NameCensus.

UK surname

Yakub

An Arabic surname derived from the name Jacob or Ya'qub.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yakub is 278 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

2015

278 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Yakub surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yakub surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Yakub 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 161 #20,176
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 187 #18,708
2002 modern 199 #18,350
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 259 #16,013
2010 modern 271 #15,856
2011 modern 275 #15,517
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 267 #16,053
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

Back to top

Where Yakubs 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 Leicester, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Merton and Cardiff. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
4 Merton 016 Merton
5 Cardiff 009 Cardiff

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Yakub

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Yakub

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

Yakub 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

Yakub falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yakub 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 Yakub, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yakub

The surname Yakub finds its origins primarily in the Middle East, with deep historical roots in Arabic-speaking regions. It dates back to at least the early medieval period, around the 7th century. The name Yakub is derived from the Arabic word "Yaʿqūb", which is the Arabic form of the Hebrew name "Yaakov", known in English as Jacob. This name has Semitic roots, and it prominently features in religious texts such as the Quran and the Bible, referring to the patriarch Jacob, one of the key figures in Abrahamic religions.

Historically, the surname Yakub has been found in various forms and transliterations, often influenced by regional dialects and script variations. In the Byzantine period, records show the name appearing in manuscripts and legal documents, indicating its presence among early Christian and Muslim communities. The use of the name is particularly prevalent in regions that were part of the Islamic Caliphate, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Persia.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Yakub in a formal document dates back to the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century. A notable historical reference is found in the works of the Persian scholar Al-Kindi, who mentioned a philosopher named Yakub bin Ishaq al-Sabbah al-Kindi, known simply as Al-Kindi, born in 801 and died in 873. Although Al-Kindi primarily used his patronymic, his given name and association with the moniker Yakub indicates the surname’s usage during that era.

During the medieval period, another significant figure bearing the surname was Yakub Al-Mansur, a notable Almohad Caliph who ruled during the 12th century from 1184 to 1199. He was known for his military campaigns and efforts to consolidate the empire in North Africa and Spain.

In Ottoman records from the 15th century, the surname Yakub appears frequently among the bureaucratic and scholarly classes. One prominent individual was Yakub Çelebi, an Ottoman statesman and son of Sultan Bayezid I. Yakub Çelebi played an important role in the early Ottoman administration and was politically active until his death in 1389.

Moving to the Mughal era in India, Yakub Khan was an influential figure during the 18th century, known for his governance and military leadership under the Mughal Emperor. His exact dates of birth and death are less clear, but his impact on regional politics and administration is well documented.

In more recent historical contexts, the British colonial period in South Asia saw the emergence of Yakub Beg, an Uzbek adventurer and military leader born in 1820, who established a short-lived state in Eastern Turkestan and resisted Qing dynasty authority until his death in 1877.

Through these historical references, it is evident that the surname Yakub has a rich and varied heritage, reflecting the cultural and geographical diversity of its bearers. These individuals span across different regions and centuries, showcasing the widespread influence and enduring legacy of the surname Yakub.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yakub surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yakub surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Yakub a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Yakub surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from the name Jacob or Ya'qub.

What does the Yakub map show?

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