NameCensus.

UK surname

Chhokar

A surname common among the Saini community of Punjab, India.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chhokar is 272 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

265

2016, ranked #16,130

Peak year

2015

272 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016, ranked #16,130.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Chhokar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chhokar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chhokar 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 156 #20,593
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 220 #17,129
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 260 #15,972
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 264 #16,288
2015 modern 272 #15,851
2016 modern 265 #16,130

Geography

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Where Chhokars 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, Coventry, South Bucks 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 Coventry 016 Coventry
3 South Bucks 008 South Bucks
4 Ealing 026 Ealing
5 Hounslow 011 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chhokar

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chhokar, 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 Chhokar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Chhokar 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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Chhokar 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

Chhokar is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chhokar

The surname CHHOKAR traces its origins to the Indian subcontinent, specifically the region of Punjab. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Punjabi word "chhokra," which means "boy" or "young man." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or a descriptive term for a young person or a son.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHHOKAR surname can be found in the Mughal imperial records from the 16th century. These records mention individuals bearing this name who served as soldiers or administrators under the Mughal rulers. In particular, a man named Chhokar Khan is mentioned as a military commander during the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1556 to 1605.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the CHHOKAR surname became more widespread in Punjab, particularly in the regions of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala. Several individuals with this surname were involved in various occupations, including agriculture, trade, and military service under the Sikh Empire and later the British Raj.

One notable figure from this period was Sardar Chhokar Singh, a prominent military leader in the Sikh army during the early 19th century. He played a crucial role in several battles against Afghan invaders and the British forces during the Anglo-Sikh Wars.

Another individual of historical significance was Bhai Chhokar Singh, a Sikh preacher and religious scholar who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his devotion to the Sikh faith and his efforts in promoting education and social reforms in Punjab.

In more recent times, Dr. Kartar Singh Chhokar, born in 1914 and died in 1996, was a renowned educationist and writer. He authored several books on Punjabi literature and culture and served as the principal of Khalsa College in Amritsar, a prestigious educational institution in Punjab.

Additionally, Surjit Singh Chhokar, born in 1945, was a prominent figure in the Punjabi literary world. He was a prolific writer and poet who contributed significantly to the promotion of Punjabi language and literature, receiving numerous awards and accolades for his work.

The CHHOKAR surname, while originating in Punjab, has since spread to other parts of India and beyond, as people migrated and settled in different regions. However, its roots remain deeply embedded in the cultural and historical fabric of the Punjab region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Chhokar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Chhokar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016. That gives Chhokar a modern rank of #16,130.

What does the Chhokar surname mean?

A surname common among the Saini community of Punjab, India.

What does the Chhokar map show?

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