NameCensus.

UK surname

Safari

An occupational surname indicating someone who traveled or went on journeys.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Harrow and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Safari is 103 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2016

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Safari surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Safari surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Safari 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 6 #37,704
1998 modern 6 #37,703
1999 modern 14 #36,595
2000 modern 12 #36,749
2001 modern 11 #36,727
2002 modern 17 #36,164
2003 modern 28 #35,200
2004 modern 30 #35,186
2005 modern 38 #34,741
2006 modern 49 #34,152
2007 modern 47 #34,558
2008 modern 53 #34,315
2009 modern 53 #34,481
2010 modern 70 #33,480
2011 modern 63 #33,982
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Safaris 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Harrow, Stockport, Ealing and Enfield. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 009 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Harrow 025 Harrow
3 Stockport 013 Stockport
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Enfield 024 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Safari

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

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

Safari 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

Safari falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Safari

The surname "SAFARI" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, most likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "safar," which means "journey" or "travel." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals or families who were known for their travels or adventures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SAFARI" can be found in the Mughal Empire's historical records from the 16th century. During this time, the name was often associated with merchants, explorers, and travelers who traversed the vast territories of the Mughal Empire and beyond.

In the 18th century, the name "SAFARI" appeared in several British colonial records in India, indicating that some families with this surname may have lived in regions under British rule or had interactions with the colonial authorities.

Notable individuals with the surname "SAFARI" include:

1. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Safari (1835-1908), a prominent Islamic religious leader and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

2. Rajendra Prasad Safari (1884-1963), an Indian scholar and politician who served as the first President of independent India from 1950 to 1962.

3. Fatima Safari (born 1957), an Iranian filmmaker and screenwriter known for her award-winning films exploring social issues and women's rights.

4. Maryam Safari (born 1982), an Iranian-American mathematician and professor at Harvard University, renowned for her contributions to algebraic geometry and number theory.

5. Saadat Hasan Manto Safari (1912-1955), a renowned Pakistani writer, playwright, and author of short stories exploring the human condition during the tumultuous period of the Partition of India.

The surname "SAFARI" has also been associated with various place names and locations across South Asia, particularly in regions with historical links to trade routes and travel networks. Some examples include the town of Safari in Uttar Pradesh, India, and the Safari district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

While the surname "SAFARI" is relatively uncommon globally, it holds a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the spirit of exploration, adventure, and the journey of life itself.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Safari surname: questions and answers

How common is the Safari surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Safari a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Safari surname mean?

An occupational surname indicating someone who traveled or went on journeys.

What does the Safari map show?

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