NameCensus.

UK surname

Pa

A Chinese surname originating from the word "pa", meaning to cultivate or farm.

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Pa surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pa is 106 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 341.7%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

2016

106 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pa had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pa 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
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1998 modern 1 #38,814
1999 modern 3 #38,318
2000 modern 6 #37,624
2001 modern 4 #37,862
2003 modern 2 #38,424
2004 modern 2 #38,464
2005 modern 2 #38,532
2006 modern 3 #38,334
2007 modern 3 #38,372
2008 modern 4 #38,216
2009 modern 4 #38,287
2010 modern 13 #37,215
2011 modern 21 #36,502
2012 modern 40 #35,369
2013 modern 44 #35,222
2014 modern 58 #34,500
2015 modern 70 #33,717
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Pas 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 Hillingdon. 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 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pa

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Pa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pa is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Pa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pa

The surname Pa has its origins in South Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "pā," which means "protector" or "guardian." This surname is primarily found among various communities in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, Pa was often used as a title or honorific for individuals who held positions of responsibility or authority, such as chieftains, village elders, or protectors of the community. Over time, this title evolved into a hereditary surname, indicating the lineage and background of the bearers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pa can be traced back to the 12th century CE, when the Pa dynasty ruled over parts of present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in northern India. During this period, several inscriptions and historical records mention individuals bearing the Pa surname, indicating their connections to the ruling family or their roles as local administrators.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Todar Mal Pa served as the finance minister and one of the nine jewels (navratnas) in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Todar Mal Pa was born in 1519 and is renowned for his contributions to the revenue system and administrative reforms during Akbar's reign.

Another notable individual with the Pa surname was Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857-1930), a prominent Indian revolutionary and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He founded the India House in London, which served as a hub for Indian nationalists and was instrumental in promoting the cause of Indian freedom.

In the realm of literature, Govardhanram Tripathi Pa (1855-1907) was a renowned Hindi poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Hindi literature and made significant contributions to the development of the Khari Boli dialect.

The Pa surname is also found among various communities in Bangladesh, such as the Brahmins, Kayasthas, and Vaidyas. In Pakistan, it is primarily associated with certain Muslim communities, such as the Pathans and Punjabis, who have historical connections to the Indian subcontinent.

While the Pa surname has its roots in South Asia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the majority of individuals bearing this surname can trace their ancestral lineage back to the Indian subcontinent and the cultural and historical significance associated with it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pa 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. Surrey leads with 2 Pas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.57x.

County Total Index
Surrey 2 10.57x
Derbyshire 1 16.45x
Middlesex 1 2.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 2 Pas recorded in 1881 and an index of 139.86x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 2 139.86x
Fulham London 1 178.57x
Mickleover 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
S. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Walter 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 Pa households.

FAQ

Pa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Pa surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Pa a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Pa surname mean?

A Chinese surname originating from the word "pa", meaning to cultivate or farm.

What does the Pa map show?

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