NameCensus.

UK surname

Shad

A surname derived from the Persian word for "joy" or "happiness."

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Shad surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, up from #29,646 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shad is 324 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 932.1%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2011

324 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shad had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 99 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Shad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shad 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 25 #31,259
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 244 #15,861
2004 modern 266 #15,075
2005 modern 265 #15,048
2006 modern 266 #15,076
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 294 #14,327
2009 modern 304 #14,287
2010 modern 323 #14,005
2011 modern 324 #13,839
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 288 #15,190
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Shads 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 Cardiff, Bradford, Ealing, Oldham and Rotherham. 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 Cardiff 019 Cardiff
2 Bradford 049 Bradford
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Oldham 035 Oldham
5 Rotherham 014 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shad

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Shad 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

Shad 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

Shad falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shad 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Shad

The surname SHAD is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known references dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "sceadwian," which means "to separate" or "to divide," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a boundary marker or a land surveyor.

One of the earliest records of the SHAD surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient document mentions a person named Shad residing in the county of Gloucestershire.

During the Middle Ages, the SHAD name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire in southwestern England. Some variations of the surname included Shad, Shadd, Shadde, and Shadde, reflecting the evolution of spelling over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Shad was recorded as a landowner in the village of Stapleford, Wiltshire. Another early bearer of the name was John Shad, who was born in Somerset around 1450 and served as a member of the English Parliament.

The SHAD surname also has connections to various place names in England. For example, the village of Shadwell in London is thought to have derived its name from the Old English words "sceadu" (meaning "shade") and "well" (meaning "a spring or stream"), suggesting a possible link to the SHAD surname.

In the 16th century, Sir John Shad (c. 1500-1568) was a prominent English merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of Shad's Grammar School in Taunton, Somerset. Another notable figure was John Shad (1592-1666), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex.

In the 18th century, William Shad (1728-1808) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles and achieved the rank of Rear Admiral.

While the SHAD surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its earliest recorded instances and most significant historical connections remain deeply rooted in the counties of southwestern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shad 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. Middlesex leads with 16 Shads recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 16 6.57x
Aberdeenshire 3 13.30x
Lancashire 3 1.04x
Surrey 2 1.68x
Yorkshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 10 Shads recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.34x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 10 42.34x
St Pancras London 5 25.50x
Thornton In Fylde 3 476.19x
Aberdour 1 555.56x
Cairney 1 769.23x
Holbeck 1 62.50x
Inverurie 1 384.62x
Lambeth 1 4.71x
Paddington London 1 11.16x
Richmond 1 60.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Flora 1
Harriet 1
Judith 1
Mabel 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

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 Shad households.

FAQ

Shad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Shad surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Shad a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Shad surname mean?

A surname derived from the Persian word for "joy" or "happiness."

What does the Shad map show?

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