NameCensus.

UK surname

Khela

A surname of Indian origin, potentially derived from the word "khel" meaning play or game.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Khela is 408 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

395

2016, ranked #11,991

Peak year

2011

408 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 395 in 2016, ranked #11,991.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Khela surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Khela surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Khela 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 252 #15,193
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 278 #14,705
2000 modern 287 #14,345
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 308 #13,587
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 310 #13,518
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 356 #12,437
2008 modern 371 #12,155
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 407 #11,824
2011 modern 408 #11,681
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 394 #12,064
2014 modern 393 #12,168
2015 modern 391 #12,113
2016 modern 395 #11,991

Geography

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Where Khelas 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 Walsall, Sandwell, Birmingham, Kirklees and Warwick. 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 Walsall 035 Walsall
2 Sandwell 020 Sandwell
3 Birmingham 133 Birmingham
4 Kirklees 027 Kirklees
5 Warwick 010 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Khela

These lists show first names that appear often with the Khela surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Khela

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

Khela 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

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

Meaning and origin of Khela

The surname Khela is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is thought to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, which was widely spoken in ancient India. The name "Khela" is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Khela," which means "to play" or "to engage in a game."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Khela can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The book mentions a person named Khela Chand, who served as a high-ranking official in the Mughal court.

During the medieval period, the Khela surname was particularly prevalent in the region of Punjab, which was a hub of trade and cultural exchange. It is possible that the name became associated with individuals who were involved in various forms of entertainment, such as storytelling or performing arts.

In the 18th century, a notable person bearing the surname Khela was Khela Singh, a Sikh warrior and military leader who played a significant role in the battles against the Afghan invaders. He was born in 1725 and died in 1783.

Another prominent figure with the Khela surname was Khela Ram, a 19th-century Indian scholar and writer. He was born in 1836 and is known for his contributions to the field of Sanskrit literature and philosophy.

In the early 20th century, Khela Nath Kunzru, born in 1884, was a renowned Indian politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution.

The surname Khela has also been associated with various place names in India. For instance, the village of Khela in the state of Uttar Pradesh is believed to have been named after individuals bearing this surname who settled in the area.

Throughout its history, the Khela surname has been found in various spellings and variations, such as Khella, Khelaa, and Khela, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences present in different regions of India.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Khela surname: questions and answers

How common is the Khela surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 395 in 2016. That gives Khela a modern rank of #11,991.

What does the Khela surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, potentially derived from the word "khel" meaning play or game.

What does the Khela map show?

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