NameCensus.

UK surname

Raza

A Spanish surname derived from the Arabic "raza," meaning "hope," "satisfaction," or referring to a non-Arab Muslim.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raza is 3,264 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

3,264

2016, ranked #2,084

Peak year

2016

3,264 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,264 in 2016, ranked #2,084.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Raza surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raza surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raza 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
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 883 #6,051
1998 modern 981 #5,766
1999 modern 1,081 #5,359
2000 modern 1,157 #5,059
2001 modern 1,165 #4,939
2002 modern 1,399 #4,296
2003 modern 1,517 #3,961
2004 modern 1,688 #3,604
2005 modern 1,882 #3,235
2006 modern 2,108 #2,944
2007 modern 2,318 #2,735
2008 modern 2,479 #2,603
2009 modern 2,709 #2,458
2010 modern 2,934 #2,352
2011 modern 2,986 #2,285
2012 modern 2,989 #2,232
2013 modern 3,062 #2,215
2014 modern 3,200 #2,154
2015 modern 3,211 #2,124
2016 modern 3,264 #2,084

Geography

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Where Razas 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, Redbridge and Luton. 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 027 Manchester
2 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
3 Manchester 008 Manchester
4 Redbridge 032 Redbridge
5 Luton 010 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raza

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

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

Raza 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

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

Meaning and origin of Raza

The surname RAZA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northwestern region of what is now Pakistan and parts of northern India. The name is derived from the Arabic word "raz," which means "secret" or "mystery."

One of the earliest documented references to the surname RAZA can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century gazetteer and administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions individuals with the name RAZA holding various administrative positions in the Mughal Empire.

In the 17th century, the RAZA surname appears in several Persian manuscripts and court records from the Deccan region of southern India, which was under the rule of the Nizam Shahi dynasty. During this period, the name was associated with scholars, poets, and members of the nobility.

The earliest known individual with the surname RAZA is Mir Raza Ali Khan (1556-1624), a renowned poet and scholar who served as a courtier under the Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. His collection of poetry, known as the Divan-e-Raza, is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature.

Another notable figure with the surname RAZA is Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898), a Muslim philosopher, jurist, and social reformer who played a pivotal role in the establishment of modern education in India. He founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which later became the Aligarh Muslim University.

In the 19th century, the RAZA surname gained prominence in the Hyderabad State, which was ruled by the Asaf Jah dynasty. One of the most influential figures from this era was Nawab Mehdi Raza Khan (1835-1908), a prominent statesman and prime minister of Hyderabad who played a crucial role in modernizing the state's administration.

The surname RAZA has also been associated with several notable personalities in the field of literature and arts. Amjad Raza (1914-1990) was a renowned Urdu poet and critic from Pakistan, while Sadequain (1930-1987), whose full name was Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi Raza, was a celebrated Pakistani artist known for his calligraphic works.

Another prominent figure with the surname RAZA is the Indian artist Syed Haider Raza (1922-2016), a founding member of the Progressive Artists' Group in India and one of the most influential modern painters of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Raza surname: questions and answers

How common is the Raza surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,264 in 2016. That gives Raza a modern rank of #2,084.

What does the Raza surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the Arabic "raza," meaning "hope," "satisfaction," or referring to a non-Arab Muslim.

What does the Raza map show?

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