NameCensus.

UK surname

Yafai

A surname derived from the Arabic name "Yafa'i", meaning someone from the town of Yafa (Jaffa).

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Sandwell and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yafai is 360 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

360

2016, ranked #12,867

Peak year

2015

360 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 360 in 2016, ranked #12,867.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Yafai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yafai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yafai 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 190 #18,199
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 237 #16,331
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 223 #16,905
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 232 #16,480
2006 modern 246 #15,907
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 270 #15,219
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 323 #14,005
2011 modern 329 #13,694
2012 modern 334 #13,443
2013 modern 347 #13,260
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 360 #12,867

Geography

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Where Yafais 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 Dudley, Sandwell and Birmingham. 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 Dudley 033 Dudley
2 Sandwell 028 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 019 Sandwell
4 Birmingham 084 Birmingham
5 Birmingham 088 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yafai

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

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Yafai is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yafai is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Yafai

The surname Yafai has its origins in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly from Yemen. It dates back to ancient times and is primarily associated with the Yafa'a region in Yemen, derived from native tribal affiliations. The term Yafa'a is believed to stem from the Arabic root "y-f-ʕ," which implies elevation or loftiness, possibly referring to the highlands of the Yafa'a district.

Historical references to the Yafai name appear in various manuscripts and tribal records from Yemen. One of the oldest documented references is found in 12th-century texts, where the Yafai tribe is mentioned as a significant and influential group in the highlands of Yemen. These texts often highlight the tribe’s role in regional politics and trade.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Yafai was Sheikh Saleh Yafai, a prominent figure in the 15th century who played a key role in mediating tribal disputes in southern Yemen. His reputation as a just and wise leader has carried through the centuries, cementing the Yafai name in Yemeni cultural history.

In the 19th century, Ahmed bin Abdullah Yafai was a noted scholar and poet whose works further elevated the cultural standing of the Yafai name. Born in 1823 and passing in 1897, his writings on Yemeni history and tribal genealogies remain a valuable resource for understanding the social fabric of the period.

The Yafai surname saw further prominence with the advent of the 20th century, through figures like General Saeed Ali Yafai, who was instrumental in the modern military restructuring of Yemen in the 1960s. His contributions were crucial during the transformation period leading towards the formation of the Yemen Arab Republic.

Another notable bearer of the surname is Nabil Yafai, born in 1972, who became an influential diplomat representing Yemen in various international forums, advocating for peace and development in the later part of the 20th century. His efforts have continued the legacy of the Yafai name in contemporary history.

The surname Yafai is also associated with people in the diaspora who have maintained their cultural ties while achieving prominence abroad. Omar Yafai, born in 1985, is a modern example; as a business mogul in the Middle East, his ventures span various industries, significantly impacting the economic landscape of the region. His work exemplifies the adaptive and resilient nature of the Yafai lineage.

Throughout history, the Yafai surname has come to symbolize leadership, scholarship, and resilience, with roots deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of Yemen. The evolution of the name reflects not only the history of a family but also the broader historical narratives of migration, influence, and change in the Arabian Peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yafai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yafai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 360 in 2016. That gives Yafai a modern rank of #12,867.

What does the Yafai surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic name "Yafa'i", meaning someone from the town of Yafa (Jaffa).

What does the Yafai map show?

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