NameCensus.

UK surname

Bansal

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person from the Bansal gotra or clan of the Agarwal community.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Bansal surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,925, ranked #3,316, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bansal is 2,004 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 192400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

1,925

2016, ranked #3,316

Peak year

2013

2,004 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bansal had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,925 in 2016, ranked #3,316.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Bansal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bansal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bansal 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 1,151 #4,880
1998 modern 1,253 #4,707
1999 modern 1,295 #4,611
2000 modern 1,336 #4,461
2001 modern 1,334 #4,384
2002 modern 1,442 #4,199
2003 modern 1,474 #4,058
2004 modern 1,549 #3,885
2005 modern 1,605 #3,728
2006 modern 1,654 #3,630
2007 modern 1,725 #3,532
2008 modern 1,776 #3,472
2009 modern 1,886 #3,366
2010 modern 1,991 #3,292
2011 modern 1,975 #3,265
2012 modern 1,910 #3,313
2013 modern 2,004 #3,237
2014 modern 1,978 #3,289
2015 modern 1,949 #3,300
2016 modern 1,925 #3,316

Geography

Back to top

Where Bansals 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 Ealing, Birmingham, Redbridge and Hounslow. 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 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
3 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
4 Hounslow 004 Hounslow
5 Birmingham 133 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bansal

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bansal

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

Bansal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bansal

The surname Bansal has its origins in India, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century CE.

The name Bansal is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Vansal', which means 'a branch of a tree' or 'a lineage'. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to individuals or families who were associated with the cultivation or trade of certain types of trees or wood products.

In ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, there are references to individuals bearing the surname Bansal, indicating its long-standing history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rajput chronicles of the 13th century, where a notable warrior named Rao Bansal is mentioned for his bravery in battles against invading forces.

The Bansal surname has also been associated with certain geographical regions and place names. For instance, the town of Bansalpur in Rajasthan is believed to have been named after a prominent Bansal family that resided there centuries ago.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Bansal surname. One such example is Pandit Ravi Shankar Bansal, a renowned Indian classical musician who lived from 1920 to 2012 and was instrumental in popularizing Indian music on the global stage.

Another prominent figure with the Bansal surname was Raja Nahar Singh Bansal, a ruler of the princely state of Ballabhgarh in the 18th century, who was known for his military prowess and contributions to the region's defense against invaders.

In the field of literature, Harishankar Parsai (1924-1995), a celebrated Hindi writer and satirist, was born into a Bansal family and his works are widely acclaimed for their social commentary and humor.

Historically, the Bansal surname has also been associated with various occupations, including trade, agriculture, and governance. Prominent Bansal families were often landowners, merchants, or administrators in various regions of northern India.

One of the most influential Bansals in modern times was Bharat Ram Bansal (1922-2004), an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who played a significant role in the growth of the Maruti Udyog Limited, one of India's leading automobile manufacturers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bansal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bansal surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Buckinghamshire leads with 1 Bansals recorded in 1881 and an index of 172.41x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 1 172.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whaddon in Buckinghamshire leads with 1 Bansals recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Whaddon 1 0.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bansal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Martha 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bansal households.

Occupation Count
Cook (Dom) 1

FAQ

Bansal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bansal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Bansal surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bansal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,925 in 2016. That gives Bansal a modern rank of #3,316.

What does the Bansal surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person from the Bansal gotra or clan of the Agarwal community.

What does the Bansal map show?

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