NameCensus.

UK surname

Khaira

A surname originating from India, derived from the word "khaira" meaning prosperity or success.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khaira is 720 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

676

2016, ranked #7,937

Peak year

2011

720 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 676 in 2016, ranked #7,937.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Khaira surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khaira surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khaira 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 439 #10,264
1998 modern 460 #10,232
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 559 #8,861
2003 modern 564 #8,679
2004 modern 570 #8,643
2005 modern 579 #8,482
2006 modern 590 #8,387
2007 modern 633 #8,038
2008 modern 663 #7,792
2009 modern 672 #7,886
2010 modern 711 #7,692
2011 modern 720 #7,530
2012 modern 669 #7,886
2013 modern 687 #7,855
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 683 #7,869
2016 modern 676 #7,937

Geography

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Where Khairas 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 Ealing, Birmingham, Medway, Test Valley and Kelvindale. 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 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Birmingham 073 Birmingham
3 Medway 006 Medway
4 Test Valley 014 Test Valley
5 Kelvindale Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khaira

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

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

Khaira 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khaira

The surname KHAIRA is of Indian origin, specifically from the Punjab region of northern India and eastern Pakistan. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Khadira," which means "acacia tree" or "catechu tree." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with people who lived near or worked with these trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the KHAIRA surname can be traced back to the 16th century in various administrative records and historical documents from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent during that time. Some variations in spelling included Khera, Kheyra, and Khaire.

One notable historical figure bearing the KHAIRA surname was Bhai Mani Singh Khaira (1644-1734), a prominent Sikh scholar and theologian who played a crucial role in the compilation and preservation of the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. He is revered for his contributions to the Sikh faith and his unwavering dedication to preserving the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.

Another significant figure was Sardar Harbans Singh Khaira (1905-1983), an Indian politician and member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution. He served as a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and was actively involved in the Indian independence movement.

In the field of literature, Jaswant Singh Khaira (1924-2022) was a renowned Punjabi poet and writer. He was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri, for his contributions to Punjabi literature.

Historically, the KHAIRA surname has also been associated with certain place names in the Punjab region. For example, the village of Khaira in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, India, is believed to have been named after the KHAIRA community that resided there.

Another notable figure was Gurnam Singh Khaira (1931-2020), an Indian agricultural scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University. He made significant contributions to the field of plant breeding and played a crucial role in the Green Revolution, which helped improve food security in India.

While the KHAIRA surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Punjab region and its rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khaira surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khaira surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 676 in 2016. That gives Khaira a modern rank of #7,937.

What does the Khaira surname mean?

A surname originating from India, derived from the word "khaira" meaning prosperity or success.

What does the Khaira map show?

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