NameCensus.

UK surname

Shakil

An Arabic surname meaning handsome or beautiful.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shakil is 319 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

2016

319 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Shakil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shakil surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shakil 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 171 #19,953
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 212 #17,612
2007 modern 237 #16,571
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 305 #14,561
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 312 #14,332
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 313 #14,313
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Shakils 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 Oldham, Bradford, Luton and Redbridge. 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 Oldham 035 Oldham
2 Bradford 037 Bradford
3 Luton 010 Luton
4 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
5 Redbridge 034 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shakil

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shakil

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Shakil 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

Shakil 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

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

Meaning and origin of Shakil

The surname SHAKIL originated in the Indian subcontinent, likely derived from the Arabic word "shakil" meaning "beautiful" or "handsome." It is believed to have first emerged as a descriptive name during the medieval period, when Arabic influence was strong in parts of South Asia due to Muslim cultural and linguistic exchanges.

The name can be traced back to various regions of the Indian subcontinent, including present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Its earliest recorded instances are found in historical records and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly in areas that were under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname SHAKIL was Amir Shakil Khan, a prominent military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. Another notable figure was the 17th-century Sufi poet and scholar, Shakil Ahmad Bijapuri, whose works were widely celebrated in the Deccan region.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence through the exploits of Shakil Khan, a distinguished general in the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad. His military prowess and leadership during battles against the Marathas earned him great respect and recognition.

During the 19th century, the name continued to be widely used, particularly among Muslim communities in the subcontinent. One notable individual was Shakil Ahmad Khan, a renowned educationist and social reformer who played a significant role in the establishment of modern educational institutions in British India.

As the Indian subcontinent underwent political and social changes in the 20th century, the surname SHAKIL became more widespread, spanning various regions and communities. One prominent figure was Shakil Badayuni, a celebrated Urdu poet and writer, who was born in 1916 and made significant contributions to the literary landscape of South Asia.

Throughout its history, the surname SHAKIL has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, poets, military leaders, and social reformers, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Shakil surname: questions and answers

How common is the Shakil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Shakil a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Shakil surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning handsome or beautiful.

What does the Shakil map show?

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