NameCensus.

UK surname

Rafique

A surname derived from the Arabic name "Rafiq," meaning companion or friend.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Rafique surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,320, ranked #4,547, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Govanhill West and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rafique is 1,320 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

1,320

2016, ranked #4,547

Peak year

2016

1,320 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rafique had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016, ranked #4,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Rafique surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rafique surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rafique 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 587 #8,275
1998 modern 614 #8,252
1999 modern 670 #7,761
2000 modern 715 #7,383
2001 modern 705 #7,330
2002 modern 797 #6,794
2003 modern 832 #6,443
2004 modern 883 #6,191
2005 modern 931 #5,874
2006 modern 992 #5,597
2007 modern 1,063 #5,329
2008 modern 1,105 #5,198
2009 modern 1,194 #4,959
2010 modern 1,271 #4,806
2011 modern 1,253 #4,807
2012 modern 1,245 #4,761
2013 modern 1,283 #4,712
2014 modern 1,300 #4,676
2015 modern 1,301 #4,628
2016 modern 1,320 #4,547

Geography

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Where Rafiques 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 Sheffield, Govanhill West, Derby 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 Sheffield 020 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 042 Sheffield
3 Govanhill West Glasgow City
4 Derby 018 Derby
5 Manchester 027 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rafique

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rafique

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

Rafique 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rafique

The surname Rafique is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "rafiq" meaning "companion" or "friend." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East during the 7th century AD, a time when the Islamic empire was rapidly expanding and Arabic names were becoming more widespread.

Over the centuries, the name Rafique spread across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa, where it was adopted by various communities. In some areas, the name may have evolved into different spellings or variations, such as Rafik, Rafeeq, or Rafeek.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rafique can be found in medieval Islamic manuscripts and records, particularly those documenting trade and travel routes between the Middle East and other regions. However, the specific details of these early records are often obscured by time and the scarcity of surviving documents.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Rafique al-Isfahani, a Persian scholar and poet, gained prominence in the court of the Seljuk Empire. His works, which were highly regarded during his time, contributed to the recognition and spread of the name Rafique.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign, which spanned from the 13th to the 20th century, the name Rafique was prevalent among various ethnic and religious communities within the empire's territories. One notable individual was Rafique Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and military leader who served in the 19th century.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Rafique gained popularity after the arrival of Muslim rulers and settlers from Central Asia and the Middle East. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Rafique Mirza, a nobleman and courtier who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

Another prominent figure with the surname Rafique was Mustafa Rafique, a renowned Bengali poet and writer from the 19th century, whose works were influential in the literary and cultural renaissance of Bengal.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the name Rafique spread to other regions, including parts of Europe and the Americas. In the 20th century, notable individuals with this surname include Rafique Bhatti, a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1970s, and Rafique Mughal, a British-Pakistani writer and journalist known for his contributions to literature and journalism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rafique families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rafique 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 1 Rafiques recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.93x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 1 163.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. All Saints Cambridge in Cambridgeshire leads with 1 Rafiques recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
All Saints Cambridge 1 0.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Mahomed 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 Rafique households.

Occupation Count
Student 1

FAQ

Rafique surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rafique surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Rafique surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rafique surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,320 in 2016. That gives Rafique a modern rank of #4,547.

What does the Rafique surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic name "Rafiq," meaning companion or friend.

What does the Rafique map show?

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