NameCensus.

UK surname

Popal

A surname of Central Asian origin, possibly derived from an occupational term related to farming or agriculture.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Popal surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Popal is 140 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4500.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2015

140 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Popal had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Popal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Popal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Popal 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 15 #36,409
1998 modern 15 #36,457
1999 modern 11 #36,917
2000 modern 9 #37,119
2001 modern 10 #36,852
2002 modern 20 #35,894
2003 modern 30 #35,046
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 52 #33,619
2006 modern 65 #32,743
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Popals 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, Ealing, Harrow 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Islington 009 Islington
3 Ealing 006 Ealing
4 Harrow 010 Harrow
5 Hillingdon 019 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Popal

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Popal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Popal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Popal is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Popal 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

Popal 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 Popal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Popal

The surname POPAL is believed to have originated from Afghanistan, where it is a common surname among the Pashtun ethnic group. The name is derived from the Pashto word "Popal," which means a type of tall grass or reeds that grow abundantly in the region.

Historically, surnames in Afghanistan often had their roots in occupations, physical characteristics, or geographical locations. In this case, POPAL likely referred to people who lived in areas where this particular type of grass or reed was prevalent, or perhaps those who worked with it in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname POPAL date back to the 16th century, when it appears in various manuscripts and official records from the region. One notable example is the mention of a certain Malik Popal Khan, who was a prominent tribal leader in the Kandahar region during the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, a village called Popal Khel, located in the eastern part of Afghanistan, was named after a family or clan bearing the POPAL surname. This village still exists today and is home to many people with the same surname.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname POPAL have achieved significant recognition and status. One such person was Abdul Salam Popal (1902-1984), an Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to various nations, including the United States and the Soviet Union.

Another notable figure was Mohammed Hashim Popal (1929-2011), an Afghan journalist and writer who played a crucial role in the development of Afghan literature and media. He was a prolific author and was also the founder of the first Afghan news agency, Bakhtar News Agency.

In the realm of sports, Noor Ahmad Popal (born 1984) is a former Afghan cricketer who represented the Afghan national team in various international tournaments. He was part of the squad that helped Afghanistan gain One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) status.

Additionally, Masood Popal (born 1968) is an Afghan-American businessman and entrepreneur who has been involved in various ventures, including the establishment of the first private television network in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime.

The surname POPAL continues to be widely used in Afghanistan, as well as among the Afghan diaspora around the world. While its origins can be traced back to the Pashtun community, the name has transcended ethnic boundaries and is now found among various ethnic groups within the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Popal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Popal 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. Cornwall leads with 3 Popals recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.63x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 3 90.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Austell in Cornwall leads with 3 Popals recorded in 1881 and an index of 2727.27x.

Place Total Index
St Austell 3 2727.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Laura 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Stephen 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 Popal households.

Occupation Count
Errand Boy 1

FAQ

Popal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Popal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Popal surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Popal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Popal a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Popal surname mean?

A surname of Central Asian origin, possibly derived from an occupational term related to farming or agriculture.

What does the Popal map show?

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