NameCensus.

UK surname

Kaul

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname derived from the Germanic element "kuoni," meaning "bold, daring."

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Kaul surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 359, ranked #12,898, up from #30,215 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kaul is 375 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1395.8%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

359

2016, ranked #12,898

Peak year

2015

375 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kaul had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016, ranked #12,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 44 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kaul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kaul surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kaul 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
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 39 #31,257
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 231 #16,049
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 261 #15,314
2001 modern 244 #15,753
2002 modern 267 #15,123
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 307 #13,695
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 341 #12,958
2009 modern 364 #12,584
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 351 #12,942
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 371 #12,689
2015 modern 375 #12,470
2016 modern 359 #12,898

Geography

Back to top

Where Kauls 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 Wolverhampton, Camden, Birmingham, Redbridge and Ealing. 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 Wolverhampton 020 Wolverhampton
2 Camden 028 Camden
3 Birmingham 047 Birmingham
4 Redbridge 035 Redbridge
5 Ealing 010 Ealing

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kaul

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kaul

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Kaul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kaul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kaul is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Kaul 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kaul

The surname Kaul is of Indian origin, specifically from the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, including present-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit language and can be traced back to ancient times.

The name Kaul is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Kulina," which refers to a person of noble or distinguished lineage. It is closely associated with the Kashmiri Pandit community, a Hindu Brahmin caste from the Kashmir Valley. The Kauls were traditionally scholars, priests, and intellectuals known for their knowledge and expertise in various fields, including religion, philosophy, and astrology.

Historical records suggest that the Kaul surname was prominent in Kashmir as early as the 8th century CE. References to the Kaul family can be found in various ancient texts and manuscripts, such as the Rajatarangini, a historical chronicle of the Kashmir Valley written in the 12th century by Kalhana.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kaul was Anandavardhana Kaul, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and literary theorist who lived in the 9th century CE. He is best known for his work "Dhvanyaloka," a seminal text on the theory of poetic suggestion (dhvani).

Another notable figure was Abhinava Gupta Kaul (c. 950 - 1016 CE), a celebrated Hindu philosopher, mystic, and scholar. He made significant contributions to the fields of aesthetics, philosophy, and tantric traditions. His works, such as the Tantraloka and the Parātrīśikā-vivaraṇa, are highly regarded in Hindu thought.

In the 16th century, Jonaraja Kaul (c. 1459 - 1532 CE) was a prominent Kashmiri historian and author of the Dvitīyā Rājataraṅginī, a continuation of Kalhana's Rajatarangini, chronicling the history of Kashmir from the 13th to the 15th century.

The Kaul surname is also associated with several place names in Kashmir, such as Kaul Kadal, a historic neighborhood in Srinagar, and Kaul Brahman, a village in the Baramulla district.

Throughout history, the Kaul surname has been carried by many accomplished individuals, including writers, poets, scholars, and artists. Prominent figures include Motilal Kaul (1894 - 1990), an Indian poet and writer who contributed significantly to Kashmiri literature, and Satish Kaul (1934 - 2018), a renowned Indian painter and sculptor known for his vibrant and expressive works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kaul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kaul 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. Surrey leads with 10 Kauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.77x.

County Total Index
Surrey 10 8.77x
Middlesex 9 3.85x
Kent 5 6.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 5 Kauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.99x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 5 78.99x
Lambeth 5 24.51x
Plumstead 5 187.97x
Kensington London 4 30.75x
Paddington London 4 46.51x
Westminster St James 1 41.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Katharina 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Eliza 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Kate 1
Lina 1
Maria 1
Rosalie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Franz 2
Adam 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Fredrick 1
Geoe. 1
Henry 1
Jacob 1
Jakel 1
Karl 1
Marcus 1
Willie 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 Kaul households.

FAQ

Kaul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kaul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Kaul surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kaul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016. That gives Kaul a modern rank of #12,898.

What does the Kaul surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname derived from the Germanic element "kuoni," meaning "bold, daring."

What does the Kaul map show?

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