NameCensus.

UK surname

Bhullar

A Punjabi name derived from the word "bhullaran" meaning wanderer or nomad.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bhullar is 591 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

551

2016, ranked #9,266

Peak year

2011

591 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016, ranked #9,266.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Bhullar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bhullar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bhullar 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
1997 modern 303 #13,433
1998 modern 337 #12,859
1999 modern 368 #12,182
2000 modern 394 #11,520
2001 modern 384 #11,565
2002 modern 440 #10,638
2003 modern 447 #10,343
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 465 #9,958
2006 modern 495 #9,554
2007 modern 521 #9,271
2008 modern 521 #9,342
2009 modern 537 #9,341
2010 modern 582 #8,978
2011 modern 591 #8,793
2012 modern 558 #9,071
2013 modern 577 #8,995
2014 modern 576 #9,058
2015 modern 564 #9,119
2016 modern 551 #9,266

Geography

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Where Bhullars 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 South Bucks, Hounslow, Ealing and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 South Bucks 005 South Bucks
2 Hounslow 005 Hounslow
3 Ealing 029 Ealing
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 016 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Hounslow 013 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bhullar

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bhullar 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

Bhullar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bhullar

The surname Bhullar has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the Punjab region of what is now modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, perhaps as early as the 10th or 11th century.

The name Bhullar is derived from the Punjabi word "bhulla," which means "forgetful" or "absent-minded." It is thought to have been a descriptive surname initially given to someone who was perceived as being forgetful or absentminded. The suffix "-ar" was added to the root word, indicating a person or a group of people associated with that characteristic.

While there are no known historical references to the name Bhullar in ancient manuscripts or records like the Domesday Book, as it originated in a different geographic region, some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in local village records and tax registers from the Punjab region dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bhullar was Bhai Bhullar, a Sikh warrior and follower of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, who lived in the late 17th century. He is known for his bravery and devotion to the Sikh faith.

Another notable person with the surname Bhullar was Gian Singh Bhullar, a Punjabi poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century. He is best known for his contribution to the Punjabi literary canon with works such as "Ghar di Zamin" and "Mitti di Khushboo."

In more recent times, Navjot Singh Bhullar, a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team in the 1990s, is a prominent figure with this surname. He was born in 1968 and is fondly remembered for his contributions to the Indian cricket team.

Jaswinder Singh Bhullar, a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, was born in 1969 and served as a member of the provincial parliament from 2005 to 2009.

Lastly, Harjit Singh Bhullar, a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, is another notable figure with the surname Bhullar. He is the founder of various successful businesses and has been involved in several charitable initiatives, particularly in the field of education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bhullar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bhullar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016. That gives Bhullar a modern rank of #9,266.

What does the Bhullar surname mean?

A Punjabi name derived from the word "bhullaran" meaning wanderer or nomad.

What does the Bhullar map show?

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