NameCensus.

UK surname

Bahadur

A surname indicating bravery or courage, often used for warriors or soldiers.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bahadur is 343 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

2010

343 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Bahadur surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bahadur surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bahadur 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 270 #14,825
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 285 #14,273
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 303 #13,965
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 332 #13,458
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 329 #13,694
2012 modern 321 #13,836
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 325 #14,030
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Bahadurs 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 Leicester, Blackburn with Darwen, Brent 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 Leicester 017 Leicester
2 Blackburn with Darwen 007 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Leicester 021 Leicester
4 Brent 027 Brent
5 Kirklees 013 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bahadur

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

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

Bahadur 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bahadur

The surname BAHADUR has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern regions of India and Pakistan. It is derived from the Persian word "bahadur," which means "brave" or "courageous." This surname is often associated with individuals of Muslim or Hindu backgrounds who trace their ancestry to the Indo-Persian cultural sphere.

The earliest recorded instances of the BAHADUR surname can be found in historical documents and records from the medieval period, particularly during the reigns of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. These empires ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 18th centuries and employed individuals with distinguished military or administrative careers, who were often bestowed honorific titles such as "Bahadur."

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the BAHADUR surname was Sultan Alauddin Khilji Bahadur (1296-1316), a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate renowned for his military conquests and administrative reforms. Another notable figure was Mirza Aziz Koka Bahadur (1542-1624), a prominent noble and military commander during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

In the 18th century, the BAHADUR surname gained further prominence with the rise of the Maratha Empire in western India. Prominent Maratha leaders such as Peshwa Baji Rao I Bahadur (1700-1740) and his son, Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao Bahadur (1720-1761), were instrumental in the expansion and consolidation of the Maratha Empire.

During the British colonial period in India, the BAHADUR surname was often used as a title of honor bestowed upon individuals who had distinguished themselves in military or civil service. One such individual was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Bahadur (1817-1898), a renowned Muslim reformer and intellectual who played a significant role in promoting modern education among Muslims in British India.

Another notable figure bearing the BAHADUR surname was Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bahadur (1780-1839), the founder and ruler of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab region. His military campaigns and administrative reforms helped establish a powerful and influential kingdom in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.

In the 20th century, several individuals with the BAHADUR surname made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts. These include the Indian writer and journalist Krishan Chander Bahadur (1914-1977), known for his works exploring social and political themes, and the Pakistani politician and diplomat Agha Shahi Bahadur (1928-2015), who served as the foreign minister of Pakistan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bahadur surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bahadur surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Bahadur a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Bahadur surname mean?

A surname indicating bravery or courage, often used for warriors or soldiers.

What does the Bahadur map show?

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