishing," "long-lived," or "eloquent."

What does the Omar map show?

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