NameCensus.

UK surname

Gul

A surname derived from the Turkish word meaning "rose" or "flower."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Gul surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,774, ranked #3,543, up from #32,243 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gul is 1,774 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17640.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

1,774

2016, ranked #3,543

Peak year

2016

1,774 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gul had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,774 in 2016, ranked #3,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gul surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gul 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1997 modern 540 #8,782
1998 modern 589 #8,500
1999 modern 639 #8,067
2000 modern 654 #7,906
2001 modern 680 #7,524
2002 modern 787 #6,866
2003 modern 858 #6,307
2004 modern 963 #5,780
2005 modern 1,054 #5,315
2006 modern 1,122 #5,054
2007 modern 1,213 #4,769
2008 modern 1,349 #4,380
2009 modern 1,438 #4,243
2010 modern 1,553 #4,073
2011 modern 1,565 #3,993
2012 modern 1,623 #3,794
2013 modern 1,693 #3,721
2014 modern 1,739 #3,647
2015 modern 1,766 #3,571
2016 modern 1,774 #3,543

Geography

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Where Guls 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 Birmingham and Bradford. 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 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 058 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 082 Birmingham
4 Bradford 035 Bradford
5 Birmingham 070 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gul

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

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

Gul 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gul

The surname Gul has its origins in the Persian language, and it is believed to have emerged in the region of modern-day Iran during the medieval period. The word "gul" in Persian translates to "rose" or "flower," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to individuals associated with horticulture or the cultivation of roses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gul can be found in the "Shahnameh," an epic poem composed by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, Gul is mentioned as the name of a character, indicating the name's usage and recognition during that time.

During the Seljuk Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning parts of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Iranian Plateau from the 11th to the 13th centuries, the name Gul gained prominence. Several historical figures bearing this surname were mentioned in chronicles and records from that era, such as Gul Bahadur, a military commander who served under the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan.

As the Persian language and culture spread across various regions through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange, the name Gul also found its way into other parts of the world. In India, for instance, the name gained popularity during the Mughal Empire, which had strong Persian influences. One notable figure was Gul Khan, a military leader and governor who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

In Central Asia, particularly in present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, the name Gul has been prevalent for centuries. One prominent example is Gul Khan Naseeb, a renowned Pashtun poet and warrior who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His poetry and literary works are still celebrated in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Gul is Gul Hayder, a 19th-century Afghan ruler and emir who played a significant role in the country's history during a period of political turmoil and power struggles.

While the name Gul has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has also been adopted and used by various ethnic groups and communities across different regions, particularly in Central and South Asia. The name's association with beauty, nature, and poetry has contributed to its enduring popularity throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gul surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 8 Guls recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.67x.

County Total Index
Essex 8 41.67x
Middlesex 1 1.03x
Surrey 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 8 Guls recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.68x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 8 188.68x
Newington 1 27.86x
St Pancras London 1 12.77x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gul surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 2
Emma 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Martha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gul surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Peter 2
Everborn 1
Theodore 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gul households.

FAQ

Gul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Gul surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,774 in 2016. That gives Gul a modern rank of #3,543.

What does the Gul surname mean?

A surname derived from the Turkish word meaning "rose" or "flower."

What does the Gul map show?

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