NameCensus.

UK surname

Khanam

A feminine title of respect among Muslims.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Luton and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khanam is 1,609 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,598

2016, ranked #3,884

Peak year

2015

1,609 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,598 in 2016, ranked #3,884.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Khanam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khanam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Khanam 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 923 #5,853
1998 modern 988 #5,724
1999 modern 1,030 #5,581
2000 modern 1,104 #5,252
2001 modern 1,070 #5,286
2002 modern 1,140 #5,127
2003 modern 1,176 #4,888
2004 modern 1,221 #4,743
2005 modern 1,260 #4,559
2006 modern 1,315 #4,406
2007 modern 1,397 #4,237
2008 modern 1,465 #4,102
2009 modern 1,497 #4,128
2010 modern 1,541 #4,106
2011 modern 1,551 #4,028
2012 modern 1,523 #4,023
2013 modern 1,579 #3,959
2014 modern 1,604 #3,931
2015 modern 1,609 #3,887
2016 modern 1,598 #3,884

Geography

Back to top

Where Khanams 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 Tower Hamlets, Luton, Newham and Oldham. 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 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
2 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
3 Luton 017 Luton
4 Newham 008 Newham
5 Oldham 016 Oldham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Khanam

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Khanam is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Khanam 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

Khanam falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Khanam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Khanam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Khanam

The surname KHANAM is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the 16th century in Iran. It is derived from the Persian word "Khan," which means a ruler, chief, or nobleman, and the feminine suffix "am," indicating a woman's title or honorific. The name was initially associated with women from noble or aristocratic families who held positions of authority or influence.

KHANAM gained prominence during the reign of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia, particularly under Shah Abbas I (1571-1629), who bestowed the title on women from prominent families. Some historical references suggest that the name was also used by women who held positions in the royal court or were close to the ruling elite.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname KHANAM can be found in the "Tarikh-e Alam Ara-ye Abbasi," a historical chronicle written by Iskandar Beg Munshi in the early 17th century. The book mentions several women with the title KHANAM, including Mahin Banu Khanam, a noblewoman and the sister of Shah Abbas I's wife.

In the 18th century, the surname KHANAM was also associated with the Qajar Dynasty in Persia. Fath Ali Shah Qajar (1772-1834), who ruled from 1797 to 1834, had several wives and concubines with the title KHANAM, such as Mahd-e Ulya Khanam and Zahra Khanam.

During the 19th century, the name KHANAM spread beyond the borders of Persia and was adopted by noble families in neighboring regions, including parts of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure from this era was Khadija Khanam (1846-1924), an Indian poet and historian who wrote extensively about the Mughal Empire.

In the early 20th century, Gawhar Khanam (1899-1982) was a prominent Afghan princess and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Afghanistan to several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

Another notable bearer of the surname KHANAM was Roqeya Khanam (1880-1932), an Indian Muslim writer and social reformer who advocated for women's education and fought against practices like polygamy and child marriage.

While the surname KHANAM is still used in parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and South Asia, it has also been adopted by families in other regions due to migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khanam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khanam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,598 in 2016. That gives Khanam a modern rank of #3,884.

What does the Khanam surname mean?

A feminine title of respect among Muslims.

What does the Khanam map show?

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