NameCensus.

UK surname

Sabir

A surname meaning "patient" or "steadfast" in Arabic.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Rochdale and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sabir is 1,384 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,321

2016, ranked #4,543

Peak year

2010

1,384 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,321 in 2016, ranked #4,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sabir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sabir surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sabir 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 2 #34,135
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 617 #7,988
1998 modern 701 #7,468
1999 modern 774 #6,970
2000 modern 798 #6,787
2001 modern 790 #6,707
2002 modern 890 #6,233
2003 modern 907 #6,048
2004 modern 975 #5,710
2005 modern 1,046 #5,353
2006 modern 1,113 #5,096
2007 modern 1,196 #4,825
2008 modern 1,264 #4,622
2009 modern 1,322 #4,540
2010 modern 1,384 #4,445
2011 modern 1,369 #4,434
2012 modern 1,321 #4,502
2013 modern 1,336 #4,540
2014 modern 1,337 #4,558
2015 modern 1,338 #4,517
2016 modern 1,321 #4,543

Geography

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Where Sabirs 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 Rotherham, Rochdale, Birmingham and Bradford. 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 Rotherham 023 Rotherham
2 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
3 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 082 Birmingham
5 Bradford 042 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sabir

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sabir

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

Sabir 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sabir

The surname Sabir has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Middle East and North Africa regions. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "sabr," which means patience or perseverance. The earliest known records of this surname date back to the 8th century, during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the early days, the name Sabir was predominantly found in regions like Syria, Egypt, and Morocco. It is thought to have been adopted by individuals who exhibited traits of patience and endurance, qualities that were highly valued in the Islamic culture. As the Arabic influence spread across various regions, the name Sabir also gained prominence in other parts of the world.

One of the earliest known references to the name Sabir can be found in the chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate, where it is mentioned in connection with scholars and poets who lived during that era. For instance, Abu Bakr al-Sabir, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet, lived in the 9th century and was known for his contributions to Arabic literature.

During the Moorish rule in Spain, the name Sabir made its way into the Iberian Peninsula. Historical records from that period, such as the Mozarabic manuscripts, contain references to individuals bearing this surname. One notable figure was Ibn al-Sabir, a prominent physician and philosopher who lived in the 11th century and made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

As the name spread across different regions, it underwent various spellings and adaptations. In some regions, it was written as "Sabeer" or "Sabiir," while in others, it took on more localized forms. For example, in parts of North Africa, the name was sometimes spelled as "Sabyr" or "Saber."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Sabir. One such figure was Al-Sabir ibn Sahl, a renowned astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 9th century and made crucial contributions to the development of trigonometry. Another prominent figure was Abu al-Qasim al-Sabir, a 10th-century philosopher and logician who played a significant role in the preservation and transmission of ancient Greek knowledge.

In more recent times, the name Sabir has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, writers, and artists. One notable example is the Egyptian novelist and playwright Tawfiq al-Hakim Sabir, who was born in 1898 and is considered one of the pioneers of modern Arabic literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sabir surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sabir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,321 in 2016. That gives Sabir a modern rank of #4,543.

What does the Sabir surname mean?

A surname meaning "patient" or "steadfast" in Arabic.

What does the Sabir map show?

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