UK surname

Zada

A habitational surname referring to a place named Zada.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zada is 168 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

2014

168 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Zada surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zada surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Zada 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	56	#32,004
1998	modern	59	#32,027
1999	modern	70	#31,135
2000	modern	73	#30,881
2001	modern	72	#30,813
2002	modern	87	#29,644
2003	modern	89	#29,380
2004	modern	81	#30,569
2005	modern	89	#29,683
2006	modern	110	#26,717
2007	modern	116	#26,209
2008	modern	113	#26,920
2009	modern	122	#26,220
2010	modern	135	#25,127
2011	modern	139	#24,507
2012	modern	157	#22,551
2013	modern	166	#22,075
2014	modern	168	#22,075
2015	modern	162	#22,509
2016	modern	164	#22,314

Geography

Where Zadas 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 Dudley, Sheffield, Bradford, Kirklees 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	Dudley 018	Dudley
2	Sheffield 014	Sheffield
3	Bradford 039	Bradford
4	Kirklees 016	Kirklees
5	Birmingham 139	Birmingham

Forenames

First names often paired with Zada

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Shereen Jamila Shazia Wahida Anjum Yasmeen Mehr Fatima Sajida Aisha

Recent male names

Mohammed Anwar Khan Islam Frank Amir Mohammad Sahib Sher Kamal

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Zada

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Zada 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

Zada 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

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Zada

The surname Zada is believed to have originated in the Middle Eastern regions, particularly within Persian and Arabic-speaking areas. It is prevalent in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and parts of India, as well as the broader Arab world. The root of the name can be traced to the Persian and Arabic word "zada," which translates to "born of" or "offspring." This suffix was traditionally attached to the names of fathers, signifying lineage and progeny.

The use of the name Zada can be found in historical documents dating back several centuries. One of the earliest references to the surname Zada appears in the Safavid dynasty records from the 16th century Iran. Here, the name was often seen among nobility and scholars, reflecting a heritage of learned individuals and military leaders.

In the Mughal Empire in South Asia, documents from the early 17th century also make mention of individuals bearing the name Zada. Historical manuscripts have highlighted the name in administrative records and tax rolls, indicating the significant roles these individuals played in governance and commerce.

One notable personality from history is Mirza Zada, a Persian scholar and poet born in the early 1700s (1702-1765), who contributed to Persian literature with his collection of poems and philosophical essays. He was a contemporary of Saib Tabrizi and is remembered for his intricate poetry that explored themes of love and human existence.

In the 1800s, the name Zada appears in records from the Ottoman Empire, specifically in the regions of present-day Turkey and Syria where it was adopted by families with Turkish and Kurdish ancestry. Aziz Zada, an Ottoman bureaucrat born in 1825 and died in 1891, served as a provincial governor and earned recognition for his administrative reforms.

Moving into the modern period, various families with the surname Zada have achieved fame in different fields. For example, Ahmed Zada, an early 20th-century Pakistani independence activist, was born in 1883 and played a pivotal role in the fight against British colonial rule. His efforts significantly contributed to the cultural and political landscape of pre-partition India.

Another figure is Saleem Zada, an Iranian mathematician born in 1923 who went on to make substantial contributions to theoretical mathematics and was a respected professor at the University of Tehran until his death in 1985. His scholarly works are still cited in mathematical research papers today.

In the field of art, Yasmin Zada, an influential painter born in 1947, gained acclaim for her modernist interpretations of traditional Persian motifs. Her exhibits have been showcased internationally, and she has been pivotal in the contemporary Iranian art movement.

The surname Zada continues to be associated with individuals who have made significant contributions across a range of disciplines, showcasing a legacy steeped in cultural and intellectual heritage across various regions and eras. With its origins embedded in the rich tapestry of Persian and Arabic history, Zada remains a testament to lineage and learnedness.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zada surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zada surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Zada a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Zada surname mean?