NameCensus.

UK surname

Raval

A locational surname referring to someone from Raval, an area in Spain.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Raval surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 840, ranked #6,645, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Hammersmith and Fulham and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raval is 874 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41900.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

840

2016, ranked #6,645

Peak year

2010

874 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raval had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 840 in 2016, ranked #6,645.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Raval surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raval surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raval 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 2 #33,721
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 636 #7,798
1998 modern 660 #7,816
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 664 #7,808
2001 modern 671 #7,607
2002 modern 718 #7,363
2003 modern 725 #7,183
2004 modern 743 #7,080
2005 modern 742 #7,020
2006 modern 751 #6,983
2007 modern 785 #6,799
2008 modern 804 #6,716
2009 modern 830 #6,688
2010 modern 874 #6,549
2011 modern 868 #6,508
2012 modern 812 #6,758
2013 modern 850 #6,632
2014 modern 851 #6,649
2015 modern 836 #6,689
2016 modern 840 #6,645

Geography

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Where Ravals 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 Leicester, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow and Barnet. 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 Leicester 006 Leicester
2 Leicester 010 Leicester
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Harrow 002 Harrow
5 Barnet 004 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raval

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raval

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Raval, 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 Raval surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Raval 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, Raval 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

Raval 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

Raval falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raval 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 Raval, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Raval

The surname RAVAL is believed to have originated in India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'raval' which means 'a chief' or 'a ruler'. The name is thought to have first appeared in the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it was used to denote a person of high social status or authority.

In the medieval period, the name RAVAL was associated with the ruling classes and aristocracy of the Indian subcontinent. It is found in several historical records and manuscripts from that era, often indicating individuals who held positions of power or influence.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name RAVAL can be traced back to the 12th century, when a nobleman named Raval Khengar was a prominent figure in the court of the Chalukya dynasty in Gujarat. Another notable individual was Raval Harpaldev, a 13th-century ruler of the Jethwa clan in Saurashtra.

Over the centuries, the RAVAL name has spread across various parts of India and has been adopted by people from different communities and castes. Some prominent individuals with this surname include Vithaldas RAVAL, a renowned poet and scholar from Gujarat who lived in the 17th century, and Mahadev Govind RAVAL, a social reformer and educator from Maharashtra in the late 19th century.

In more recent times, the name RAVAL has been associated with several influential figures. For instance, Babubhai RAVAL was a prominent freedom fighter and social worker from Gujarat, who played an active role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century. Satyajit RAVAL, born in 1926, was a celebrated Indian filmmaker known for his critically acclaimed works that explored the complexities of human relationships.

Another notable individual with the RAVAL surname was Ghanshyam RAVAL, a renowned industrialist and philanthropist from Gujarat. He founded the Raval Group of Companies, one of the largest business conglomerates in India, and was also involved in various charitable and social welfare initiatives.

While the RAVAL name has its roots in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural associations of this surname remain deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent, reflecting its rich heritage and diverse cultural tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raval families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raval 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 1 Ravals recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.46x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 1 26.46x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol in Gloucestershire leads with 1 Ravals recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Bristol 1 0.00x
St Pancras London 1 64.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
P. 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 Raval households.

Occupation Count
Cook 1
Washing 1

FAQ

Raval surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raval surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Raval surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raval surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 840 in 2016. That gives Raval a modern rank of #6,645.

What does the Raval surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Raval, an area in Spain.

What does the Raval map show?

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