NameCensus.

UK surname

Saraf

An occupational surname derived from the Arabic word for money changer or banker.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saraf is 106 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2015

106 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Saraf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saraf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saraf 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 41 #33,747
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 43 #33,951
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 68 #32,097
2006 modern 72 #32,059
2007 modern 73 #32,287
2008 modern 75 #32,373
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 92 #31,366
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Sarafs 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 Barnet, Brent and Harrow. 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 Barnet 007 Barnet
2 Brent 003 Brent
3 Brent 009 Brent
4 Harrow 006 Harrow
5 Harrow 023 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saraf

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Saraf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Saraf household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Saraf is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Saraf 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

Saraf falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saraf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Saraf, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Saraf

The surname SARAF originates from India, specifically from the northern regions of the country. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Sarraf," which means "money changer" or "banker." The name first appeared around the 12th century CE, during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate.

SARAF was a prominent surname among the trading and banking communities in medieval India. The name was commonly found in historical records and manuscripts from the Mughal era, particularly in areas like Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Some of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the SARAF surname was Mian Mir Saraf, a renowned Sufi saint who lived in Lahore during the 16th and 17th centuries. He was known for his spiritual teachings and is credited with laying the foundation stone of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Another notable figure was Munshi Mehraj-ud-din Saraf, a renowned scholar and author from Delhi who lived in the late 18th century. He wrote several books on Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic grammar, including the acclaimed "Qawaid-e-Farsi."

In the 19th century, the SARAF family played a prominent role in the economic and cultural life of northern India. Lala Babu Mal Saraf was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Delhi who funded the construction of several educational institutions and public buildings in the city.

During the British Raj, the SARAF surname was also found among the influential business communities in cities like Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Bombay (now Mumbai). One notable figure was Sir Ratanji Dadabhoy Saraf, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another eminent individual with the SARAF surname was Rai Bahadur Lala Ramnath Saraf, a philanthropist and patron of the arts from Delhi. He was instrumental in preserving and promoting traditional Indian music and dance forms in the early 20th century.

Over the centuries, the SARAF surname has been closely associated with the trading, banking, and business communities of northern India. While the name has its roots in the Sanskrit language, it has also been influenced by various regional dialects and has several variations in spelling, such as Sarraf, Saraff, and Saraaf.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Saraf surname: questions and answers

How common is the Saraf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Saraf a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Saraf surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Arabic word for money changer or banker.

What does the Saraf map show?

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