NameCensus.

UK surname

Siwak

A Polish surname derived from the Polish word siwy, meaning gray or grey-haired.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nottingham, Woking and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Siwak is 214 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

2014

214 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Siwak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Siwak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Siwak 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 2 #34,135
1997 modern 12 #36,785
1998 modern 10 #37,048
1999 modern 9 #37,217
2000 modern 18 #36,104
2001 modern 18 #35,961
2002 modern 21 #35,798
2003 modern 33 #34,773
2004 modern 59 #32,787
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 214 #18,825
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Siwaks 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 Nottingham, Woking, Hammersmith and Fulham and Newham. 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 Nottingham 018 Nottingham
2 Woking 004 Woking
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Nottingham 017 Nottingham
5 Newham 015 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Siwak

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

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Siwak 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

Siwak 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

Siwak falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Siwak 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Siwak

The surname SIWAK is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. It is an Arabic word that refers to a small twig or stick used for cleaning teeth, a practice known as "miswak" in Arabic. This suggests that the name may have been derived from an occupation or trade related to the production or sale of these teeth-cleaning twigs.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the SIWAK surname can be found in the records of the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled over parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 13th to the 16th centuries. In these records, there are references to individuals with the surname SIWAK who held various positions within the Mamluk administration and military.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over the region, which lasted from the 16th to the early 20th century, the SIWAK surname continued to be present among the population. Several historical figures from this period bore this name, including Abu Bakr al-Siwak, a prominent scholar and jurist who lived in the 17th century and wrote extensively on Islamic law and theology.

The SIWAK surname can also be found in some of the earliest records of Arab settlements in the Americas, particularly in regions with a significant presence of immigrants from the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula. For instance, in the late 19th century, there are records of a family named SIWAK who settled in Detroit, Michigan, and established a successful business importing and selling traditional Middle Eastern goods.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the SIWAK surname. One such figure was Abdullah al-Siwak, a renowned poet and literary critic who lived in the 10th century and was known for his contributions to the development of Arabic literature. Another was Fatima al-Siwak, a pioneering woman scholar and teacher who lived in the 14th century and played a significant role in promoting education for women in the Islamic world.

Other notable individuals with the SIWAK surname include Ahmed al-Siwak, a prominent mathematician and astronomer from the 11th century who made important contributions to the field of spherical trigonometry, and Khalil al-Siwak, a celebrated musician and composer from the 19th century who helped popularize traditional Arabic music across the Middle East.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Siwak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Siwak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Siwak a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Siwak surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from the Polish word siwy, meaning gray or grey-haired.

What does the Siwak map show?

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