NameCensus.

UK surname

Yaqub

A surname derived from the Arabic name Ya'qub, meaning "supplanter" or "holder of the heel".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yaqub is 1,040 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

989

2016, ranked #5,852

Peak year

2010

1,040 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016, ranked #5,852.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Yaqub surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yaqub surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yaqub 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 542 #8,759
1998 modern 594 #8,456
1999 modern 631 #8,152
2000 modern 682 #7,643
2001 modern 679 #7,532
2002 modern 787 #6,866
2003 modern 808 #6,599
2004 modern 845 #6,381
2005 modern 876 #6,149
2006 modern 914 #5,963
2007 modern 942 #5,888
2008 modern 968 #5,791
2009 modern 1,014 #5,700
2010 modern 1,040 #5,693
2011 modern 1,033 #5,668
2012 modern 975 #5,858
2013 modern 986 #5,886
2014 modern 986 #5,928
2015 modern 981 #5,899
2016 modern 989 #5,852

Geography

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Where Yaqubs 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 Middlesbrough, Pendle, Brent, Trafford 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 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
2 Pendle 010 Pendle
3 Brent 002 Brent
4 Trafford 004 Trafford
5 Birmingham 051 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yaqub

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yaqub

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

Yaqub 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

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

Meaning and origin of Yaqub

The surname Yaqub originates from the Middle East, with its roots deeply embedded in Arabic culture. The name is derived from the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, known in English as Jacob. As a surname, it has been traditionally associated with Arab-speaking regions, including countries like Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, dating back to the medieval Islamic period. The name Jacob itself goes further back to the ancient Semitic language traditions, referencing the biblical patriarch Jacob, whose story appears in religious texts such as the Torah and the Quran.

The name Yaqub has various historical references, appearing in several old manuscripts and records from the Islamic Golden Age. During the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE), many scholars, poets, and administrators bore the name Yaqub. An early reference can be traced to the historical work of Al-Kindi, a notable Arab philosopher and polymath of the 9th century, who documented various personalities named Yaqub in his biographical collections.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in historical texts is linked to Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, an influential Arab philosopher and scientist born around 801 CE and died in 873 CE. Al-Kindi's contributions to various fields of knowledge made the name Yaqub prominent within intellectual circles of the time.

Moving forward to the 10th century, Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Nadim, who lived between 936 and 995 CE, was a famous bibliographer and bookseller in Baghdad. He is remembered for his seminal work, Kitab al-Fihrist, an extensive catalog of all the books available in the Arabic-speaking world, showcasing the rich academic heritage associated with the name Yaqub.

In more recent historical records from the medieval period, Yaqub ibn Ayyub al-Mansuri, a governor under the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt during the 11th century, demonstrated the name's association with political leadership and governance. There is also the notable figure Yaqub ibn Killis, an important Fatimid vizier who was born in 930 CE and died in 991 CE. His administration and reforms were critical in the functioning of the Fatimid state in Egypt.

Another significant historical personality is Yaqub Mehmed Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and admiral who served during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His naval campaigns and governance solidified the Yaqub name's presence in the records of the expanding Ottoman Empire.

Throughout history, the surname Yaqub has been borne by influential figures in various fields such as philosophy, literature, governance, and military leadership. This rich historical tapestry reflects the enduring legacy and cultural significance of the name across different periods and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yaqub surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yaqub surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016. That gives Yaqub a modern rank of #5,852.

What does the Yaqub surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic name Ya'qub, meaning "supplanter" or "holder of the heel".

What does the Yaqub map show?

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