NameCensus.

UK surname

Khalil

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "close companion."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khalil is 2,126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,126

2016, ranked #3,039

Peak year

2016

2,126 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,126 in 2016, ranked #3,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Khalil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khalil surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khalil 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 832 #6,342
1998 modern 884 #6,253
1999 modern 948 #5,955
2000 modern 979 #5,796
2001 modern 975 #5,692
2002 modern 1,161 #5,053
2003 modern 1,201 #4,804
2004 modern 1,288 #4,520
2005 modern 1,381 #4,236
2006 modern 1,492 #3,981
2007 modern 1,583 #3,801
2008 modern 1,683 #3,630
2009 modern 1,808 #3,492
2010 modern 1,968 #3,316
2011 modern 1,956 #3,296
2012 modern 1,949 #3,250
2013 modern 2,011 #3,221
2014 modern 2,089 #3,142
2015 modern 2,086 #3,112
2016 modern 2,126 #3,039

Geography

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Where Khalils 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 Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester and Luton. 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 Bradford 033 Bradford
2 Birmingham 140 Birmingham
3 Manchester 008 Manchester
4 Luton 015 Luton
5 Birmingham 051 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khalil

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Khalil 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

Khalil 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khalil

The surname Khalil has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "khalil" which means "friend" or "beloved". The name first emerged in the Middle East, particularly in the regions that make up modern-day Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

Khalil is believed to have been used as a surname as early as the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by those who had a close friendship or relationship with the Prophet Muhammad or his companions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Khalil can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab historian and scholar, Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 AD). In his work, the Muqaddimah, he mentions a person named Abu Bakr Khalil al-Qurtubi, who was a prominent scholar and judge from Cordoba, Spain.

The name Khalil also appears in various manuscripts and historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 AD), which ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Iran to North Africa. One notable figure was the poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Maari (973-1057 AD), whose full name was Abu al-Ala Ahmad ibn Abdallah al-Tanukhi al-Maari al-Khalil.

In the 12th century, a prominent Islamic scholar and philosopher, Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes (1126-1198 AD), was born in Cordoba, Spain. His full name was Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd al-Khalil.

Another significant figure bearing the surname Khalil was the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Al-Ashraf Khalil (1263-1293 AD). He ruled during a period of political turmoil and is known for his military campaigns against the Crusaders and the Mongols.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign (1299-1923 AD), the surname Khalil was relatively common among the Arabic-speaking populations within its territories. One notable individual was the Ottoman scholar and historian, Mustafa Naima Khalil (1655-1716 AD), who wrote a comprehensive history of the Ottoman Empire.

While the surname Khalil has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, it can be found among Arab communities in Europe, North America, and other regions, carrying with it a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khalil surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khalil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,126 in 2016. That gives Khalil a modern rank of #3,039.

What does the Khalil surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "close companion."

What does the Khalil map show?

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