NameCensus.

UK surname

Mughal

A surname denoting descendants of the Muslim rulers of India from 1526 to 1858.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mughal is 2,479 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,420

2016, ranked #2,719

Peak year

2010

2,479 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,420 in 2016, ranked #2,719.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Mughal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mughal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mughal 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 1,159 #4,859
1998 modern 1,241 #4,745
1999 modern 1,314 #4,560
2000 modern 1,356 #4,414
2001 modern 1,352 #4,324
2002 modern 1,567 #3,932
2003 modern 1,602 #3,760
2004 modern 1,774 #3,440
2005 modern 1,850 #3,284
2006 modern 1,946 #3,167
2007 modern 2,074 #3,016
2008 modern 2,167 #2,921
2009 modern 2,326 #2,803
2010 modern 2,479 #2,719
2011 modern 2,453 #2,715
2012 modern 2,356 #2,757
2013 modern 2,434 #2,726
2014 modern 2,406 #2,760
2015 modern 2,417 #2,734
2016 modern 2,420 #2,719

Geography

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Where Mughals 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 Waltham Forest, Bradford, Leeds, Birmingham and Slough. 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 Waltham Forest 016 Waltham Forest
2 Bradford 025 Bradford
3 Leeds 048 Leeds
4 Birmingham 140 Birmingham
5 Slough 004 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mughal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mughal

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

Mughal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mughal

The surname Mughal is derived from the Persian word "Mughaliyat", which means "belonging to the Mongols". This name originated in the Indian subcontinent and was first used by the Mughal Empire, a Muslim dynasty that ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century.

The Mughal Empire was founded in 1526 by Babur, a descendant of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan and the Turkic conqueror Timur (Tamerlane). The Mughals were known for their architectural achievements, including the Taj Mahal, and their patronage of the arts and literature.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mughal can be found in the Akbarnama, a historical chronicle of the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605). This work, written by Akbar's court historian Abul Fazl, mentions several individuals with the surname Mughal who served in the imperial administration.

During the Mughal period, the name Mughal was associated with the ruling elite and was often given to members of the imperial family or those closely associated with the court. Some notable individuals with the surname Mughal include:

1. Bairam Khan Mughal (c. 1501-1561), a military general and regent who served as the guardian and chief mentor to the young emperor Akbar. 2. Mirza Aziz Koka Mughal (c. 1542-1624), a noble and foster-brother of Akbar who served as the governor of several provinces. 3. Nur Jahan Mughal (1577-1645), the wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir and one of the most powerful and influential women in the Mughal Empire. 4. Bahadur Shah I Mughal (1643-1712), the seventh Mughal emperor who ruled from 1707 to 1712. 5. Jahandar Shah Mughal (1661-1713), the tenth Mughal emperor who reigned for a brief period in 1712-1713.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, the surname Mughal continued to be used by individuals associated with the former ruling dynasty, as well as by those who claimed descent from the Mughals or were connected to the region historically ruled by the empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mughal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mughal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,420 in 2016. That gives Mughal a modern rank of #2,719.

What does the Mughal surname mean?

A surname denoting descendants of the Muslim rulers of India from 1526 to 1858.

What does the Mughal map show?

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