NameCensus.

UK surname

Sabah

A surname derived from the Arabic word for "morning" or "dawn".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Sabah surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Brent and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sabah is 120 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2014

120 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sabah had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sabah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sabah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sabah 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 28 #34,904
1998 modern 28 #35,053
1999 modern 29 #35,031
2000 modern 35 #34,420
2001 modern 34 #34,356
2002 modern 44 #33,790
2003 modern 54 #32,990
2004 modern 58 #32,880
2005 modern 68 #32,097
2006 modern 69 #32,343
2007 modern 79 #31,628
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Sabahs 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 Swansea, Brent, Doncaster, Lewisham and Newham. 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 Swansea 020 Swansea
2 Brent 012 Brent
3 Doncaster 018 Doncaster
4 Lewisham 005 Lewisham
5 Newham 009 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sabah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sabah

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sabah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sabah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sabah

The surname "SABAH" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region that is now known as Yemen. It traces its roots back to the 7th century AD, when the Arabian Peninsula was undergoing a period of significant cultural and political upheaval with the rise of Islam.

One of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and records from the region, where it was often spelled as "Sabah" or "Sabah." The name is derived from the Arabic word "sabah," which means "morning" or "dawn," suggesting that it may have initially been a descriptive name given to someone who was known for their early-rising habits or association with the morning hours.

During the medieval period, the name spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and eventually made its way to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of the name may have been traders or scholars who traveled along the ancient trade routes that connected the region with other parts of the world.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "SABAH" was a renowned scholar and poet named Abu al-Qasim al-Sabah, who lived in the 10th century AD in what is now modern-day Iraq. His works and contributions to Arabic literature and poetry have been celebrated throughout the centuries.

Another notable figure was Al-Sabah Al-Azdi, a 12th-century Arab historian and writer who authored several books on the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula. His works provided valuable insights into the lives and customs of the people living in the region during that time.

In the 13th century, there was a prominent family known as the Al-Sabah dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Kuwait for several centuries. One of the most notable members of this dynasty was Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, who reigned from 1896 to 1915 and played a significant role in the modernization and development of Kuwait.

Other notable individuals with the surname "SABAH" include Ahmed Al-Sabah, a 15th-century Arab explorer and navigator who is believed to have traveled along the East African coast and contributed to the expansion of trade routes in the region.

Lastly, in the 19th century, there was a renowned Egyptian scholar and intellectual named Rifa'a Al-Tahtawi Al-Sabah, who played a pivotal role in introducing modern ideas and concepts to Egypt and the wider Arab world through his writings and translations of Western works.

While the surname "SABAH" has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Arabian Peninsula, where it was closely tied to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sabah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sabah 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Sabahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 1 Sabahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Marrahat 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 Sabah households.

Occupation Count
Foreign Merchant 1

FAQ

Sabah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sabah surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Sabah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Sabah a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Sabah surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic word for "morning" or "dawn".

What does the Sabah map show?

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