NameCensus.

UK surname

Tahir

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "pure," "virtuous," or "chaste."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tahir is 2,613 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,613

2016, ranked #2,548

Peak year

2016

2,613 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,613 in 2016, ranked #2,548.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Tahir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tahir surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tahir 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 770 #6,736
1998 modern 873 #6,305
1999 modern 964 #5,885
2000 modern 1,010 #5,641
2001 modern 987 #5,630
2002 modern 1,217 #4,847
2003 modern 1,276 #4,550
2004 modern 1,396 #4,234
2005 modern 1,518 #3,919
2006 modern 1,662 #3,615
2007 modern 1,781 #3,441
2008 modern 1,928 #3,235
2009 modern 2,074 #3,120
2010 modern 2,229 #2,982
2011 modern 2,262 #2,908
2012 modern 2,362 #2,748
2013 modern 2,487 #2,680
2014 modern 2,534 #2,646
2015 modern 2,567 #2,591
2016 modern 2,613 #2,548

Geography

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Where Tahirs 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 Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale and Kirklees. 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 Oldham 035 Oldham
2 Manchester 027 Manchester
3 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
4 Kirklees 043 Kirklees
5 Manchester 008 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tahir

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

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

Tahir 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tahir

The surname TAHIR has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and the rise of Islam in the 7th century. The name is derived from the Arabic word 'tahir,' which translates to 'pure' or 'immaculate.' It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals with a reputation for piety and moral virtue.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TAHIR can be found in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians. In the 9th century, the Tahirid dynasty, a Persian dynasty of Iranian origin, ruled over parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The dynasty was founded by Tahir ibn Husayn, a prominent military commander who served under the Abbasid Caliphate.

During the medieval period, the surname TAHIR gained prominence among Muslim communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. It was often associated with individuals of religious or scholarly backgrounds, as well as those holding positions of authority and influence within Islamic societies.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname TAHIR include:

1. Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Bukhari (810-870), a renowned Islamic scholar and compiler of the revered hadith collection, Sahih al-Bukhari. 2. Tahir al-Baghdadi (980-1037), a celebrated Islamic philosopher and theologian from Baghdad. 3. Tahir ibn Faddl (11th century), a renowned Persian poet and writer during the Seljuk Empire. 4. Tahir ibn al-Husayn (822-892), the founder of the Tahirid dynasty and a distinguished military leader in the service of the Abbasid Caliphate. 5. Tahir Pasha (1592-1659), an Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Murad IV.

In addition to its historical significance, the surname TAHIR has also been associated with various place names and geographic locations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. For example, the city of Tahirabad in modern-day Iran is believed to have been named after a member of the Tahirid dynasty.

While the surname TAHIR has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread to other regions and cultures through migration, trade, and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various parts of the world, carrying with them the rich heritage and significance of their ancestral name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tahir surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tahir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,613 in 2016. That gives Tahir a modern rank of #2,548.

What does the Tahir surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "pure," "virtuous," or "chaste."

What does the Tahir map show?

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