UK surname

Shala

A variant spelling of an Albanian surname indicating someone from the village of Shala.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Barnet and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shala is 280 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

280

2016, ranked #15,491

Peak year

2016

280 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016, ranked #15,491.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Shala surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shala surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Shala 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	2	#34,135
1891	historical	3	#34,257
1911	historical	1	#34,332
1997	modern	4	#38,094
1998	modern	4	#38,082
1999	modern	11	#36,917
2000	modern	19	#36,007
2001	modern	19	#35,866
2002	modern	38	#34,307
2003	modern	47	#33,619
2004	modern	69	#31,784
2005	modern	96	#28,671
2006	modern	129	#24,165
2007	modern	152	#22,022
2008	modern	157	#21,766
2009	modern	187	#19,868
2010	modern	199	#19,515
2011	modern	200	#19,280
2012	modern	221	#17,979
2013	modern	255	#16,551
2014	modern	261	#16,421
2015	modern	265	#16,139
2016	modern	280	#15,491

Geography

Where Shalas 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 Southend-on-Sea, Barnet, Camden, Hackney and Thurrock. 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	Southend-on-Sea 005	Southend-on-Sea
2	Barnet 035	Barnet
3	Camden 012	Camden
4	Hackney 022	Hackney
5	Thurrock 017	Thurrock

Forenames

First names often paired with Shala

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Avni Fatima Suzana Aiza Hamdi Leonora Albana Maria Mihaela Rama

Recent male names

Arben Besnik Agron Robert Adnan Bekim Julian Loris Shaban Ahmet

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Shala

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Shala surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Shala household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shala is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shala 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shala 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shala 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Shala

The surname SHALA is believed to have its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of what is now Pakistan and India. It is thought to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name SHALA is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "shala," which means "house," "dwelling," or "abode." This suggests that the surname may have been originally associated with a particular family or clan that resided in a specific area or settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the name SHALA can be found in the Mughal Empire's administrative records from the 16th century. These records mention individuals with the surname SHALA holding positions within the imperial bureaucracy or serving as local officials in various regions.

In the 17th century, there are accounts of a prominent SHALA family residing in the city of Lahore, which was a major cultural and intellectual center during the Mughal era. This family is said to have produced several scholars and poets who contributed to the literary and artistic traditions of the time.

An important figure bearing the surname SHALA was Malik Shala ud-Din (1292-1344), a distinguished military leader and statesman who served under the Delhi Sultanate. He is renowned for his successful campaigns against invading Mongol forces and his efforts to strengthen the defenses of the Delhi Sultanate's territories.

Another notable individual with the SHALA surname was Shala Khan (1648-1718), a Mughal-era poet and writer who authored several works in Persian and Urdu. He was celebrated for his mastery of language and his contributions to the development of Urdu literature.

In the 18th century, the SHALA surname can be found in records from the region of Punjab, where it is associated with landowners and influential families. One such individual was Shala Singh (1720-1784), a prominent landowner and community leader who played a significant role in local affairs.

During the British colonial period in India, the SHALA surname continued to be present among various communities and regions. One notable figure was Shala Nath (1856-1932), a respected scholar and educator who contributed to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian knowledge systems.

Overall, the surname SHALA has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural and social fabric of the Indian subcontinent. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been associated with influential families, scholars, poets, and community leaders throughout its long and storied past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Shala surname: questions and answers

How common is the Shala surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016. That gives Shala a modern rank of #15,491.

What does the Shala surname mean?