NameCensus.

UK surname

Safa

An Arabic surname meaning pure or sincere.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Merton and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Safa is 112 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2011

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Safa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Safa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Safa 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 3 #33,861
1997 modern 46 #33,077
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 56 #32,461
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 73 #31,186
2004 modern 78 #30,919
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 93 #30,123
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Safas 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 Haringey, Merton, Nottingham, Oxford and Lewisham. 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 Haringey 016 Haringey
2 Merton 002 Merton
3 Nottingham 028 Nottingham
4 Oxford 011 Oxford
5 Lewisham 039 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Safa

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Safa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Safa 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Safa 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

Safa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Safa

The surname SAFA is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arab world. It is derived from the Arabic word "safa," which means "purity" or "clarity." The earliest known records of this surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in the region that is now known as Lebanon.

One of the earliest mentions of the name SAFA is found in a manuscript from the 13th century, which documents a family of scholars and poets who lived in the city of Tripoli, Lebanon. The manuscript refers to a renowned poet named Ahmad al-Safa, who was celebrated for his works on love and mysticism.

In the 14th century, the SAFA name appeared in various records from the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over parts of Syria, Egypt, and the Levant. These records suggest that the SAFA family held positions of influence and prominence within the Mamluk court.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the region in the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname SAFA were noted for their contributions to literature, philosophy, and Islamic scholarship. One notable figure was Ibrahim al-Safa (1534-1618), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on Sufism and Islamic mysticism.

In the 19th century, the SAFA name gained prominence in Lebanon, with several members of the family playing influential roles in the country's intellectual and political spheres. One such figure was Salim al-Safa (1828-1896), a prominent poet, journalist, and advocate for Lebanese independence from Ottoman rule.

Another notable individual was Khalil al-Safa (1879-1946), a Lebanese writer and intellectual who was instrumental in the establishment of the American University of Beirut. His literary works, which explored themes of identity and nationalism, had a significant impact on the cultural landscape of the region.

Throughout history, the SAFA name has been associated with various places and regions, including Safahat, an ancient town in Lebanon, and Safed, a city in present-day Israel that was once a center of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Safa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Safa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Safa a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Safa surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning pure or sincere.

What does the Safa map show?

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