NameCensus.

UK surname

Sham

A surname indicating a person involved in deceit or falsehood.

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Sham surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 320, ranked #14,096, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Ealing and Fareham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sham is 332 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2361.5%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

320

2016, ranked #14,096

Peak year

2013

332 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sham had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016, ranked #14,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 247 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Sham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sham 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 247 #9,977
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 187 #18,708
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 229 #16,684
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 257 #15,606
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 318 #14,136
2011 modern 318 #14,023
2012 modern 327 #13,654
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 320 #14,096

Geography

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Where Shams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Manchester, Liverpool, Leigh and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Ealing, Fareham, Westminster and Ceredigion. 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 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 009 Pendle
2 Ealing 001 Ealing
3 Fareham 011 Fareham
4 Westminster 016 Westminster
5 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sham

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

Sham 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

Sham falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Sham

The surname Sham has its origins in northern India, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "shrama," which means "labor" or "toil," suggesting that the name may have been associated with manual workers or those involved in physically demanding occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sham can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions individuals bearing the name Sham, indicating its presence in the region during that period.

In the 17th century, the name Sham appears in various historical records from the Punjab region of northern India. It is documented in land ownership records and census documents, suggesting that families with this surname held significant status and influence within their communities.

During the 18th century, the surname Sham spread beyond its original regional boundaries as individuals migrated to other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Notable individuals bearing this name include Sham Singh (1723-1789), a renowned Sikh warrior and commander who played a crucial role in the resistance against the Afghan invasions of the Punjab.

As the British East India Company established its presence in India, the name Sham was recorded in colonial records and administrative documents. One such example is Sham Lal (1820-1887), a prominent Indian educator and social reformer who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of practices like sati (widow burning).

In the 20th century, individuals with the surname Sham continued to make significant contributions across various fields. Sham Nath Sharma (1908-1990) was a distinguished Indian diplomat and served as the Indian Ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union. Another notable figure was Sham Lal (1905-1975), a renowned Indian mathematician and statistician who made significant contributions to the field of statistical analysis.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Sham include Sham Sundar (1931-2007), a celebrated Indian classical vocalist and Padma Bhushan awardee, and Sham Lal Kakkar (1945-present), a renowned Indian actor and director who has worked extensively in both film and television.

While the origins of the surname Sham can be traced back to northern India, its presence has spread across the globe due to migration and diaspora communities. However, detailed historical records and accounts from more recent times are scarce, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive account of the name's evolution and distribution in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sham 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. Lancashire leads with 4 Shams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4 2.88x
Staffordshire 2 5.07x
Suffolk 2 14.05x
Yorkshire 2 1.73x
Perthshire 1 19.08x
Surrey 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gorleston in Suffolk leads with 2 Shams recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

Place Total Index
Gorleston 2 555.56x
Kirkdale 2 85.84x
North Meols 2 147.06x
Shareshill Hilton 2 10000.00x
Bradford 1 35.71x
Perth East Church 1 204.08x
Rotherhithe 1 69.44x
Scarborough 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 2
Christine 1
Elizabeth 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Erik 1
John 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 Sham households.

FAQ

Sham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Sham surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 320 in 2016. That gives Sham a modern rank of #14,096.

What does the Sham surname mean?

A surname indicating a person involved in deceit or falsehood.

What does the Sham map show?

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