UK surname

Yousaf

Of Arabic origin, a patronymic referring to the biblical Joseph.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yousaf is 2,533 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

2,503

2016, ranked #2,642

Peak year

2011

2,533 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 2,503 in 2016, ranked #2,642.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Yousaf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yousaf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Yousaf 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
1861	historical	6	#33,230
1997	modern	1,135	#4,940
1998	modern	1,283	#4,628
1999	modern	1,374	#4,373
2000	modern	1,460	#4,151
2001	modern	1,443	#4,111
2002	modern	1,632	#3,775
2003	modern	1,688	#3,603
2004	modern	1,797	#3,397
2005	modern	1,896	#3,217
2006	modern	2,020	#3,061
2007	modern	2,116	#2,963
2008	modern	2,204	#2,876
2009	modern	2,364	#2,768
2010	modern	2,522	#2,675
2011	modern	2,533	#2,638
2012	modern	2,455	#2,667
2013	modern	2,516	#2,647
2014	modern	2,508	#2,674
2015	modern	2,491	#2,661
2016	modern	2,503	#2,642

Geography

Where Yousafs 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 Bradford, Pendle, Oldham, Bedford and Hyndburn. 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	Bradford 044	Bradford
2	Pendle 011	Pendle
3	Oldham 022	Oldham
4	Bedford 013	Bedford
5	Hyndburn 006	Hyndburn

Forenames

First names often paired with Yousaf

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Shazia Shabana Nazia Nadia Saima Nasreen Aisha Fozia Sadia Tahira

Recent male names

Mohammed Mohammad Muhammad Imran Kamran Asif Adnan Irfan Shahid Nadeem

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Yousaf

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

Yousaf 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yousaf 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yousaf 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Yousaf

The surname Yousaf has its origins in the Middle East and South Asia, particularly among Arabic-speaking and Urdu-speaking populations. The name Yousaf stems from the Arabic personal name Yusuf, transliterated into Yousaf in several regions. The name Yusuf itself is of Semitic origin, deriving from the Hebrew name Yosef, commonly recognized in the biblical tradition as Joseph. It means "God increases" or "God will add".

In the Islamic tradition, Yusuf holds significant importance as it is associated with Prophet Yusuf, a revered figure in the Quran, who is analogous to the biblical Joseph. His story, known for its themes of betrayal and forgiveness, sustains the legacy and popularization of the name within Muslim communities. Consequently, the surname Yousaf became widespread, embodying the spiritual and cultural significance attached to the prophet's narrative.

The name Yousaf can be historically found in various regions where Islam had a deep cultural impact, such as Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. Old manuscripts from medieval Arabic and Persian literature sometimes mention the name Yousaf in various capacities, either as patronymics or in other forms. One historical text from the late 14th century, known as "Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi" by Ziauddin Barani, discusses individuals bearing this surname, highlighting its use among the Persian elite.

One notable figure bearing the surname was Syed Yousaf Shah, a scholar and Sufi mystic of the Mughal era, born around 1542 and died 1616. He was known for his contributions to the cultural and spiritual life in the Punjab region. Another significant figure is Muhammad Yousaf Ali Khan, a high-ranking officer in the Mughal military during the reign of Emperor Akbar, noted in records from the 16th century.

In the 19th century, Yousaf Ali Karki from Afghanistan was a prominent tribal leader involved in the resistance against British colonial expansion. He was born in 1820 and died in 1887, remembered for his efforts to maintain the autonomy of his people. Similarly, notable in the historical chess community was Mirza Yousaf Beg, an accomplished chess player and scholar in 19th century Iran. His exact birth and death dates are relatively obscure, but his contributions are noted in various Persian records from around 1860.

One more significant individual is Dr. Ziauddin Yousafzai (born in the early 20th century), a renowned Pakistani educator and humanitarian, whose work in promoting education in the Swat Valley of Pakistan has been well-documented.

These instances of the surname Yousaf across different regions and eras underscore the surname's historical depth and geographical spread, resonating not just as a familial identifier but as a cultural and spiritual emblem passed through generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Yousaf surname: questions and answers

How common is the Yousaf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,503 in 2016. That gives Yousaf a modern rank of #2,642.

What does the Yousaf surname mean?