NameCensus.

UK surname

Wahab

An Arabic name meaning "gift" or "present from God".

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Wahab surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 518, ranked #9,746, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Wandsworth and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wahab is 529 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4216.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

518

2016, ranked #9,746

Peak year

2014

529 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wahab had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 518 in 2016, ranked #9,746.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 29 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Wahab surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wahab surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wahab 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
1851 historical 10 #31,497
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 29 #30,848
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 230 #16,685
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 260 #15,415
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 383 #11,751
2008 modern 396 #11,581
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 477 #10,319
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 507 #9,917
2014 modern 529 #9,683
2015 modern 514 #9,823
2016 modern 518 #9,746

Geography

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Where Wahabs 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 Burnley, Wandsworth, Bromley, Manchester and North Dorset. 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 Burnley 003 Burnley
2 Wandsworth 021 Wandsworth
3 Bromley 025 Bromley
4 Manchester 027 Manchester
5 North Dorset 003 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wahab

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wahab

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Wahab is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Wahab 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

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

Meaning and origin of Wahab

The surname Wahab is an Arabic name that originated in the Middle East during the early days of Islam. It is believed to have roots in the Arabic word "Wahaba," which means "to give" or "to grant." The name may have been given to individuals who were known for their generosity or charitable nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wahab can be found in medieval Islamic manuscripts and historical records from the 7th and 8th centuries. During this time, the name was commonly used among Arab tribes and families in regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and parts of North Africa.

The Wahab name has been associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One notable example is Al-Wahab ibn Munabbih, a renowned Islamic scholar and storyteller who lived in the 7th century CE. He is known for his collection of tales and stories, which were widely circulated in the Islamic world during his time.

Another prominent individual with the surname Wahab was Abd al-Wahab al-Sha'rani, a Sufi scholar and mystic who lived in the 16th century in Egypt. He was a prolific writer and is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Sufism.

In the modern era, Wahab has been the surname of several notable individuals, including Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (1913-1999), an Indian Muslim scholar and theologian, and Muhammad Wahab (1832-1900), a religious reformer and founder of the Wahhabi movement in Saudi Arabia.

The name Wahab has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. For instance, the town of Wahab in Yemen and the Wadi Wahab in Saudi Arabia are named after individuals or families who bore this surname.

Overall, the surname Wahab has a rich history and cultural significance, rooted in the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. Its origins can be traced back to the early days of Islam, and it has been carried by prominent scholars, religious figures, and families across the Middle East and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wahab families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wahab surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 6 Wahabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 4.33x
Midlothian 4 25.56x
Perthshire 2 38.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 6 Wahabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.75x.

Place Total Index
Bury 6 379.75x
Logie 2 1052.63x
South Leith 2 113.64x
Dalkeith 1 322.58x
Inveresk 1 238.10x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wahab surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Lydia 2
Henrietta 1
Kate 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wahab surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Henry 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wahab households.

FAQ

Wahab surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wahab surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Wahab surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wahab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 518 in 2016. That gives Wahab a modern rank of #9,746.

What does the Wahab surname mean?

An Arabic name meaning "gift" or "present from God".

What does the Wahab map show?

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