NameCensus.

UK surname

Yigit

A Turkish surname meaning "brave" or "courageous."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Enfield and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yigit is 107 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2014

107 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Yigit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yigit surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yigit 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 35 #34,174
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 50 #32,957
2002 modern 54 #32,927
2003 modern 65 #31,979
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 79 #31,628
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 99 #30,397
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Yigits 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 Hackney, Enfield, Haringey and St. Helens. 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 Hackney 002 Hackney
2 Enfield 014 Enfield
3 Enfield 024 Enfield
4 Haringey 022 Haringey
5 St. Helens 006 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yigit

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

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

Yigit 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

Yigit falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yigit 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
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Yigit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yigit

The surname Yigit has its roots in Turkey and dates back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Turkish word "yiğit," which means "brave" or "valiant." This term was commonly used during the era of the Seljuk Empire, which spanned from the 11th to 14th centuries, indicating that the surname likely has origins in that time frame. The word itself has Turkic origins, further signifying its deep cultural and historical roots in the region.

In the early records of the Ottoman Empire, which existed from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, the name Yigit was often mentioned in various military and administrative contexts. One of the earliest references to the surname appeared in Ottoman tax registers and land grants. The timar system, for instance, often recorded the names of brave warriors who were granted landholdings, and Yigit was among these names.

By the 15th century, the surname Yigit could be found among the elite Janissary corps, a formidable military unit of the Ottoman Empire. One prominent figure was Ahmet Yigit Pasha, who served as a high-ranking officer in the mid-1400s and made significant contributions to the expansion of the Ottoman territories. This establishes that the name was not just common among ordinary warriors but also prominent in higher echelons of society.

As the Ottoman Empire expanded, the surname spread to various regions under its control, including the Balkans and parts of the Middle East. Historical records from the 17th century indicate that a Yigit family held a notable position in the town of Mosul, Iraq. Ibrahim Yigit, born in 1625, was a well-regarded trader and local leader who fostered strong economic ties between different communities.

Another notable figure was Halil Yigit (1730-1795), an Ottoman naval commander who played a crucial role in naval battles against European powers. His success in maritime warfare was well-documented in Ottoman naval records, and his leadership significantly contributed to the protection of Ottoman maritime interests in the Mediterranean Sea.

In the 19th century, the name Yigit became associated with various nationalist movements in the declining years of the Ottoman Empire. Fatma Yigit (1862-1921) was a notable woman who participated in early feminist movements and was an advocate for women's rights, making her one of the prominent figures of her time.

Entering the contemporary period, another influential name was Orhan Yigit (1905-1975), a celebrated Turkish poet whose works significantly impacted Turkish literature. His poems often reflected the bravery and valor associated with the meaning of his surname, further embedding the cultural significance of the name in modern times.

Through these historical references and notable figures, the surname Yigit has evolved but retained its core meaning, symbolizing bravery and valor across different eras and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yigit surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yigit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Yigit a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Yigit surname mean?

A Turkish surname meaning "brave" or "courageous."

What does the Yigit map show?

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