NameCensus.

UK surname

Pash

A surname derived from the Alb. word 'pash' meaning leader or chieftain.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Pash surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 228, ranked #17,936, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Cheltenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Caerphilly and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pash is 302 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.2%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

228

2016, ranked #17,936

Peak year

1901

302 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pash had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016, ranked #17,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 302 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pash surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pash surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pash 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 233 #13,392
1901 historical 302 #11,592
1911 historical 224 #13,914
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 241 #16,146
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 222 #16,942
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 237 #17,235
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 228 #17,936

Geography

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Where Pashs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Cheltenham, St Mary Islington and Pentrich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Caerphilly, Birmingham, Rhondda Cynon Taf and 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Pentrich Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 003 South Somerset
2 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
3 Birmingham 126 Birmingham
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 028 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Hillingdon 005 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pash

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pash

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Pash surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pash household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pash is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pash is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pash falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pash is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pash

The surname PASH is believed to have originated in the region of Rajasthan, India, during the 16th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "pashya," which means "to see" or "to observe." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were skilled observers or watchmen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PASH can be found in the Rajput chronicles of the late 16th century, where a warrior named Pratap Singh PASH is mentioned for his bravery in defending the Mewar kingdom against the Mughal forces. This historical reference indicates that the name had already gained prominence in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the PASH surname began to spread beyond Rajasthan, with several families migrating to other parts of India, such as Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. This diaspora contributed to the diversification of the name and its associated occupations, as some PASH families took up roles in agriculture, trade, and administrative services.

One notable figure from this era was Govind PASH, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in the city of Agra during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. His literary works, which included poems and treatises on Hindu philosophy, are still studied and revered today.

As the British colonial rule expanded in India during the 18th and 19th centuries, the PASH surname gained further recognition. Colonel Ratan Singh PASH, who served in the British Indian Army during the late 19th century, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his valor in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

In the 20th century, the PASH name continued to produce notable individuals across various fields. Govind Ballabh PASH, an acclaimed lawyer and politician from Uttar Pradesh, played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement and served as the Chief Minister of his state in the 1950s.

Another prominent figure was Dr. Sushila PASH, a pioneering medical professional who established one of the first hospitals dedicated to women's healthcare in Delhi. Her contributions to improving maternal and child health in India were widely recognized, and she received several honors, including the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pash families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pash 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. Gloucestershire leads with 43 Pashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.02x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 43 11.02x
Surrey 43 4.44x
Middlesex 32 1.61x
Essex 16 4.07x
Devon 14 3.38x
Suffolk 9 3.71x
Derbyshire 8 2.57x
Hampshire 8 1.96x
Lincolnshire 7 2.20x
Kent 5 0.74x
Sussex 5 1.49x
Oxfordshire 4 3.26x
Carmarthenshire 3 3.58x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 19 Pashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.10x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 19 63.10x
Islington London 12 6.22x
Battersea 10 13.66x
Stanstead 9 3461.54x
Croydon 8 14.86x
Penge 8 62.94x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 25.07x
Ripley 8 207.79x
Bow London 6 23.69x
Hammersmith London 6 12.24x
Lambeth 6 3.46x
Low Leyton 6 1714.29x
Painswick 6 217.39x
Basingstoke 5 106.61x
Fairford 5 480.77x
Hove 5 33.97x
West Ham 5 5.77x
Bermondsey 4 6.75x
Corringham 4 784.31x
Exeter St Paul 4 487.80x
Hailey 4 465.12x
Newington 4 5.44x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 8.17x
Llandilo Fawr 3 80.21x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 3 810.81x
Bisley 2 56.50x
Chelmsford 2 29.67x
Cirencester 2 37.88x
Hawkhurst 2 94.79x
Holdenhurst 2 18.69x
Horfield 2 50.89x
Kensington London 2 1.81x
Plumstead 2 8.84x
Rotherhithe 2 8.14x
Willesden 2 10.66x
Charlton Kings 1 37.04x
Chigwell 1 26.95x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.13x
Colchester St Mary At 1 71.94x
Devonport 1 21.01x
Dorsington 1 1666.67x
Dovercourt 1 72.46x
Enfield 1 7.66x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 40.00x
Grantham 1 24.10x
Great Rissington 1 357.14x
Greenwich 1 3.16x
Kempsford 1 175.44x
Liverpool 1 0.70x
Llandaff 1 8.67x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.44x
Richmond 1 7.36x
Sixhills 1 833.33x
South Willingham 1 434.78x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.90x
St Anne Soho London 1 8.80x
St Pancras London 1 0.62x
Worsley 1 6.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Eliza 8
Ann 6
Annie 6
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 5
Sarah 4
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Adeline 1
Adlaide 1
Alice 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Louie 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margrette 1
Matilda 1
Namonia 1
Olive 1
Rebbeca 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
Charles 10
John 9
Thomas 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Daniel 3
George 3
James 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Birtie 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredick 1
Geo 1
Manfred 1
Oliver 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Simon 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Pash surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pash surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Pash surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pash surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016. That gives Pash a modern rank of #17,936.

What does the Pash surname mean?

A surname derived from the Alb. word 'pash' meaning leader or chieftain.

What does the Pash map show?

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