NameCensus.

UK surname

Pak

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 朴, meaning "simple, unadorned, or genuine."

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Pak surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, Redbridge and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pak is 122 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1255.6%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2016

122 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pak had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pak 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 9 #32,416
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 35 #34,174
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 40 #33,967
2000 modern 42 #33,791
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 45 #33,712
2003 modern 49 #33,456
2004 modern 51 #33,478
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 59 #33,330
2007 modern 62 #33,346
2008 modern 60 #33,743
2009 modern 60 #33,989
2010 modern 77 #32,927
2011 modern 75 #33,071
2012 modern 88 #32,064
2013 modern 93 #31,785
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Paks 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 Windsor and Maidenhead, Redbridge, Enfield, Lewisham and Sutton. 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 Windsor and Maidenhead 004 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 Redbridge 013 Redbridge
3 Enfield 012 Enfield
4 Lewisham 024 Lewisham
5 Sutton 008 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pak, 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 Pak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pak 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Pak is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pak 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

Pak falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pak 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Pak

The surname "Pak" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, the word "pak" means "to cook" or "to mature," suggesting that the name may have been associated with professions related to cooking or agriculture in its early history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Pak" can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document from the Mughal Empire. This text mentions a village called "Pakpattan" in present-day Pakistan, which may have been named after an individual with the surname "Pak."

During the medieval period, the "Pak" surname was particularly prevalent in the Punjab region, which spans parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. The name appeared in various historical documents, including land records and local chronicles, indicating its widespread use among certain communities in this area.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname "Pak" was Haji Pak Muhammad, a prominent Muslim scholar and religious leader from Multan, Pakistan. He was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts in promoting education and social reform.

Another notable individual with the "Pak" surname was Munshi Pak Chand, a 19th-century Indian writer and poet from Uttar Pradesh. He was renowned for his literary works in the Urdu and Braj Bhasha languages, and his poetry often explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary.

In the 20th century, one of the most influential figures with the "Pak" surname was Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Born in 1876 in Karachi, Jinnah played a pivotal role in the independence movement of British India and became the first Governor-General of the newly formed nation of Pakistan in 1947.

Another notable individual with the "Pak" surname was Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah, a Pakistani writer, diplomat, and political figure. Born in 1915 in Calcutta, she was actively involved in the Pakistani independence movement and later served as Pakistan's ambassador to several countries, including Morocco and Spain.

The surname "Pak" has also been associated with various place names in South Asia, such as Pakpattan in Pakistan and Pakur in India. These place names may have derived from individuals with the "Pak" surname who settled in those areas or played significant roles in their history.

While the surname "Pak" has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of South Asia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pak 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. Kent leads with 8 Paks recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.76x.

County Total Index
Kent 8 26.76x
Devon 1 5.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hoo St Mary in Kent leads with 8 Paks recorded in 1881 and an index of 80000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hoo St Mary 8 80000.00x
Ashburton 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Eliza 1
Grace 1
Sarah 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Moses 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 Pak households.

FAQ

Pak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Pak surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Pak a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Pak surname mean?

A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 朴, meaning "simple, unadorned, or genuine."

What does the Pak map show?

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