NameCensus.

UK surname

Yusuf

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "God increases" or "God adds," referring to the Biblical figure Joseph.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Yusuf surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,379, ranked #2,010, up from #32,926 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yusuf is 3,379 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56216.7%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

3,379

2016, ranked #2,010

Peak year

2016

3,379 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yusuf had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,379 in 2016, ranked #2,010.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Yusuf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yusuf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yusuf 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
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 1,236 #4,595
1998 modern 1,288 #4,617
1999 modern 1,392 #4,329
2000 modern 1,449 #4,180
2001 modern 1,474 #4,050
2002 modern 1,680 #3,683
2003 modern 1,786 #3,417
2004 modern 1,911 #3,221
2005 modern 2,107 #2,940
2006 modern 2,349 #2,680
2007 modern 2,482 #2,585
2008 modern 2,593 #2,499
2009 modern 2,781 #2,422
2010 modern 3,048 #2,267
2011 modern 3,018 #2,260
2012 modern 3,128 #2,143
2013 modern 3,291 #2,082
2014 modern 3,326 #2,074
2015 modern 3,327 #2,051
2016 modern 3,379 #2,010

Geography

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Where Yusufs 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 Blackburn with Darwen, Leicester and Kirklees. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Blackburn with Darwen 006 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Leicester 017 Leicester
4 Leicester 018 Leicester
5 Kirklees 024 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yusuf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yusuf

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

Yusuf 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

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

Meaning and origin of Yusuf

The surname Yusuf has its origins in the Arabic language, derived from the name Yusuf, which is the Arabic form of the biblical name Joseph. The name has a long and rich history, with roots dating back to ancient times in the Middle East.

This surname is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in regions where Arabic was the predominant language. It is likely that the name was initially adopted as a patronymic, meaning "son of Yusuf," indicating the lineage of individuals bearing this surname.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Yusuf can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is associated with the biblical figure Joseph, the son of Jacob. This connection to a significant religious figure has contributed to the widespread usage of the name across various Muslim communities.

The surname Yusuf has been present in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. For instance, it is mentioned in the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and historians, such as Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) and Al-Tabari (838-923).

Among the notable individuals who have borne the surname Yusuf throughout history, one can mention Yusuf bin Ismail (1049-1109), a prominent Sufi mystic and scholar from Central Asia. Another notable figure is Yusuf al-Baladhuri (d. 892), an Arab Muslim historian and author of the influential work "Futuh al-Buldan" (Conquest of Lands).

In the realm of literature, Yusuf al-Nabhani (1849-1932) was a renowned Arab poet and scholar from Lebanon, known for his contributions to the Nahda (Arab Renaissance) movement. Yusuf Idris (1927-1991), an Egyptian novelist and playwright, is also recognized for his influential works exploring social and political themes.

The surname Yusuf has also been associated with various place names and localities throughout the Middle East and North Africa. For example, Yusufiya was a medieval town located in present-day Iraq, while Bani Yusuf was a historical region in Morocco that took its name from the Almoravid dynasty, which ruled parts of North Africa and Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries.

While the surname Yusuf has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in numerous countries, each with their unique histories and cultural traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yusuf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yusuf surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 6 Yusufs recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.09x.

County Total Index
Kent 6 30.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsgate in Kent leads with 5 Yusufs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1515.15x.

Place Total Index
Ramsgate 5 1515.15x
Speldhurst 1 1000.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Yusuf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Anna 1
Haidie 1
Leila 1
Pearle 1
Tuida 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Yusuf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mustafa 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Yusuf households.

FAQ

Yusuf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yusuf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Yusuf surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yusuf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,379 in 2016. That gives Yusuf a modern rank of #2,010.

What does the Yusuf surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "God increases" or "God adds," referring to the Biblical figure Joseph.

What does the Yusuf map show?

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