NameCensus.

UK surname

Khanum

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "lady" or "noblewoman".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khanum is 1,271 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,226

2016, ranked #4,861

Peak year

2011

1,271 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,226 in 2016, ranked #4,861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Khanum surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khanum surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khanum 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 673 #7,465
1998 modern 746 #7,135
1999 modern 773 #6,977
2000 modern 860 #6,392
2001 modern 847 #6,354
2002 modern 931 #6,029
2003 modern 967 #5,750
2004 modern 1,012 #5,544
2005 modern 1,044 #5,357
2006 modern 1,107 #5,113
2007 modern 1,171 #4,914
2008 modern 1,197 #4,851
2009 modern 1,219 #4,875
2010 modern 1,260 #4,844
2011 modern 1,271 #4,746
2012 modern 1,201 #4,911
2013 modern 1,241 #4,851
2014 modern 1,233 #4,897
2015 modern 1,226 #4,877
2016 modern 1,226 #4,861

Geography

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Where Khanums 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 Rochdale, Birmingham, Oldham and Tower Hamlets. 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 Rochdale 008 Rochdale
2 Birmingham 070 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
4 Oldham 016 Oldham
5 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khanum

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

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

Khanum 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khanum

The surname KHANUM has its origins in the Persian language and culture. It is derived from the Persian word "khanum" which means "lady" or "woman" and was often used as a title of respect for women of noble or affluent backgrounds.

This surname can be traced back to the medieval period in Persia, which is now modern-day Iran. It was commonly used among the aristocratic and elite classes of Persian society, particularly within the royal court and among members of the ruling dynasties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KHANUM can be found in the writings and chronicles of the 13th century Persian poet and historian, Jami. He mentioned several prominent women bearing this surname, who were influential figures in the courts of the Ilkhanid and Timurid dynasties.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the KHANUM surname gained further prominence and was associated with several notable women in Persian history. Mahin Banu Khanum (1528-1578) was a renowned poet and calligrapher who was praised for her literary works and artistic skills. Tahmasb Khanum (1590-1654) was a powerful and influential figure in the Safavid court, known for her political acumen and support of the arts.

In the 19th century, Fath Ali Shah Qajar (1772-1834), the second shah of the Qajar dynasty, had several wives and concubines who bore the KHANUM surname, reflecting their elevated status within the royal harem.

Beyond Persia, the KHANUM surname also found its way into the neighboring regions of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where Persian cultural influences were strong. Gulbahar Khanum (1766-1835) was a prominent Uzbek poetess and calligrapher from the Khanate of Khiva, renowned for her literary works and artistic talents.

While the surname KHANUM has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has also been adopted by other ethnic groups and communities over time, particularly in regions with historical Persian influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khanum surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khanum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,226 in 2016. That gives Khanum a modern rank of #4,861.

What does the Khanum surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "lady" or "noblewoman".

What does the Khanum map show?

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