NameCensus.

UK surname

Qurashi

Qurashi is an Arabic surname referring to someone descended from the Quraysh tribe of Mecca.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Enfield and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Qurashi is 142 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2016

142 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Qurashi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Qurashi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Qurashi 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 64 #31,233
1998 modern 79 #30,080
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 78 #30,361
2001 modern 79 #30,065
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Qurashis 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 Bury, Enfield, Kensington and Chelsea, Leeds and Manchester. 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 Bury 011 Bury
2 Enfield 030 Enfield
3 Kensington and Chelsea 011 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Leeds 015 Leeds
5 Manchester 028 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Qurashi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Qurashi

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Qurashi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Qurashi household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Qurashi is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Qurashi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Qurashi

The surname "QURASHI" originated from the Arabian Peninsula, specifically the region around Mecca and Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia. It is an Arabic name derived from the word "Quraish," which refers to the influential tribe that inhabited Mecca during the time of the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE.

The Quraish tribe played a significant role in the early history of Islam, as they were initially opponents of Muhammad's teachings but later embraced the religion. Many of the Prophet's companions and early followers were members of the Quraish tribe, and the name "QURASHI" became associated with those who traced their lineage back to this tribe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "QURASHI" can be found in historical Islamic texts and genealogical records from the 7th and 8th centuries CE. Notable individuals who carried this name include Abu Bakr Al-Qurashi (573-634 CE), one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.

Another prominent figure was Abdullah ibn Abbas Al-Qurashi (619-687 CE), a highly respected scholar and interpreter of the Quran who was also related to the Prophet Muhammad. In the 9th century, Abu Ishaq Al-Qurashi (778-850 CE) was a renowned grammarian and philologist who made significant contributions to the study of the Arabic language.

During the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from Baghdad from 750 to 1258 CE, the name "QURASHI" was associated with members of the elite class and scholarly circles. One such individual was Ahmad ibn Muhammad Al-Qurashi (815-886 CE), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who worked on developing advanced astronomical instruments and calculations.

In later centuries, the surname "QURASHI" spread to various parts of the Islamic world, including regions of modern-day Pakistan, India, and parts of Africa. Ibn Battuta (1304-1369 CE), the famous Moroccan explorer and traveler, encountered individuals with the surname "QURASHI" during his extensive travels across the Muslim world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Qurashi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Qurashi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Qurashi a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Qurashi surname mean?

Qurashi is an Arabic surname referring to someone descended from the Quraysh tribe of Mecca.

What does the Qurashi map show?

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