UK surname

Waheed

A surname potentially derived from an Arabic word meaning "one" or "unique."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waheed is 1,325 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

1,325

2016, ranked #4,530

Peak year

2016

1,325 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 1,325 in 2016, ranked #4,530.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Waheed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waheed surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Waheed 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	7	#33,665
1997	modern	451	#10,049
1998	modern	521	#9,296
1999	modern	548	#9,012
2000	modern	605	#8,379
2001	modern	602	#8,280
2002	modern	715	#7,388
2003	modern	786	#6,744
2004	modern	823	#6,516
2005	modern	875	#6,156
2006	modern	966	#5,713
2007	modern	1,045	#5,415
2008	modern	1,111	#5,177
2009	modern	1,194	#4,959
2010	modern	1,272	#4,804
2011	modern	1,254	#4,801
2012	modern	1,255	#4,725
2013	modern	1,288	#4,696
2014	modern	1,280	#4,744
2015	modern	1,280	#4,701
2016	modern	1,325	#4,530

Geography

Where Waheeds 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 Woking, Manchester, Burnley and Pendle. 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	Woking 004	Woking
2	Manchester 027	Manchester
3	Manchester 008	Manchester
4	Burnley 003	Burnley
5	Pendle 011	Pendle

Forenames

First names often paired with Waheed

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Shazia Sadia Saima Yasmin Asma Saira Ayesha Rukhsana Bushra Aisha

Recent male names

Abdul Mohammed Muhammad Mohammad Ahmed Imran Ali Akhtar Usman Atif

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Waheed

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

Waheed 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waheed 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waheed 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Waheed

The surname WAHEED originates from the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Middle East region, particularly the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding areas. It has its roots in the Arabic word "wahid," which means "one" or "unique," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who was considered special or distinct in some way.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname WAHEED can be found in historical documents and records from the 7th century CE, around the time of the Islamic conquests and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa. The name was likely adopted by individuals or families who embraced Islam or had Arabic cultural influences during this period.

In the 9th century CE, a prominent scholar and philosopher named Al-Wahid al-Bukhari, also known as Abu Hafs al-Bukhari, was born in the city of Bukhara (located in modern-day Uzbekistan). He made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his works were widely studied and referenced by other scholars of his time.

Another notable figure with the surname WAHEED was Waheed Al-Din Al-Shirazi, a Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 13th century. He is known for his work on the calculation of planetary motions and his contributions to the development of trigonometry.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century, the name WAHEED was found among Ottoman officials, scholars, and military leaders. One such individual was Waheed Pasha, a high-ranking Ottoman military commander who participated in the Crimean War in the mid-19th century.

In more recent history, a famous bearer of the surname WAHEED was Waheed Murad, a renowned Pakistani actor, writer, and film director who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic figures in the Pakistani cinema industry.

Another notable individual with the surname WAHEED was Waheed Ismail, an acclaimed Egyptian writer and playwright who lived in the 20th century. He was known for his literary works that explored social and political themes, and his plays were performed both in Egypt and internationally.

While the surname WAHEED has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, it has since spread to various regions and communities around the world, particularly those with historical connections to the Middle East or Islamic influences. The name continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of cultural diversity and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Waheed surname: questions and answers

How common is the Waheed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,325 in 2016. That gives Waheed a modern rank of #4,530.

What does the Waheed surname mean?