NameCensus.

UK surname

Zafar

A Persian surname meaning "victor" or "conqueror".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Birmingham and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zafar is 2,287 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,287

2016, ranked #2,837

Peak year

2016

2,287 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,287 in 2016, ranked #2,837.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Zafar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zafar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zafar 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 656 #7,617
1998 modern 712 #7,378
1999 modern 766 #7,023
2000 modern 820 #6,639
2001 modern 835 #6,434
2002 modern 964 #5,846
2003 modern 1,059 #5,346
2004 modern 1,173 #4,902
2005 modern 1,329 #4,357
2006 modern 1,433 #4,121
2007 modern 1,580 #3,807
2008 modern 1,692 #3,612
2009 modern 1,843 #3,443
2010 modern 1,978 #3,305
2011 modern 2,032 #3,197
2012 modern 2,085 #3,074
2013 modern 2,201 #2,966
2014 modern 2,262 #2,913
2015 modern 2,272 #2,870
2016 modern 2,287 #2,837

Geography

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Where Zafars 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 Manchester, Birmingham, Rochdale 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 Manchester 008 Manchester
2 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
3 Rochdale 015 Rochdale
4 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
5 Birmingham 140 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zafar

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

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

Zafar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Zafar

The surname Zafar has its origins in the Persian-speaking regions of the Middle East and Central Asia, particularly in areas such as Iran and Afghanistan. The name first appeared around the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century. From these regions, the name spread to the Indian subcontinent, especially during the Mughal era, where Persian cultural influence was strong.

Zafar is derived from the Persian word "ظفر," which means "victory" or "triumph." This word itself has a rich history, being used in various cultural and literary contexts. Variations in spelling, such as Zafar and Zaffar, may be observed due to transliteration differences.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname Zafar can be found in the records of the Mughal Empire. For instance, Zafar Khan was a prominent noble in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar during the late 16th century. He played an influential role in various military and administrative capacities, illustrating the name's association with leadership and success.

Another significant figure is Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India, who was born in 1775 and died in 1862. His reign marked the end of the Mughal Empire, and he is remembered not only for his political significance but also for his contributions to Urdu poetry.

In more academic circles, Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, born in 1952, emerged as a prominent Bangladeshi physicist and writer. His works in literature and science have made substantial contributions to both fields, reflecting the name's association with intellectual achievement.

Moving back in history, Zafar Ali Khan (1873-1956) was a notable figure in the Pakistan Movement. He was a journalist, poet, and politician who actively participated in the struggle for the independence of Pakistan from British rule.

An older reference comes from the Persian epic Shahnameh, written by the poet Ferdowsi around 1000 AD, where several characters bearing the title Zafar as a part of their names symbolize their heroic and triumphant nature.

The surname Zafar continues to evoke a sense of victory and success through its deep historical roots and significant figures who have carried the name through centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zafar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zafar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,287 in 2016. That gives Zafar a modern rank of #2,837.

What does the Zafar surname mean?

A Persian surname meaning "victor" or "conqueror".

What does the Zafar map show?

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