NameCensus.

UK surname

Sufi

A surname indicating descent from or association with Islamic mystics or ascetics.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sufi is 302 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

302

2016, ranked #14,660

Peak year

2016

302 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 302 in 2016, ranked #14,660.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sufi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sufi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sufi 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 106 #26,057
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 191 #18,707
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 210 #17,904
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 246 #16,597
2010 modern 267 #16,029
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 288 #15,192
2014 modern 300 #14,839
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 302 #14,660

Geography

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Where Sufis 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 Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Birmingham, Hounslow and Westminster. 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 Bolton 005 Bolton
2 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Birmingham 041 Birmingham
4 Hounslow 021 Hounslow
5 Westminster 023 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sufi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sufi

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

Sufi 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

Sufi falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sufi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Sufi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sufi

The surname SUFI has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Sufi," which refers to a member of the Islamic mystical tradition of Sufism. The name likely emerged during the early centuries of Islamic history, around the 7th or 8th century CE, when Sufism began to take shape as a spiritual movement within Islam.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SUFI can be found in the writings of renowned Sufi mystics and scholars from the 9th and 10th centuries, such as Al-Muhasibi (781-857 CE) and Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE). These individuals were influential figures in the development of Sufi teachings and practices, and their writings often mentioned individuals who embraced the Sufi way of life.

The name SUFI gained prominence during the golden age of Islamic civilization, particularly in regions such as Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East, where Sufism flourished. Many Sufi orders and communities emerged during this time, and members of these groups likely adopted the name SUFI as a way to identify themselves with the spiritual tradition.

One notable figure in history associated with the surname SUFI was Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273 CE), a renowned Persian poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic. His influential works, such as the Masnavi and Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, have had a lasting impact on Sufism and Islamic literature.

Another prominent individual with the name SUFI was Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti (1141-1230 CE), a Sufi saint and the founder of the Chishti order, one of the most influential Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent. His teachings and spiritual legacy have had a profound impact on Sufism in South Asia.

During the medieval period, the name SUFI also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those related to Sufi literature, poetry, and spiritual teachings. For example, the works of prominent Sufi writers such as Ibn Arabi (1165-1240 CE) and Rumi often mentioned individuals with the name SUFI.

In more recent times, the name SUFI has been associated with notable figures such as Idries Shah (1924-1996), an influential writer and teacher who played a significant role in introducing Sufism to the Western world through his works on Sufi thought and practices.

Overall, the surname SUFI has a rich history rooted in the Islamic tradition of Sufism, and its bearers have made significant contributions to the spiritual, literary, and cultural heritage of the Islamic world and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sufi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sufi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 302 in 2016. That gives Sufi a modern rank of #14,660.

What does the Sufi surname mean?

A surname indicating descent from or association with Islamic mystics or ascetics.

What does the Sufi map show?

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