NameCensus.

UK surname

Pal

A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "pāla," meaning "protector," "guardian," or "keeper."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Pal surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,460, ranked #4,219, up from #32,765 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pal is 1,460 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20757.1%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

1,460

2016, ranked #4,219

Peak year

2016

1,460 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pal had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,460 in 2016, ranked #4,219.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Pal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pal 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1997 modern 655 #7,624
1998 modern 727 #7,270
1999 modern 739 #7,230
2000 modern 788 #6,857
2001 modern 763 #6,900
2002 modern 845 #6,490
2003 modern 861 #6,289
2004 modern 909 #6,051
2005 modern 956 #5,752
2006 modern 1,006 #5,540
2007 modern 1,056 #5,360
2008 modern 1,096 #5,238
2009 modern 1,184 #4,989
2010 modern 1,283 #4,753
2011 modern 1,269 #4,754
2012 modern 1,334 #4,472
2013 modern 1,385 #4,416
2014 modern 1,428 #4,328
2015 modern 1,421 #4,307
2016 modern 1,460 #4,219

Geography

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Where Pals 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 Birmingham, Ealing, Wolverhampton and Sandwell. 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 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
2 Ealing 037 Ealing
3 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
4 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
5 Sandwell 020 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pal

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

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

Pal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pal

The surname PAL is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "pala," which means "protector" or "guardian." This name was commonly used in various regions of India and was particularly prevalent among certain castes and communities.

One of the earliest known references to the surname PAL can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used to denote individuals who held positions of authority or acted as guardians of certain traditions or customs. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time period when the name began to be used as a hereditary surname.

In the 12th century, the PAL surname gained prominence during the reign of the Pala Empire, a Buddhist imperial power that ruled over parts of the Indian subcontinent. During this time, many individuals associated with the imperial court or the ruling class adopted the surname PAL, which became a symbol of prestige and power.

Throughout the centuries, the PAL surname has been carried by numerous notable individuals from various walks of life. One of the earliest recorded examples is Govindapal, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century CE. Another notable figure was Vikramaditya, a powerful king of the Pala Empire who ruled in the 11th century and was known for his patronage of arts and literature.

In the field of literature, the PAL surname has been associated with several prominent writers and poets. One such figure was Bihari Lal Pal, a renowned Hindi poet and writer who lived from 1834 to 1894 and is considered a pioneer of modern Hindi literature.

The PAL surname has also been carried by influential political figures throughout history. Bipin Chandra Pal, born in 1858 and died in 1932, was a prominent Indian nationalist and one of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai, collectively known as the "Lal Bal Pal" triumvirate.

Another notable individual with the PAL surname was Radhabinod Pal, a distinguished Indian jurist who served as a member of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East during the Tokyo War Crimes Trials after World War II. He was born in 1886 and died in 1967.

Over time, the PAL surname has spread to various parts of the world, including countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, primarily due to migration and diaspora communities. While the name has retained its Indian roots, it has also taken on new meanings and associations in different cultural contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pal 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. Lancashire leads with 3 Pals recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 5.21x
Cumberland 1 23.92x
Derbyshire 1 13.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pendleton In Salford in Lancashire leads with 3 Pals recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Pendleton In Salford 3 434.78x
Cockermouth 1 1111.11x
Mickleover 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
C. 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 Pal households.

FAQ

Pal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Pal surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,460 in 2016. That gives Pal a modern rank of #4,219.

What does the Pal surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "pāla," meaning "protector," "guardian," or "keeper."

What does the Pal map show?

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