NameCensus.

UK surname

Sahota

A surname of Punjabi origin indicating a caste or village name.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sahota is 3,664 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

3,539

2016, ranked #1,916

Peak year

2011

3,664 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,539 in 2016, ranked #1,916.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Sahota surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sahota surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sahota 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
1997 modern 2,266 #2,740
1998 modern 2,424 #2,680
1999 modern 2,507 #2,631
2000 modern 2,611 #2,513
2001 modern 2,599 #2,486
2002 modern 2,811 #2,381
2003 modern 2,902 #2,265
2004 modern 3,000 #2,189
2005 modern 3,095 #2,086
2006 modern 3,164 #2,057
2007 modern 3,220 #2,048
2008 modern 3,333 #2,005
2009 modern 3,469 #1,961
2010 modern 3,659 #1,906
2011 modern 3,664 #1,873
2012 modern 3,531 #1,906
2013 modern 3,615 #1,896
2014 modern 3,619 #1,898
2015 modern 3,571 #1,910
2016 modern 3,539 #1,916

Geography

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Where Sahotas 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 Ealing, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry. 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 Ealing 026 Ealing
2 Ealing 037 Ealing
3 Wolverhampton 030 Wolverhampton
4 Birmingham 133 Birmingham
5 Coventry 005 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sahota

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Sahota surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Sahota household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Sahota 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

Sahota 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sahota

The surname Sahota originated from the Indian subcontinent, with its roots traced back to the Punjab region. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "sahaya," which means "helper" or "companion." The name likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames became more prevalent in the region.

One of the earliest known references to the Sahota name can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This historical record mentions individuals with the surname Sahota serving in various capacities within the imperial administration.

The Sahota surname has also been associated with certain village or town names in the Punjab region, such as Sahota Kalan and Sahota Khurd. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

Prominent historical figures bearing the Sahota surname include Bhai Sahota, a revered Sikh warrior who lived during the 17th century and participated in numerous battles against the Mughal forces. Another notable individual was Bhai Mani Singh Sahota (1644-1734), a renowned Sikh scholar and scribe who played a crucial role in compiling and preserving the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of Sikhism.

In the 19th century, Sardar Sham Singh Sahota (1822-1887) was a prominent figure in the Sikh Empire, serving as a general under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in various campaigns against the British forces.

During the early 20th century, Sardar Bahadur Sir Sundar Singh Sahota (1872-1942) was a distinguished politician and philanthropist. He served as a member of the Legislative Council of Punjab and was widely respected for his contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

Over the centuries, the Sahota surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including warriors, scholars, politicians, and community leaders, reflecting the diverse historical background and significance of this name in the Punjab region and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sahota surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sahota surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,539 in 2016. That gives Sahota a modern rank of #1,916.

What does the Sahota surname mean?

A surname of Punjabi origin indicating a caste or village name.

What does the Sahota map show?

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