NameCensus.

UK surname

Dulai

A surname of Indian origin, possibly derived from the Hindi word "dulhai" meaning a bride.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dulai is 391 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

2010

391 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Dulai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dulai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dulai 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 3 #33,861
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 254 #15,638
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 283 #14,559
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 360 #12,431
2009 modern 367 #12,501
2010 modern 391 #12,207
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 349 #13,215
2014 modern 352 #13,206
2015 modern 346 #13,284
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

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Where Dulais 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 Sandwell, Walsall, Birmingham and Erskine East and Inchinnan. 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 Sandwell 020 Sandwell
2 Walsall 035 Walsall
3 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
5 Erskine East and Inchinnan Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dulai

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

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

Dulai 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

Dulai falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dulai

The surname DULAI is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the region now known as Punjab. The name's roots can be traced back to the Sanskrit language, where it may have derived from the word "dula," meaning "precious" or "beloved." Alternatively, some scholars suggest it could be linked to the Persian word "doulat," signifying "wealth" or "prosperity."

In the early medieval period, the DULAI name began appearing in various historical records and manuscripts across South Asia. One notable mention can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which lists individuals bearing the DULAI surname among the nobility and landowners of the time.

The earliest known recorded instance of the DULAI surname dates back to the 12th century, when a prominent Hindu nobleman named Jai Singh DULAI was mentioned in a royal charter from the Chahamana dynasty of Rajasthan. Another early reference comes from the Bahmani Sultanate of the Deccan region, where a military commander named Malik DULAI served under Sultan Ahmad Shah I Wali in the late 14th century.

During the medieval era, the DULAI surname was often associated with various place names and older spellings, such as "Doolai," "Doulai," or "Dulay." These variations likely arose due to regional linguistic differences and the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the DULAI surname. One such figure was Diwan Hari Ram DULAI (1720-1785), a prominent administrator and poet in the court of the Maratha ruler Shivaji. Another was Munshi Sadruddin Khan DULAI (1797-1867), a renowned scholar and author who served as the tutor to the sons of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

In more recent times, Khushwant Singh DULAI (1915-2014) was a celebrated Indian writer, lawyer, and diplomat, best known for his iconic works such as "Train to Pakistan" and "Delhi: A Novel." Additionally, Manohar Singh DULAI (1928-2022) was a distinguished Indian Air Force officer who served as the Chief of the Air Staff from 1981 to 1984.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dulai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dulai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Dulai a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Dulai surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, possibly derived from the Hindi word "dulhai" meaning a bride.

What does the Dulai map show?

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