NameCensus.

UK surname

Yahya

An Arabic surname derived from Yahya, meaning "alive" or "life".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yahya is 351 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

351

2016, ranked #13,127

Peak year

2016

351 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016, ranked #13,127.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Yahya surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yahya surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Yahya 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 137 #22,301
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 294 #14,940
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 313 #14,095
2013 modern 319 #14,141
2014 modern 326 #14,006
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 351 #13,127

Geography

Back to top

Where Yahyas 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 Charnwood, Birmingham, Perth Road and Yoker South. 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 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
2 Birmingham 084 Birmingham
3 Perth Road Dundee City
4 Yoker South Glasgow City
5 Birmingham 070 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Yahya

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Yahya

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Yahya surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Yahya household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Yahya 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

Yahya 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

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

Meaning and origin of Yahya

The surname Yahya has its origins in the Middle East, particularly within Arabic-speaking regions. The name first emerged around the 8th century. Yahya is derived from the Arabic word "يحيى", which is closely related to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious". Over time, variations of the spelling have appeared depending on regional linguistic influences and dialects.

The historical significance of the surname Yahya can be traced back to a variety of medieval records and manuscripts. One notable document is an Arabic manuscript from the 10th century that mentions a scholar by the name of Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri. Belonging to a prominent family of Baghdad, he was an eminent historian who lived from 820 to 892 and his works, such as "Futuh al-Buldan", are regarded as crucial historical sources.

An example of an early recorded instance of the surname is Yahya ibn Abi Mansur, an astronomer in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad around the 9th century. His work in the fields of astronomy and mathematics significantly influenced Islamic Golden Age science, demonstrating the scholarly contributions of individuals bearing this surname.

Another historical figure is Yahya ibn Aktham, a jurist and the chief judge of the Abbasid Caliphate under Harun al-Rashid, born in 787 and dying in 857. His role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence provides valuable insights into the societal norms and legal practices of the time. He is frequently referenced in legal texts from that period.

In Al-Andalus, Yahya ibn al-Hakam al-Bakri, also known as "Al-Ghazal", was a famous poet and diplomat born circa 800 and died in 864. He served in the court of the Emirate of Cordoba and his literary works have been preserved in various medial libraries and archives, reflecting the widespread cultural influence of the name.

Additionally, within the realm of philosophy and theology, Yahya ibn Adi, born in 893 and died in 974, was a notable Christian-Arab philosopher operating in Baghdad. His contributions to early dialogues between Islam and Christianity and his prolific writings on logic and ethics further solidified the surname’s historic prominence.

The surname Yahya continues to denote a rich legacy of intellectual, legal, and cultural contributions across the medieval Arab world, present in diverse historical records and borne by individuals who have left an indelible mark on their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yahya surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yahya surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016. That gives Yahya a modern rank of #13,127.

What does the Yahya surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from Yahya, meaning "alive" or "life".

What does the Yahya map show?

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