NameCensus.

UK surname

Phiri

A surname of Bantu origin referring to someone from the Phiri clan or region.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phiri is 695 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

677

2016, ranked #7,926

Peak year

2010

695 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016, ranked #7,926.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Phiri surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phiri surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phiri 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 72 #30,415
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 316 #13,355
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 432 #10,531
2006 modern 524 #9,150
2007 modern 577 #8,604
2008 modern 616 #8,237
2009 modern 661 #7,969
2010 modern 695 #7,823
2011 modern 637 #8,290
2012 modern 636 #8,208
2013 modern 670 #8,010
2014 modern 683 #7,933
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 677 #7,926

Geography

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Where Phiris 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 Luton, Bexley, Croydon, Manchester 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 Luton 018 Luton
2 Bexley 008 Bexley
3 Croydon 008 Croydon
4 Manchester 018 Manchester
5 Bradford 044 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phiri

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phiri

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Phiri 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

Phiri 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

Phiri 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 Phiri 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
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Phiri, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Phiri

The surname Phiri is believed to have originated in Malawi, a country located in southeastern Africa. It is a name of Bantu origin, which is a linguistic group comprising several ethnic groups in sub-Saharan Africa. The name Phiri is derived from the Chichewa word 'phiri,' which translates to 'hill' or 'mountain.'

In the early 19th century, the Phiri name was predominantly found in the central and southern regions of Malawi, particularly among the Chewa and Ngoni ethnic groups. These groups were known for their agricultural practices and often settled in areas with fertile lands and proximity to water sources, including hills and mountains.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Phiri name can be found in the writings of David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and explorer who traveled extensively in Africa during the mid-19th century. Livingstone's journals and records document his encounters with individuals bearing the Phiri name during his explorations in the region now known as Malawi.

Notable individuals with the Phiri surname include Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1898-1997), a Malawian statesman and leader of the independence movement who served as the first President of Malawi from 1966 to 1994. Another prominent figure was Dunduzu Chisiza Phiri (1933-1986), a Malawian writer and educator who contributed significantly to the development of Chichewa literature.

Other historical figures with the Phiri surname include Yohane Phiri (1895-1983), a Malawian religious leader and founder of the Providence Industrial Mission, and Thandika Phiri Mkandawire (1940-2020), a Malawian economist and scholar who served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The Phiri name has also been associated with various place names in Malawi, such as Phiri Village, Phiri Hills, and Phiri Mountain, reflecting the connection between the name and the geographical features of the region.

As the Malawian diaspora spread to other parts of Africa and beyond, the Phiri name has become more widely recognized, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions in various fields, including academia, arts, and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Phiri surname: questions and answers

How common is the Phiri surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016. That gives Phiri a modern rank of #7,926.

What does the Phiri surname mean?

A surname of Bantu origin referring to someone from the Phiri clan or region.

What does the Phiri map show?

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