NameCensus.

UK surname

Nish

An occupational surname derived from the Sanskrit word "nishita" meaning "night watchman".

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Nish surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, down from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mochrum, Sorbie and Tongland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer South, Summerville and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nish is 256 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

2013

256 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nish had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 249 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nish 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 249 #12,813
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 218 #17,159
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 220 #17,033
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 232 #16,795
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 252 #16,701
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 244 #16,793
2013 modern 256 #16,506
2014 modern 251 #16,865
2015 modern 248 #16,905
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Nishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mochrum, Sorbie, Tongland, Govan Combination and Old Luce. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer South, Summerville, Hinckley and Bosworth, Locharbriggs and Stranraer East. 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 Mochrum Wigtown
2 Sorbie Wigtown
3 Tongland Kirkcudbright
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Old Luce Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer South Dumfries and Galloway
2 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 008 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Locharbriggs Dumfries and Galloway
5 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nish

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Nish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Nish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nish is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nish is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nish 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 Nish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nish

The surname NISH has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "nisha," meaning "night" or "darkness." This surname was initially adopted by families residing in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the areas now known as Punjab and Haryana.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NISH can be found in the Akbar Nama, a historical chronicle written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). In this manuscript, a nobleman named Nish Khan is mentioned as a trusted advisor to the emperor. This reference provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the 16th century.

The NISH surname has also been associated with several notable historical figures. Rai Nish Chand (1670-1743) was a renowned poet and writer from the Mughal era, whose works have significantly contributed to the literary heritage of the Indian subcontinent. Another notable bearer of this surname was Nish Narayan (1790-1858), a prominent social reformer and educator who played a crucial role in the establishment of modern education systems in the region.

In the 19th century, the NISH surname gained further recognition with the birth of Nish Ratan (1825-1892), a celebrated scholar and linguist. His contributions to the study of ancient Indian languages and literature have been widely acclaimed. Additionally, Nish Anand (1860-1935) was a pioneering entrepreneur who established successful businesses in various industries, including textiles and agriculture.

It is worth mentioning that the surname NISH has also been linked to several place names in the Indian subcontinent. For instance, the town of Nishat Bagh in Kashmir is believed to have derived its name from the NISH surname, reflecting the influence and presence of families bearing this surname in the region.

Throughout history, the NISH surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from scholars and writers to entrepreneurs and social reformers. While the surname may have evolved and taken on different spellings over time, its roots can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nish 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. Wigtownshire leads with 47 Nishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.56x.

County Total Index
Wigtownshire 47 180.56x
Kirkcudbrightshire 44 155.04x
Lanarkshire 35 5.52x
Lancashire 15 0.64x
Middlesex 11 0.56x
Perthshire 11 12.50x
Ayrshire 10 6.82x
Stirlingshire 8 11.06x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.89x
Cheshire 3 0.69x
Argyllshire 2 3.66x
Dunbartonshire 2 3.80x
Kent 2 0.30x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.55x
East Lothian 1 3.85x
Fife 1 0.86x
Surrey 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Luce in Wigtownshire leads with 17 Nishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1036.59x.

Place Total Index
Old Luce 17 1036.59x
Urr 17 460.70x
Glasgow 16 14.21x
Mochrum 14 903.23x
Girthon 10 1052.63x
Inch 10 393.70x
Barony 8 4.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 21.65x
Campsie 7 176.32x
Muthill 7 608.70x
Cadder 6 128.21x
Kirkpatrick Durham 6 681.82x
Tarbolton 6 248.96x
Tongland 6 1071.43x
Bow London 5 20.03x
Nottingham St Mary 5 7.32x
Barrow In Furness 4 12.64x
Govan 4 2.55x
Kilspindie 4 851.06x
St George In East 4 29.99x
Ballantrae 3 309.28x
Kirkinner 3 277.78x
Monks Coppenhall 3 18.37x
Campbeltown 2 30.40x
Hulme 2 4.12x
Kelton 2 85.84x
New Kilpatrick 2 39.92x
Woolwich 2 8.09x
Anwoth 1 204.08x
Bothwell 1 5.82x
Crossmichael 1 111.11x
Dunfermline 1 5.60x
Great Crosby 1 15.77x
Ham 1 232.56x
Hampstead London 1 3.28x
Heaton 1 47.85x
Humbie 1 163.93x
Keig 1 192.31x
Larbert 1 23.15x
Leswalt 1 56.18x
Manningham 1 4.18x
Old Cumnock 1 30.58x
Parton 1 208.33x
Sorbie 1 87.72x
St George Hanover 1 3.91x
Whithorn 1 50.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Agnes 2
Ada 1
Alma 1
Ann 1
Auguste 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hanna 1
Harriet 1
Johanna 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
James 1
Loncauntin 1
Robert 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 Nish households.

FAQ

Nish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Nish surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Nish a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Nish surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Sanskrit word "nishita" meaning "night watchman".

What does the Nish map show?

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