NameCensus.

UK surname

Reza

A Persian surname derived from the Arabic word "riḍā," meaning "contentment, satisfaction, or approval."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, Charnwood and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reza is 359 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

2015

359 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Reza surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reza surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reza 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 111 #25,394
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 192 #18,678
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 328 #13,856
2011 modern 329 #13,694
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 353 #13,183
2015 modern 359 #12,906
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Rezas 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 Newham, Charnwood, Ealing and Tower Hamlets. 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 Newham 008 Newham
2 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
3 Ealing 009 Ealing
4 Tower Hamlets 014 Tower Hamlets
5 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reza

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Reza is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reza 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

Reza falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reza 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 Reza, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Reza

The surname REZA has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East region, specifically in present-day Iran (formerly known as Persia). The name likely emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 7th century AD.

REZA is derived from the Arabic word "Rida," which means "satisfaction" or "contentment." It is closely associated with the eighth Imam of Shia Islam, Ali al-Rida, who lived in the 8th century and was renowned for his wisdom and piety.

Historical records indicate that the name REZA first appeared in various Persian manuscripts and chronicles dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Some of the earliest known individuals with this surname include Abul Reza al-Ghazali (1058–1111), a renowned Persian scholar and philosopher, and Ibn Reza al-Tabrizi (1144–1208), a renowned Persian physician and philosopher.

During the medieval period, the name REZA was particularly prevalent in the regions of present-day Iran, Iraq, and parts of Central Asia, where Persian culture and Islamic influence were strong. It was often associated with individuals of scholarly or religious backgrounds.

One notable historical figure with the surname REZA was Mirza Reza Kermani (1859–1896), a prominent Iranian philosopher and writer who played a significant role in the intellectual and literary movements of his time. Another was Reza Khan (1878–1944), an Iranian military officer who later became the Shah of Iran and founded the Pahlavi dynasty.

The name REZA also has some association with place names in the region. For example, Reza'iyeh is a town in northern Iran, and Mashhad-e Reza is a city in northeastern Iran named after the eighth Imam, Ali al-Rida.

Other notable individuals with the surname REZA include Reza Abbasi (1565–1635), a renowned Persian calligrapher and painter during the Safavid dynasty; Reza Baraheni (born 1935), an Iranian poet, novelist, and human rights activist; and Reza Aslan (born 1972), an Iranian-American author, religious scholar, and commentator.

While the surname REZA has its roots in the Arabic and Persian cultures, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange, albeit retaining its strong association with the Middle East region and Islamic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Reza surname: questions and answers

How common is the Reza surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Reza a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Reza surname mean?

A Persian surname derived from the Arabic word "riḍā," meaning "contentment, satisfaction, or approval."

What does the Reza map show?

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