NameCensus.

UK surname

Boparai

An Indian surname said to originate from a village in Punjab.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Slough, Redbridge and Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boparai is 337 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

2011

337 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Boparai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boparai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Boparai 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 170 #19,505
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 194 #18,579
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 234 #16,343
2004 modern 235 #16,379
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 275 #14,732
2007 modern 287 #14,464
2008 modern 305 #13,979
2009 modern 322 #13,741
2010 modern 330 #13,786
2011 modern 337 #13,463
2012 modern 321 #13,836
2013 modern 336 #13,574
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

Back to top

Where Boparais 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 Slough, Redbridge, Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road and Wolverhampton. 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 Slough 010 Slough
2 Redbridge 034 Redbridge
3 Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road Inverclyde
4 Wolverhampton 027 Wolverhampton
5 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Boparai

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

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

Boparai 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

Boparai falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boparai 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 Boparai, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boparai

The surname Boparai originated in the Punjab region of India, dating back several centuries. It is derived from the Punjabi language and is believed to have roots in the ancient village or town of Bopar, which was likely located in what is now the Indian state of Punjab or the Pakistani province of Punjab.

This surname has a rich history and can be traced back to the 16th century, with records indicating that individuals bearing this name were prominent landowners and influential figures in the region. The earliest known reference to the Boparai name appears in a historical document from the Mughal Empire, dated around 1580, which mentions a nobleman named Gurdev Singh Boparai.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Boparai family played a significant role in the Punjab region, with several members holding positions of power and authority within the local administration. One notable figure from this era was Bhai Mani Singh Boparai, a renowned Sikh scholar and warrior who lived from 1644 to 1737 and is revered for his contributions to Sikh literature and his bravery in battles against the Mughal rulers.

As the centuries progressed, the Boparai surname spread across the Indian subcontinent, with families bearing this name settling in various parts of Punjab, as well as in neighboring states and regions. In the 19th century, a prominent Boparai was Sardar Bahadur Bhai Arjan Singh Boparai, a respected leader and philanthropist who was instrumental in establishing educational institutions and promoting social welfare initiatives in the region.

Another notable individual with the Boparai surname was Karam Singh Boparai, a renowned poet and writer who lived from 1881 to 1961. His literary works, written in the Punjabi language, were celebrated for their depth and creativity, and he is regarded as one of the most influential literary figures of his time in the Punjab region.

In more recent history, the Boparai surname has gained recognition globally, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, such as academia, business, and politics. One prominent example is Dr. Harjinder Singh Boparai, a respected academic and scholar who has authored numerous books and research publications on Sikh studies and Punjab history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Boparai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Boparai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Boparai a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Boparai surname mean?

An Indian surname said to originate from a village in Punjab.

What does the Boparai map show?

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