NameCensus.

UK surname

Ghuman

A Punjabi surname referring to a nomadic pastoral community.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ghuman is 563 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

563

2016, ranked #9,114

Peak year

2016

563 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016, ranked #9,114.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Ghuman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ghuman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ghuman 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 269 #14,543
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 300 #13,958
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 366 #12,221
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 416 #10,963
2005 modern 415 #10,878
2006 modern 433 #10,564
2007 modern 446 #10,409
2008 modern 477 #9,997
2009 modern 502 #9,818
2010 modern 524 #9,711
2011 modern 532 #9,512
2012 modern 546 #9,221
2013 modern 544 #9,420
2014 modern 543 #9,497
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 563 #9,114

Geography

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Where Ghumans 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 Cannock Chase, Sandwell, Ealing, Gravesham and County Durham. 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 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
2 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
3 Ealing 026 Ealing
4 Gravesham 001 Gravesham
5 County Durham 058 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ghuman

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

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

Ghuman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ghuman

The surname GHUMAN is of Indian origin, specifically from the Punjab region. It is believed to have originated during the 16th century, derived from the village of Ghuman, located in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The name is thought to be a variant of the word "Ghuman," which means "to wander" or "to roam" in Punjabi.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname GHUMAN can be traced back to the 17th century, when it appeared in various manuscripts and historical records from the Mughal era. One notable mention is found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century document that served as an administrative manual for the Mughal Empire, which included records of land revenue and taxation.

In the 18th century, the GHUMAN surname gained prominence as several individuals with this name held influential positions in the Sikh Empire. One such figure was Bhai Ghuman Singh, a renowned scholar and spiritual leader who lived from 1756 to 1821. He played a significant role in preserving and promoting the teachings of Sikhism during a turbulent period in Punjab's history.

Another notable figure bearing the GHUMAN surname was Sardar Bahadur Sardar Gurdial Singh Ghuman, a prominent politician and social reformer who lived from 1860 to 1932. He was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the people in his region.

In the field of literature, Gurbakhsh Singh Ghuman (1934-2019) was a renowned Punjabi writer and poet. He was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri, for his contributions to Punjabi literature.

Another notable figure was Gurbachan Singh Ghuman (1945-2020), a distinguished scientist and academician who made significant contributions to the field of agriculture and plant genetics. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University and was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to agricultural research.

Lastly, Gurnam Singh Ghuman (1950-2021) was a highly regarded military officer who served in the Indian Army. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service and leadership during his military career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ghuman surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ghuman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016. That gives Ghuman a modern rank of #9,114.

What does the Ghuman surname mean?

A Punjabi surname referring to a nomadic pastoral community.

What does the Ghuman map show?

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