NameCensus.

UK surname

Awal

A locational surname derived from a place name in Punjab, Pakistan.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, Redbridge and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Awal is 190 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

177

2016, ranked #21,230

Peak year

2010

190 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016, ranked #21,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Awal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Awal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Awal 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
1851 historical 3 #32,890
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 175 #20,707
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 175 #21,035
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 176 #21,291
2016 modern 177 #21,230

Geography

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Where Awals 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 Croydon, Redbridge, Ceredigion, Ealing and Tower Hamlets. 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 Croydon 003 Croydon
2 Redbridge 015 Redbridge
3 Ceredigion 007 Ceredigion
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Awal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Awal

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

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Awal is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Awal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Awal

The surname AWAL has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of what is now Pakistan and India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries.

The name AWAL is derived from the Arabic word "awwal," which means "first" or "foremost." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who were among the first settlers or pioneers in a particular area or those who held a prominent position within their community.

Historical records from this period are scarce, but there are some references to individuals bearing the name AWAL. One notable mention is found in a 14th-century manuscript detailing the exploits of a local chieftain named Awal Khan, who led a rebellion against the ruling authorities.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname AWAL dates back to the 16th century, when a landowner named Malik Awal was mentioned in a land grant document from the Mughal Empire. This document also referred to the village of Awalpur, which may have been named after this individual or vice versa.

In the 17th century, a renowned poet and scholar, Mir Awal Hussain (1640-1720), gained recognition for his contributions to Urdu literature. His works were widely celebrated and influenced the literary landscape of the time.

Another notable figure was Nawab Awal Khan (1725-1785), a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor and later became the ruler of a small principality in present-day Rajasthan, India.

During the 19th century, a prominent figure named Awal Shah (1810-1878) emerged as a religious leader and philosopher, known for his teachings and writings on Sufism, a mystical tradition within Islam.

In more recent times, one of the most well-known individuals with the surname AWAL was Awal Mian (1915-1990), a renowned classical musician and tabla player from Pakistan, who was widely acclaimed for his contributions to the art of percussion music.

While the surname AWAL is relatively uncommon, it has left an enduring mark on the cultural and historical fabric of the Indian subcontinent, spanning various fields such as literature, politics, religion, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Awal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Awal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016. That gives Awal a modern rank of #21,230.

What does the Awal surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Punjab, Pakistan.

What does the Awal map show?

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