UK surname

Shaheen

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "royal white falcon," often referring to a master falconer or one who hunts with falcons.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shaheen is 2,476 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

2,460

2016, ranked #2,679

Peak year

2014

2,476 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 2,460 in 2016, ranked #2,679.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Shaheen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shaheen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Shaheen 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	897	#5,978
1998	modern	1,000	#5,674
1999	modern	1,087	#5,338
2000	modern	1,203	#4,894
2001	modern	1,201	#4,795
2002	modern	1,428	#4,223
2003	modern	1,485	#4,037
2004	modern	1,601	#3,782
2005	modern	1,668	#3,606
2006	modern	1,820	#3,338
2007	modern	1,950	#3,193
2008	modern	2,085	#3,026
2009	modern	2,145	#3,022
2010	modern	2,261	#2,935
2011	modern	2,312	#2,846
2012	modern	2,372	#2,742
2013	modern	2,411	#2,746
2014	modern	2,476	#2,708
2015	modern	2,468	#2,688
2016	modern	2,460	#2,679

Geography

Where Shaheens 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 Birmingham and Pendle. 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	Birmingham 139	Birmingham
2	Birmingham 140	Birmingham
3	Birmingham 082	Birmingham
4	Pendle 011	Pendle
5	Birmingham 051	Birmingham

Forenames

First names often paired with Shaheen

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Robina Ghazala Rukhsana Nazia Nighat Uzma Farzana Rubina Rifat Nazma

Recent male names

Akhtar Mohammed Mohammad Muhammad Abdul Amjad Ali Khan Ahmed Hussain

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Shaheen

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

Shaheen 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shaheen 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shaheen 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Shaheen

The surname Shaheen has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "shaheen," which means "falcon" or "peregrine falcon." This name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with significant Arab influence, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of Western Asia.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Shaheen can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries. During this time, many Arab scholars, poets, and warriors adopted surnames or titles that reflected their personal attributes, occupations, or connections to nature.

One of the earliest known references to the name Shaheen can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher Al-Mutanabbi, who lived from 915 to 965 AD. In his poetry, he frequently used the metaphor of the falcon to symbolize strength, courage, and nobility.

In the 12th century, the name Shaheen gained prominence during the Ayyubid Dynasty, which ruled parts of the Middle East, including Syria, Egypt, and Yemen. Several notable figures from this period bore the surname, such as Saladin's nephew, Shaheen Al-Din, who served as a military commander and governor.

As the Arab world expanded through conquests and trade, the surname Shaheen spread to various regions, including parts of Europe, South Asia, and North Africa. In the 14th century, records from the Ottoman Empire mention a Turkish-Arab poet and scholar named Shaheen Al-Hafez, who was celebrated for his literary works.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Shaheen was the 16th-century Ottoman Grand Vizier, Shaheen Pasha. He played a crucial role in the Ottoman Empire's military campaigns and was known for his strategic prowess and leadership.

In the 19th century, the Shaheen family gained prominence in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in regions like Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Ahmed Shaheen, a renowned poet and scholar from Yemen, lived during this period and contributed significantly to the preservation of Arabic literature and culture.

As people migrated and settled in different parts of the world, the surname Shaheen became more widespread. Prominent individuals with this surname include Shaheen Sardar Ali, a Pakistani politician and former member of the National Assembly, and Shaheen Bagh, an Indian-American actress known for her roles in Bollywood films.

While the surname Shaheen has a rich history rooted in the Arab world, it has since been adopted by people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the diversity and global reach of this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Shaheen surname: questions and answers

How common is the Shaheen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,460 in 2016. That gives Shaheen a modern rank of #2,679.

What does the Shaheen surname mean?