NameCensus.

UK surname

Ghulam

A surname indicating servitude or belonging to someone.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oxford, Oldham and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ghulam is 563 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

556

2016, ranked #9,217

Peak year

2014

563 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 556 in 2016, ranked #9,217.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ghulam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ghulam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ghulam 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 342 #12,379
1998 modern 385 #11,698
1999 modern 387 #11,722
2000 modern 381 #11,814
2001 modern 380 #11,660
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 423 #10,805
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 460 #10,073
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 500 #9,630
2009 modern 512 #9,670
2010 modern 528 #9,651
2011 modern 547 #9,312
2012 modern 530 #9,445
2013 modern 547 #9,375
2014 modern 563 #9,217
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 556 #9,217

Geography

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Where Ghulams 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 Oxford, Oldham, Stoke-on-Trent, Redditch 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 Oxford 006 Oxford
2 Oldham 035 Oldham
3 Stoke-on-Trent 015 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Redditch 004 Redditch
5 Birmingham 035 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ghulam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ghulam

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Ghulam 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

Ghulam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ghulam

The surname "GHULAM" has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is believed to have originated in the Middle East region, particularly in areas with a significant Muslim population. The name is derived from the Arabic word "ghulam," which means "servant" or "boy."

In the early Islamic period, the term "ghulam" was often used to refer to male slaves or servants. Over time, it became a common practice for freed slaves or servants to adopt the term as part of their surname, signifying their former status. This practice was widespread across various regions where Islam had a strong influence, including parts of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "GHULAM" can be found in historical texts and manuscripts from the medieval period. For example, the name appears in various Islamic chronicles and records from the 9th to the 13th centuries, particularly in regions under the rule of various Islamic dynasties, such as the Abbasid Caliphate and the Ghaznavid Empire.

In terms of notable historical figures bearing the surname "GHULAM," there are several examples that can be cited:

1. Ghulam Kadir (1456-1529), an Afghan historian and poet who served under the Mughal Empire in India. 2. Ghulam Muhammad Ghubar (1898-1978), an Afghan poet, writer, and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1963 to 1965. 3. Ghulam Mustafa Khan (1912-1989), an Indian classical musician and renowned exponent of the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, a style of Hindustani classical music. 4. Ghulam Nabi Azad (1901-1992), an Indian politician and scholar who served as the first Education Minister of independent India. 5. Ghulam Qadir Ghilzai (1869-1927), an Afghan military commander and political leader who played a significant role in the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

It's worth noting that the surname "GHULAM" has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For instance, the town of Ghulam Muhammad Abad in Pakistan is believed to have been named after a person bearing the surname "GHULAM." Additionally, there are instances where the surname has been spelled differently, such as "Ghulam," "Ghulami," or "Gholami," reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ghulam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ghulam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 556 in 2016. That gives Ghulam a modern rank of #9,217.

What does the Ghulam surname mean?

A surname indicating servitude or belonging to someone.

What does the Ghulam map show?

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