NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillani

A surname of South Asian origin, derived from the Persian word 'gilani' meaning 'from Gilan'.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Barnet and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillani is 204 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2013

204 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gillani surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillani surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillani 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
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 59 #31,734
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 127 #24,384
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 155 #22,438
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 204 #19,276
2014 modern 194 #20,097
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Gillanis 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 Newcastle upon Tyne, Barnet, Ealing and Brent. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 022 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Barnet 028 Barnet
3 Ealing 017 Ealing
4 Brent 008 Brent
5 Ealing 007 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillani

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

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

Gillani 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gillani

The surname Gillani is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region now known as Pakistan. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Gilan," which means "the land of rivers" or "the land of plenty." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with people who lived in fertile, river-rich areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gillani can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Gillani, indicating that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 18th century, the Gillani name gained prominence with the rise of the Gillani family, a powerful clan that ruled over parts of present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Notable figures from this family include Akhund Abdul Ghaffur Gillani (1786-1864), a renowned Islamic scholar and reformer, and Haji Sahib Turangzai Gillani (1786-1863), a renowned Pashtun warrior and tribal leader.

Another historical figure associated with the Gillani surname is Syed Ahmed Shaheed Gillani (1786-1831), a renowned Islamic revivalist and freedom fighter who led a movement against the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century.

In the 20th century, the Gillani name continued to be prominent in Pakistan, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Air Marshal Asghar Khan Gillani (1919-2018), a highly decorated Pakistani Air Force officer and a recipient of the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honors.

Another notable figure was Dr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan Gillani (1915-2014), a renowned Pakistani statesman who served as the seventh President of Pakistan from 1988 to 1993.

While the Gillani surname is closely associated with Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gillani surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gillani surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Gillani a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Gillani surname mean?

A surname of South Asian origin, derived from the Persian word 'gilani' meaning 'from Gilan'.

What does the Gillani map show?

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