NameCensus.

UK surname

Shariff

A surname derived from the Arabic title "Sharif" meaning a person of noble lineage or descent.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Shariff surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 536, ranked #9,486, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shariff is 571 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8833.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

536

2016, ranked #9,486

Peak year

2014

571 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shariff had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016, ranked #9,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Shariff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shariff surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Shariff 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
1851 historical 5 #32,456
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 346 #12,273
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 397 #11,299
2002 modern 423 #10,975
2003 modern 443 #10,413
2004 modern 465 #10,046
2005 modern 468 #9,909
2006 modern 478 #9,806
2007 modern 482 #9,831
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 513 #9,654
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 551 #9,251
2012 modern 533 #9,407
2013 modern 569 #9,066
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 547 #9,353
2016 modern 536 #9,486

Geography

Back to top

Where Shariffs 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 Stafford, Birmingham, Three Rivers, Newcastle upon Tyne and Brent. 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 Stafford 006 Stafford
2 Birmingham 033 Birmingham
3 Three Rivers 011 Three Rivers
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 029 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Brent 004 Brent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Shariff

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Shariff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shariff, 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 Shariff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Shariff 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, Shariff 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

Shariff 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

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

Meaning and origin of Shariff

The surname Shariff has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in regions with significant Arab influence or populations. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sharif," which means noble or distinguished. This etymological root suggests that the name was likely initially associated with individuals of high social standing or noble lineage.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shariff can be traced back to the 7th century CE during the Islamic Golden Age. Historical records from this period mention individuals with the title "Sharif," which was often bestowed upon those directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad. This title carried immense prestige and recognition within the Islamic world.

During the medieval period, the name Shariff gained prominence as various Islamic dynasties and ruling families adopted it as a surname or honorific title. One notable example is the Sharifian dynasty, which ruled parts of modern-day Morocco from the 17th to the 20th century. Members of this dynasty claimed direct descent from the Prophet Muhammad and bore the surname Shariff or variations thereof.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Shariff has been present for centuries, particularly among Muslim communities. Historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled much of the region between the 16th and 19th centuries, mention individuals with the surname Shariff holding important positions within the imperial administration and nobility.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Shariff throughout history are:

1. Al-Sharif al-Radi (970-1016 CE), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from the Abbasid Caliphate. 2. Sharif al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274 CE), a renowned Persian philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. 3. Sharif Muhammad Khan (1670-1719 CE), a prominent military commander and governor during the Mughal Empire. 4. Sharif Ali bin Husayn (1856-1931 CE), the last Sharif of Mecca and a key figure in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. 5. Idries Shah (1924-1996 CE), a renowned writer, translator, and teacher of Sufism, born with the surname Shariff.

The surname Shariff has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, such as Shareef, Sharif, and Sherif, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences it has encountered across different regions and time periods. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names, including towns and villages in countries like India and Pakistan, further contributing to its geographical spread and local adaptations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Shariff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shariff surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 5 Shariffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.12x.

County Total Index
Devon 5 41.12x
Buckinghamshire 1 28.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 5 Shariffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 980.39x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 5 980.39x
Aylesbury 1 625.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shariff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ann 1
Harriet 1
Laura 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shariff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Harry 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Shariff households.

FAQ

Shariff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shariff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Shariff surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shariff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016. That gives Shariff a modern rank of #9,486.

What does the Shariff surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic title "Sharif" meaning a person of noble lineage or descent.

What does the Shariff map show?

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