NameCensus.

UK surname

Chishti

A surname derived from the town of Chisht in Persia, referring to a follower of the Chishti Sufi order.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Wakefield and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chishti is 265 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

2010

265 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Chishti surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chishti surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chishti 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 139 #22,132
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 228 #16,789
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 244 #16,793
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

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Where Chishtis 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 Rochdale, Wakefield, Waltham Forest and Brent. 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 Rochdale 007 Rochdale
2 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
3 Waltham Forest 019 Waltham Forest
4 Wakefield 020 Wakefield
5 Brent 008 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chishti

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

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

Chishti 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

Chishti 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 Chishti 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
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chishti, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chishti

The surname "CHISHTI" originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the region of present-day Pakistan and northern India. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century during the period of the Delhi Sultanate.

The name "CHISHTI" is derived from the Persian word "Chisht," which refers to a small town in the Herat region of present-day Afghanistan. This town was the birthplace of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, a revered Sufi saint and the founder of the Chishti order of Sufism.

The Chishti order played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the Indian subcontinent, and many of its followers adopted the surname "CHISHTI" as a mark of their spiritual lineage and association with the order. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical texts and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname "CHISHTI" was Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), a renowned poet, scholar, and musician who was closely associated with the Chishti order and served as a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, a prominent Sufi saint of the time.

Another important figure was Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (1142-1236), also known as Moinuddin Chishti, who was born in Sistan (present-day Iran) and later settled in Ajmer, India, where he established the first Chishti spiritual center in the subcontinent. He is revered as one of the most influential Sufi saints in the region.

In the 15th century, Shaykh Salim Chishti (1478-1572) was a prominent Sufi saint and spiritual guide who played a crucial role in the spread of the Chishti order in India. He is particularly remembered for his association with the Mughal emperor Akbar, whom he is said to have influenced with his teachings.

During the Mughal era, several individuals with the surname "CHISHTI" held significant positions in the imperial court. One such figure was Mir Sayyid Muhammad Chishti (1587-1668), a renowned scholar and poet who served as a tutor to the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh.

In more recent times, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (1837-1926) was a prominent spiritual leader and revered Sufi saint who played a pivotal role in the revival of the Chishti order in the Indian subcontinent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Chishti surname: questions and answers

How common is the Chishti surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Chishti a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Chishti surname mean?

A surname derived from the town of Chisht in Persia, referring to a follower of the Chishti Sufi order.

What does the Chishti map show?

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