NameCensus.

UK surname

Tufail

An Arabic surname meaning "small child" or "suckling infant."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tufail is 477 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

413

2016, ranked #11,609

Peak year

2010

477 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016, ranked #11,609.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Tufail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tufail surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tufail 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 268 #15,070
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 270 #14,734
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 343 #12,546
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 384 #11,726
2008 modern 405 #11,351
2009 modern 452 #10,629
2010 modern 477 #10,410
2011 modern 458 #10,630
2012 modern 420 #11,278
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 420 #11,567
2015 modern 419 #11,483
2016 modern 413 #11,609

Geography

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Where Tufails 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 Manchester, Rochdale, Bradford, Shawlands East and Wokingham. 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 Manchester 004 Manchester
2 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
3 Bradford 034 Bradford
4 Shawlands East Glasgow City
5 Wokingham 006 Wokingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tufail

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tufail

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

Tufail 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tufail

The surname TUFAIL is believed to have originated in the Arab world, and its roots can be traced back to the Arabic language. The name is derived from the Arabic word "tufayl," which means "parasite" or "hanger-on." It is likely that the name was originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was perceived as dependent on others or living off the generosity of others.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TUFAIL can be found in the historical records of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a significant portion of the Middle East and North Africa from the 8th to the 13th century. It is believed that a notable figure named Tufail ibn Amr al-Ghanawi, who lived during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tasim (833-842 CE), bore this surname.

In the 12th century, a famous Arab poet and philosopher named Tufail ibn Abi Bakr al-Ishbili, also known as Ibn Tufail, was born in the city of Guadix, which was then part of the Almoravid Empire in present-day Spain. Ibn Tufail is best known for his philosophical novel "Hayy ibn Yaqzan," which explored the theme of human self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge.

Another notable figure with the surname TUFAIL was Tufail ibn Amr al-Dawsi, who lived during the early days of Islam in the 7th century. He was a prominent Arab poet and is mentioned in various historical accounts for his encounters with the Prophet Muhammad and his role in the spread of Islam.

In the late 19th century, a scholar and poet named Tufail Ahmad Qureshi, born in British India (now Pakistan), gained recognition for his contributions to Urdu literature. He published several works, including a collection of poems titled "Bahar-e-Tufail."

During the 20th century, a Pakistani politician and diplomat named Tufail Muhammad Jawed served as the Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) from 1971 to 1973.

While the surname TUFAIL has its origins in the Arab world, it has since spread to other regions, particularly in South Asia, where it is commonly found among Muslim communities. However, the name's historical roots and meaning can be traced back to the Arabic language and the early days of Islamic civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tufail surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tufail surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 413 in 2016. That gives Tufail a modern rank of #11,609.

What does the Tufail surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "small child" or "suckling infant."

What does the Tufail map show?

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