NameCensus.

UK surname

Begum

A title of nobility used for Muslim women of high social class, especially in South Asia.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Begum is 63,278 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

61,888

2016, ranked #76

Peak year

2011

63,278 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 61,888 in 2016, ranked #76.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Begum surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Begum surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Begum 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 7 #33,053
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 38,181 #120
1998 modern 41,676 #114
1999 modern 43,989 #105
2000 modern 46,791 #103
2001 modern 45,329 #104
2002 modern 50,132 #92
2003 modern 51,494 #86
2004 modern 53,475 #82
2005 modern 55,152 #78
2006 modern 57,244 #75
2007 modern 60,083 #73
2008 modern 61,793 #70
2009 modern 62,362 #75
2010 modern 63,251 #77
2011 modern 63,278 #75
2012 modern 60,500 #77
2013 modern 62,027 #77
2014 modern 62,427 #77
2015 modern 62,031 #77
2016 modern 61,888 #76

Geography

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Where Begums 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 Oldham, Tower Hamlets, Birmingham and Rochdale. 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 Oldham 016 Oldham
2 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
3 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
4 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
5 Rochdale 008 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Begum

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Begum

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

Begum 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

Begum 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 Begum is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Begum, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Begum

The surname "Begum" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent and is derived from the Turkish word "Begüm," which means "princess" or "lady of high rank." This title was commonly used in the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century.

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, in 1526. During this period, the title "Begum" was bestowed upon the wives and daughters of the Mughal emperors and other high-ranking nobles. It became a prestigious title, signifying the bearer's status and lineage.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the use of the title "Begum" can be found in the official chronicles of the Mughal Empire, known as the "Akbarnama," which documents the life and reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605). The book mentions several prominent Begums, including Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begum, and his chief wife, Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum.

Another notable Begum from the Mughal era was Nur Jahan Begum (1577-1645), who was the wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and political influence, and often took an active role in governing the empire.

As the Mughal Empire declined in the 18th and 19th centuries, the title "Begum" continued to be used by the wives and daughters of the remaining Mughal nobility, as well as by the royal families of the princely states that emerged in the aftermath of the empire's collapse.

One of the most famous Begums of the later period was Begum Samru (1753-1836), a former nautch (dancing) girl who rose to become the ruler of the princely state of Sardhana in present-day Uttar Pradesh. She is renowned for her military prowess and her role in the political intrigues of the time.

Another prominent Begum was Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820-1879), who was the wife of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. She played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, leading the rebel forces in the city of Lucknow against the British East India Company.

Over time, the surname "Begum" became associated with Muslim families of high social standing or those who claimed descent from the Mughal nobility. It is still commonly found in parts of South Asia, particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and serves as a reminder of the region's rich cultural heritage and the influence of the Mughal Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Begum surname: questions and answers

How common is the Begum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 61,888 in 2016. That gives Begum a modern rank of #76.

What does the Begum surname mean?

A title of nobility used for Muslim women of high social class, especially in South Asia.

What does the Begum map show?

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