NameCensus.

UK surname

Qamar

An Arabic surname derived from the word meaning "moon" or "moonlight".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Qamar is 742 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

742

2016, ranked #7,354

Peak year

2016

742 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016, ranked #7,354.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Qamar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Qamar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Qamar 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 196 #17,859
1998 modern 209 #17,650
1999 modern 231 #16,646
2000 modern 265 #15,143
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 314 #13,589
2003 modern 347 #12,479
2004 modern 396 #11,372
2005 modern 433 #10,516
2006 modern 458 #10,109
2007 modern 490 #9,704
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 599 #8,612
2010 modern 645 #8,294
2011 modern 655 #8,104
2012 modern 680 #7,794
2013 modern 700 #7,725
2014 modern 711 #7,678
2015 modern 724 #7,527
2016 modern 742 #7,354

Geography

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Where Qamars 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 Bradford, Waverley, Croydon and Birmingham. 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 Bradford 038 Bradford
2 Bradford 007 Bradford
3 Waverley 018 Waverley
4 Croydon 011 Croydon
5 Birmingham 077 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Qamar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Qamar

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

Qamar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Qamar

The surname Qamar has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and the Islamic world. It is derived from the Arabic word "qamar," which translates to "moon" or "lunar." This name likely emerged during the height of the Islamic Golden Age, a period spanning from the 8th to the 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Qamar can be found in the historical annals of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast empire stretching from North Africa to Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries. The name appears in various manuscripts and chronicles from this era, often associated with scholars, poets, and prominent figures of the time.

In the 10th century, a renowned Persian astronomer and mathematician named Abu'l-Wafa' al-Buzjani, whose full name was Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Isma'il al-Qamar al-Buzjani, made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry and the development of astronomical instruments. His works were widely studied and referenced by subsequent generations of scholars.

During the 12th century, a prominent Sufi mystic and poet named Jalaluddin Rumi, whose full name was Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, mentioned the name Qamar in his famous poetic works, such as the Masnavi. Rumi's poetry often drew upon celestial imagery, including references to the moon, which may have been inspired by the name's meaning.

In the 14th century, a Persian scholar and historian named Hamdullah Mustaufi Qazvini, whose full name was Hamdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Nasr al-Qamar al-Qazwini, authored a renowned geographical work titled "Nuzhat al-Qulub" (Delight of the Hearts), which provided detailed descriptions of various regions and cities across the Islamic world.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Qamar was Mir Qamaru'd-Din Minai, a 16th-century Persian calligrapher and artist renowned for his intricate and beautiful works of miniature painting and calligraphy. His works are considered masterpieces of the Safavid era and are preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

While the surname Qamar has its roots in the Middle East and the Islamic world, it has since spread to other regions through migration and cultural exchange. Over the centuries, variations in spelling and pronunciation have emerged, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences encountered by those bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Qamar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Qamar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016. That gives Qamar a modern rank of #7,354.

What does the Qamar surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from the word meaning "moon" or "moonlight".

What does the Qamar map show?

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