NameCensus.

UK surname

Khan

A surname of Turkic and Mongolic origin meaning "ruler" or "leader", also used as a title for a sovereign or military leader.

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Khan surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82,773, ranked #48, up from #29,484 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khan is 82,773 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 285324.1%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

82,773

2016, ranked #48

Peak year

2016

82,773 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Khan had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 82,773 in 2016, ranked #48.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 87 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Khan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Khan 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 37,279 #129
1998 modern 40,856 #118
1999 modern 43,477 #107
2000 modern 45,671 #104
2001 modern 45,459 #103
2002 modern 51,703 #88
2003 modern 54,422 #80
2004 modern 57,559 #74
2005 modern 60,577 #70
2006 modern 64,104 #67
2007 modern 68,063 #62
2008 modern 71,026 #59
2009 modern 75,379 #55
2010 modern 80,425 #50
2011 modern 79,306 #50
2012 modern 77,593 #50
2013 modern 80,515 #49
2014 modern 81,702 #49
2015 modern 81,689 #48
2016 modern 82,773 #48

Geography

Back to top

Where Khans 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 Burnley, Bradford and Birmingham. 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 Burnley 003 Burnley
2 Bradford 042 Bradford
3 Bradford 044 Bradford
4 Bradford 039 Bradford
5 Birmingham 139 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Khan

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

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

Khan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khan

The surname KHAN has its origins in Central Asia and is derived from the Turkic and Mongolic word "Khan" which means "ruler" or "leader". This name is closely associated with the Mongol Empire and the various Khanates that emerged from it.

The KHAN surname can be traced back to the 13th century during the reign of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire. The name was initially used to denote the rulers and leaders of the Mongol tribes, and it gradually became a hereditary title passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KHAN surname appears in the writings of Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer, who traveled through the Mongol Empire in the late 13th century. He documented the names and titles of various Khans he encountered during his journey.

In the 14th century, the KHAN surname was widely used among the ruling elite of the Golden Horde, the Mongol Khanate that ruled over vast territories in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Prominent figures such as Batu Khan (c. 1205-1255), the founder of the Golden Horde, and Berke Khan (c. 1209-1266), his successor, bore this surname.

As the Mongol Empire fragmented, the KHAN surname spread across various regions, including Central Asia, Persia, and South Asia. In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire in India was founded by Babur (1483-1530), a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur (Tamerlane), who bore the KHAN surname.

Another notable figure with the KHAN surname was Nader Shah (1688-1747), the founder of the Afsharid dynasty in Persia and one of the most powerful rulers of his time. He was known for his military campaigns and the expansion of Persian territories.

In the 19th century, the KHAN surname gained prominence in the Central Asian region, particularly in areas such as modern-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Prominent Khans of this period included Kenesary Khan (1802-1847), a Kazakh warrior and leader who fought against Russian expansion, and Alim Khan (1880-1944), the last Khan of Khiva, a Khanate in modern-day Uzbekistan.

Throughout history, the KHAN surname has been associated with leadership, power, and military prowess, reflecting its roots in the Mongol Empire and the various Khanates that emerged from it. While the surname has spread across different regions and cultures, its significance and prestige remain deeply rooted in Central Asian history and traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Khan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Khan 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 9 Khans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 2.49x
Royal Navy 8 186.05x
Essex 6 8.42x
Cheshire 5 6.28x
Lancashire 4 0.93x
Sussex 2 3.29x
Aberdeenshire 1 2.99x
Berkshire 1 3.69x
Surrey 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 6 Khans recorded in 1881 and an index of 454.55x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 6 454.55x
Kensington London 6 29.91x
Birkenhead 5 78.74x
Toxteth Park 4 27.59x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 16.00x
Brighton 1 8.15x
Broadwater 1 71.43x
Islington London 1 2.86x
Mile End Old Town London 1 13.02x
Old Windsor 1 322.58x
St George In East London 1 29.50x
Wandsworth 1 28.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Drusilla 1
Helene 1
Lila 1
Malcom 1
Sultan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 1
Alliff 1
Ameer 1
Amur 1
Chumou 1
Curreen 1
Galaup 1
George 1
Golanp 1
Hamid 1
Jall 1
Jeb 1
Juban 1
Lev.S. 1
Malcom 1
Mikayl 1
Mirza 1
Rahaman 1
Sabju 1
Treydown 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 Khan households.

FAQ

Khan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Khan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Khan surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Khan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 82,773 in 2016. That gives Khan a modern rank of #48.

What does the Khan surname mean?

A surname of Turkic and Mongolic origin meaning "ruler" or "leader", also used as a title for a sovereign or military leader.

What does the Khan map show?

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