UK surname

Gheewala

An occupational surname of Indian origin referring to a person who deals with clarified butter (ghee).

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gheewala is 135 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2016

135 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Gheewala surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gheewala surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Gheewala 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	64	#31,233
1998	modern	68	#31,181
1999	modern	71	#31,036
2000	modern	79	#30,249
2001	modern	81	#29,828
2002	modern	82	#30,181
2003	modern	93	#28,829
2004	modern	86	#30,019
2005	modern	89	#29,683
2006	modern	93	#29,411
2007	modern	101	#28,505
2008	modern	108	#27,684
2009	modern	113	#27,520
2010	modern	117	#27,557
2011	modern	108	#28,811
2012	modern	123	#26,561
2013	modern	124	#26,842
2014	modern	134	#25,711
2015	modern	133	#25,729
2016	modern	135	#25,505

Geography

Where Gheewalas 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. 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 018	Leicester
2	Leicester 013	Leicester
3	Leicester 021	Leicester
4	Leicester 029	Leicester
5	Leicester 022	Leicester

Forenames

First names often paired with Gheewala

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Farida Fatima Zakira Farzana Helina Ila Afira Bilkis Fazila Jurate

Recent male names

Ismail Mohamed Mohammed Sanjeev Irfan Madhusudan Sagar Abdus Imran Janak

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Gheewala

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gheewala is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gheewala 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gheewala 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gheewala is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Asian - Indian

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Gheewala

The surname GHEEWALA originated from India, specifically in the northern region of the country. Its roots can be traced back to the 12th century AD, during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate. The name is derived from the Hindi word "ghee," which refers to clarified butter, a staple ingredient in Indian cuisine. The suffix "-wala" is a commonly used term that indicates a person's profession or association with a particular trade or commodity.

According to historical records, the name GHEEWALA was initially given to individuals who were involved in the production, trade, or distribution of ghee. These individuals may have been ghee makers, merchants, or suppliers catering to the demands of the royal courts, wealthy households, and the general populace. The name became a hereditary surname, passed down from generation to generation within families associated with this occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GHEEWALA can be found in a 13th-century manuscript detailing trade activities in the region of present-day Uttar Pradesh. The document mentions a merchant named Ramdev GHEEWALA, who was involved in the lucrative ghee trade with neighboring kingdoms.

In the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire, the name GHEEWALA gained prominence as the demand for ghee increased due to its extensive use in the royal kitchens and as a luxury item among the affluent classes. Akbar GHEEWALA, born in 1530, was a renowned ghee supplier to the court of Emperor Akbar, and his family maintained a strong presence in the ghee trade for several generations.

Another notable figure bearing the surname GHEEWALA was Rani Durgavati, the queen of the Gondwana kingdom in central India. In her memoirs from the 16th century, she mentions a trusted advisor named Mohan GHEEWALA, who played a crucial role in ensuring a steady supply of ghee for the royal household and military campaigns.

During the 18th century, the GHEEWALA surname spread beyond the northern regions as families migrated to other parts of India. Govind GHEEWALA, born in 1720, was a prominent ghee merchant in the city of Pune, catering to the needs of the Maratha Empire's nobility and military.

In the 19th century, as the British East India Company gained control over various regions of India, the GHEEWALA surname was documented in colonial records. One such record from 1845 mentions a dispute between two ghee traders, Ramesh GHEEWALA and Hari GHEEWALA, over the ownership of a ghee manufacturing facility in the city of Lucknow.

While the surname GHEEWALA originated from a specific occupation, over time, it became a part of the broader cultural and social fabric of India. The name continues to hold significance and is deeply rooted in the country's rich culinary traditions and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gheewala surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gheewala surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Gheewala a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Gheewala surname mean?