NameCensus.

UK surname

Sharif

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "noble," "highborn," or "distinguished," often indicating ancestral association with the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pollokshields East, Burnley and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharif is 4,435 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

4,428

2016, ranked #1,537

Peak year

2015

4,435 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,428 in 2016, ranked #1,537.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sharif surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sharif surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sharif 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 1 #34,435
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 1,954 #3,113
1998 modern 2,119 #3,016
1999 modern 2,255 #2,871
2000 modern 2,336 #2,771
2001 modern 2,331 #2,721
2002 modern 2,622 #2,514
2003 modern 2,754 #2,375
2004 modern 2,902 #2,266
2005 modern 3,054 #2,119
2006 modern 3,301 #1,986
2007 modern 3,512 #1,873
2008 modern 3,749 #1,770
2009 modern 3,995 #1,702
2010 modern 4,341 #1,600
2011 modern 4,274 #1,604
2012 modern 4,228 #1,591
2013 modern 4,398 #1,560
2014 modern 4,429 #1,563
2015 modern 4,435 #1,541
2016 modern 4,428 #1,537

Geography

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Where Sharifs 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 Pollokshields East, Burnley, Oldham, Birmingham and Manchester. 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 Pollokshields East Glasgow City
2 Burnley 003 Burnley
3 Oldham 022 Oldham
4 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
5 Manchester 008 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sharif

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

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

Sharif 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sharif

The surname Sharif is of Arabic origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period in the Middle East. The word "sharif" is derived from the Arabic term "sharaf," which means "nobility" or "nobility of descent." The Sharif family name has its roots in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in modern-day Saudi Arabia and the surrounding regions.

In Islamic history, the title "Sharif" was bestowed upon individuals who claimed direct descent from the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson, Hasan ibn Ali. The Sharifs were regarded as members of the elite class and held significant religious and political influence in various parts of the Muslim world.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Sharif name can be found in the works of medieval Arab historians and chroniclers. The Sharif family played a prominent role in the governance of Mecca and Medina during the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from the 8th to the 13th century.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Sharif is Idris I (789-828 CE), the founder of the Idrisid dynasty in Morocco. He was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and established the first Arab dynasty in Morocco. Another prominent figure was Sharif al-Husayn ibn Ali (1856-1931), the leader of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I and the founder of the Hashemite dynasty.

During the medieval period, the Sharif family name was also associated with various Islamic dynasties and principalities across the Middle East and North Africa. For instance, the Sharifs of Mecca held significant influence in the region and were respected for their lineage and religious authority.

Other notable figures with the surname Sharif include Sharif Ali Khan (1823-1887), a prominent Pashtun leader and ruler of the Bahawalpur State in present-day Pakistan, and Sharif Pasha (1828-1887), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire.

The Sharif surname has also been found in various historical documents and records, including manuscripts and chronicles from the medieval Islamic world. It is important to note that the spelling of the name may have varied slightly in different regions and time periods, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the areas where it was used.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sharif surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sharif surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,428 in 2016. That gives Sharif a modern rank of #1,537.

What does the Sharif surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "noble," "highborn," or "distinguished," often indicating ancestral association with the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

What does the Sharif map show?

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