NameCensus.

UK surname

Sufian

An Arabic surname meaning "pure" or "pious", derived from the word "sufi".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sufian is 134 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2013

134 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sufian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sufian surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sufian 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
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 55 #32,399
1999 modern 61 #31,971
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 60 #32,388
2003 modern 62 #32,258
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 71 #31,816
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Sufians 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 Liverpool, Birmingham, Tower Hamlets 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 Liverpool 043 Liverpool
2 Birmingham 082 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 092 Birmingham
4 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
5 Newham 014 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sufian

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Sufian is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sufian 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sufian

The surname Sufian has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Sufi," which refers to a Muslim mystic or ascetic. The name is commonly found in countries with significant Muslim populations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Sufian can be traced back to the medieval period, when Sufism, a mystical tradition within Islam, began to gain prominence. Many families and individuals associated with the Sufi movement adopted the name Sufian as a way to signify their affiliation with this spiritual path.

One of the earliest known references to the name Sufian can be found in the writings of the renowned Sufi scholar and poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273). In his works, Rumi mentioned several Sufi masters and disciples with the surname Sufian, indicating that the name was already in use during the 13th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Sufian has been associated with various notable figures in Islamic history and literature. One such individual was Abu Bakr al-Sufian (573-634), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent figure in the early days of Islam. Another notable bearer of the surname was the Sufi poet and mystic, Ibn al-Farid al-Sufian (1181-1235), whose works have had a lasting impact on Sufi literature.

In more recent times, the surname Sufian has been carried by several influential figures, including the Lebanese-American writer and poet, Ameen Rihani (1876-1940), whose works explored themes of Arab identity and cultural renaissance. Additionally, the Palestinian scholar and diplomat, Sari Nusseibeh (born 1949), bears the surname Sufian, reflecting his family's roots in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Sufian is the Egyptian-American scholar and activist, Omid Safi (born 1969), who has contributed significantly to the study of Islamic spirituality and interfaith dialogue.

While the surname Sufian is most commonly associated with the Arabic-speaking world, it has also been adopted by individuals in other regions with significant Muslim populations, such as Central Asia and parts of South Asia. However, it is important to note that the historical records and references provided here focus primarily on the origins and early use of the surname in the Middle East and North Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sufian surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sufian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Sufian a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Sufian surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "pure" or "pious", derived from the word "sufi".

What does the Sufian map show?

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