NameCensus.

UK surname

Kahn

A German surname derived from a byname referring to a boat or ferry operator.

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Kahn surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 614, ranked #8,552, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Giles-in-the-Fields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Salford and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kahn is 614 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 764.8%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

614

2016, ranked #8,552

Peak year

2016

614 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kahn had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 614 in 2016, ranked #8,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kahn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kahn surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kahn 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 467 #9,788
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 461 #10,272
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 406 #11,096
2002 modern 428 #10,880
2003 modern 418 #10,896
2004 modern 437 #10,557
2005 modern 430 #10,575
2006 modern 430 #10,624
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 453 #10,345
2009 modern 471 #10,304
2010 modern 545 #9,420
2011 modern 519 #9,687
2012 modern 534 #9,391
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 586 #8,954
2015 modern 584 #8,914
2016 modern 614 #8,552

Geography

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Where Kahns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Salford and Hackney. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 035 Barnet
2 Barnet 033 Barnet
3 Barnet 037 Barnet
4 Salford 010 Salford
5 Hackney 004 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kahn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kahn

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

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kahn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kahn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kahn 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

Kahn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kahn

The surname Kahn originated in the Indian subcontinent and is derived from the Persian word "Khan," which means "ruler" or "chief." This name has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the Mongol conquest of the region in the 13th century.

During this period, the Mongol rulers and their descendants were often referred to as "Khans," and this title eventually became a surname for their families and followers. The earliest recorded examples of the name Kahn can be found in Persian and Arabic manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Kahn was Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, who was born around 1162 CE. Another notable figure was Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who ruled from 1628 to 1658 CE and built the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

As the Mongol and Persian influence spread across the Indian subcontinent, the name Kahn became more widespread and was adopted by various communities. In some regions, the name was also influenced by local languages and dialects, resulting in variations such as "Khan" or "Khaun."

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Kahn in a place name can be found in the town of Kahna, located in present-day Pakistan. This town was established in the 16th century and was likely named after a local ruler or chief with the surname Kahn.

Another notable individual with the surname Kahn was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, an Indian Muslim philosopher and social reformer who lived from 1817 to 1898 CE. He played a significant role in the educational and social reform movements in British India and was a prominent advocate for Muslim education.

In the realm of literature, one of the most renowned authors with the surname Kahn was Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian writer who was born in 1911 and died in 2006. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988 for his novels and short stories that explored the complexities of modern Egyptian society.

While the surname Kahn has its roots in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, it has since spread globally and can be found in various communities around the world. The name continues to carry a sense of nobility and leadership, reflecting its historical origins and the legacy of the Mongol and Persian rulers who first bore this title.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kahn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kahn 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. Middlesex leads with 60 Kahns recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 60 8.79x
Surrey 8 2.40x
Sussex 1 0.87x
Yorkshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 35 Kahns recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.89x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 35 52.89x
Lambeth 8 13.44x
St Giles In Fields London 8 238.81x
Hampstead London 7 65.85x
Poplar London 4 31.03x
St Pancras London 2 3.64x
Westminster St James 2 28.49x
Hammersmith London 1 5.95x
Hastings St Mary 1 34.97x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 97.09x
Paddington London 1 3.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Rosa 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Clarissa 1
Doran 1
Edgar 1
Emilie 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannchen 1
Herriette 1
Jane 1
Katherine 1
Lina 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Marion 1
Rachel 1
Rech. 1
Regina 1
Zelinda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Aaron 2
David 2
Joseph 2
Louis 2
Adolph 1
Alfred 1
Auguste 1
Benedict 1
Bernard 1
Carl 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Emil 1
Ernest 1
Feidore 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
George 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Isaiah 1
Jacob 1
James 1
John 1
Jonas 1
Julius 1
Maistafal 1
Michael 1
Motairer 1
Oscar 1
Sidney 1
Sigismocond 1
William 1
Wyllie 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 Kahn households.

FAQ

Kahn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kahn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Kahn surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kahn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 614 in 2016. That gives Kahn a modern rank of #8,552.

What does the Kahn surname mean?

A German surname derived from a byname referring to a boat or ferry operator.

What does the Kahn map show?

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