NameCensus.

UK surname

Chohan

A surname indicating a ruler or leader of Rajputs in India.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Chohan surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,531, ranked #2,614, up from #33,721 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chohan is 2,592 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126450.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

2,531

2016, ranked #2,614

Peak year

2010

2,592 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chohan had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,531 in 2016, ranked #2,614.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Chohan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chohan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chohan 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 5 #33,418
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1997 modern 1,559 #3,786
1998 modern 1,686 #3,658
1999 modern 1,775 #3,521
2000 modern 1,857 #3,368
2001 modern 1,839 #3,329
2002 modern 2,012 #3,158
2003 modern 2,089 #2,995
2004 modern 2,225 #2,839
2005 modern 2,280 #2,741
2006 modern 2,308 #2,714
2007 modern 2,382 #2,670
2008 modern 2,435 #2,639
2009 modern 2,518 #2,628
2010 modern 2,592 #2,620
2011 modern 2,583 #2,595
2012 modern 2,417 #2,693
2013 modern 2,497 #2,665
2014 modern 2,523 #2,655
2015 modern 2,526 #2,633
2016 modern 2,531 #2,614

Geography

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Where Chohans 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 Leicester and Birmingham. 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 Leicester 006 Leicester
2 Leicester 010 Leicester
3 Birmingham 035 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 033 Birmingham
5 Birmingham 097 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chohan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chohan

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

Chohan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chohan

The surname CHOHAN has its origins in India, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries.

The name CHOHAN is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chaudhary," which was a title given to village headmen or local leaders. It is closely associated with the Rajput warrior clans of northern India, particularly in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

In historical records, the earliest known reference to the CHOHAN name can be found in the Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem written in the 12th century that chronicles the life of the famous Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. The poem mentions the CHOHAN clan as one of the prominent Rajput lineages of the time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of an individual bearing the CHOHAN surname is Rana Hamir Chohan, a Rajput ruler who lived in the 15th century and established the Chohan dynasty in the region of Dhaulpur, located in present-day Rajasthan.

Another notable figure in history with the CHOHAN surname was Raja Man Singh Chohan, a renowned military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. He was instrumental in several military campaigns and played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire.

In the 17th century, Maharaja Jaswant Singh Chohan was a prominent ruler of the Marwar kingdom, which was located in the region of present-day Rajasthan. He is remembered for his military prowess and for maintaining the independence of his kingdom during the turbulent Mughal period.

During the 18th century, Sardar Jassa Singh Chohan was a revered Sikh warrior and military leader who played a significant role in the establishment of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sir Chhotu Ram Chohan was a prominent Indian statesman, revolutionary, and a leader of the peasant movement in British India. He fought for the rights of farmers and played a key role in the upliftment of the Jat community in northern India.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chohan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chohan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2 Chohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 2 Chohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 2 434.78x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chohan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chohan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Felix 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chohan households.

Occupation Count
Hackney Carr Driver 1

FAQ

Chohan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chohan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Chohan surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chohan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,531 in 2016. That gives Chohan a modern rank of #2,614.

What does the Chohan surname mean?

A surname indicating a ruler or leader of Rajputs in India.

What does the Chohan map show?

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