NameCensus.

UK surname

Waris

An Arabic surname meaning heir, successor or inheritor.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Waris surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waris is 158 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2350.0%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2014

158 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waris had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Waris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waris surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waris 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 57 #31,917
1998 modern 58 #32,138
1999 modern 60 #32,078
2000 modern 78 #30,361
2001 modern 78 #30,168
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Waris' 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 Pendle, Bradford, Bolton and Govanhill West. 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 Pendle 013 Pendle
2 Bradford 040 Bradford
3 Bolton 025 Bolton
4 Bradford 034 Bradford
5 Govanhill West Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waris

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

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

Waris 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

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

Meaning and origin of Waris

The surname Waris is thought to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in areas now part of modern-day Pakistan and India. The name is believed to have roots in the Arabic language, where it is derived from the word "waris," meaning "heir" or "inheritor."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Waris surname can be found in historical documents from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries. During this period, the name was often associated with prominent families and individuals who held influential positions within the imperial court or administrative structures.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Waris Khan served as the governor of the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, which were commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. These gardens, known for their intricate architectural design and stunning landscape, are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another historical figure bearing the Waris surname was Waris Ali Shah, a renowned Sufi poet and scholar who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in Dewa, a town in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India, and is celebrated for his contributions to the rich literary tradition of the Urdu language.

In the 19th century, Waris Husain was a prominent architect and civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several iconic buildings in British India, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus) in Mumbai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Moving to more recent times, one of the most well-known individuals with the Waris surname is Waris Ahluwalia, an American fashion designer, actor, and activist of Indian descent. Born in 1974, he has gained recognition for his work in the fashion industry and has appeared in various films and television shows.

Another notable figure is Waris Shah, a renowned Punjabi Sufi poet from the 18th century, best known for his epic poem "Heer Ranjha," which is considered a masterpiece of Punjabi literature. The poem tells the tragic love story of Heer and Ranjha and has been widely celebrated and adapted in various forms over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waris 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. Yorkshire leads with 6 Waris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.36x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 6 10.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 6 Waris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 508.47x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 508.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Herbert 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Walter 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 Waris households.

Occupation Count
Charwoman 1
Scholar 1

FAQ

Waris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Waris surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Waris a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Waris surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning heir, successor or inheritor.

What does the Waris map show?

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