NameCensus.

UK surname

Bakshi

A surname of South Asian origin meaning a scholar or learned person.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bakshi is 372 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

2014

372 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bakshi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bakshi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bakshi 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1997 modern 196 #17,859
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 244 #15,861
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 288 #14,267
2007 modern 298 #14,103
2008 modern 326 #13,374
2009 modern 334 #13,409
2010 modern 356 #13,071
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 366 #12,733
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 365 #12,743
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Bakshis 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, Ealing, Hounslow and Dudley. 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 013 Croydon
2 Ealing 002 Ealing
3 Hounslow 013 Hounslow
4 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
5 Dudley 009 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bakshi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bakshi

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bakshi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bakshi household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bakshi is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Bakshi 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

Bakshi falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bakshi 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
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bakshi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bakshi

The surname BAKSHI is of Punjabi origin, and its roots can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Persian word "Bakhshi," which refers to a paymaster or a person responsible for disbursing salaries and managing finances.

It is believed that the BAKSHI surname first emerged among members of the Khatri caste, who traditionally held positions as merchants, traders, and accountants. This occupation likely led to the adoption of the name, as the Bakhshi role was closely associated with financial management and record-keeping.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BAKSHI surname can be found in the Mughal Empire's administrative records from the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, several individuals with the BAKSHI surname held prominent positions as paymasters and financial advisors to the Mughal rulers.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the BAKSHI surname gained prominence in the Punjab region, particularly among the Sikh community. Notable individuals with this surname include Bhai Bakhtawar Singh Bakshi (1719-1770), a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the Sikh resistance against the Afghan invaders.

Another influential figure was Bakshi Har Govind Singh (1870-1947), a renowned Sikh scholar and theologian who served as the Jathedar (head priest) of the Akal Takht, the temporal seat of the Sikh religion.

In the 20th century, the BAKSHI surname gained wider recognition with individuals like Kapoor Singh Bakshi (1915-1988), an Indian politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of several Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The name also gained international recognition through the acclaimed filmmaker Vijay Anand Bakshi, better known as Vijay Anand (1934-1992), who directed iconic Bollywood films such as "Guide" and "Jewel Thief."

It is worth noting that the BAKSHI surname has also been spelled in various ways, such as Bakhshi, Bakshi, and Bakshee, reflecting regional and linguistic variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bakshi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bakshi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Bakshi a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Bakshi surname mean?

A surname of South Asian origin meaning a scholar or learned person.

What does the Bakshi map show?

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