NameCensus.

UK surname

Sharma

A surname of Indian origin indicating the individual belongs to the Brahmin caste, traditionally associated with priests, teachers, and scholars.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Sharma surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,982, ranked #497, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharma is 12,982 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 432633.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

12,982

2016, ranked #497

Peak year

2016

12,982 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sharma had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,982 in 2016, ranked #497.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Sharma surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sharma surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sharma 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 6,735 #966
1998 modern 7,243 #936
1999 modern 7,536 #899
2000 modern 7,743 #870
2001 modern 7,682 #852
2002 modern 8,283 #805
2003 modern 8,599 #747
2004 modern 8,969 #718
2005 modern 9,436 #662
2006 modern 10,001 #621
2007 modern 10,561 #592
2008 modern 11,055 #567
2009 modern 11,649 #555
2010 modern 12,494 #531
2011 modern 12,666 #508
2012 modern 12,549 #504
2013 modern 12,846 #502
2014 modern 12,915 #505
2015 modern 12,919 #498
2016 modern 12,982 #497

Geography

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Where Sharmas 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, Hounslow 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 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Ealing 026 Ealing
3 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
4 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
5 Hounslow 013 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sharma

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

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

Sharma 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sharma

The surname SHARMA is of Indian origin, originating from the Sanskrit word 'Sharman' meaning 'shelter' or 'protection'. It is believed to have emerged around the 5th century BCE during the Vedic period in ancient India.

The name SHARMA was initially associated with the Brahmin caste, who were traditionally priests, scholars, and teachers in Hindu society. It was a title bestowed upon those who had mastered the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures, and provided spiritual guidance to the community.

The earliest known references to the name SHARMA can be found in ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions. One notable mention is in the Mahabharata, a Sanskrit epic dating back to the 8th century BCE, where several characters bear the SHARMA surname.

In the 11th century CE, the SHARMA name gained prominence with the rise of the Rajput ruler Anangpal Tomar, who established the Tomar dynasty in present-day Delhi and Haryana regions. His descendants, including the famous ruler Prithviraj Chauhan (1166-1192 CE), carried the SHARMA surname.

Over time, the SHARMA surname spread across various regions of India, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country. Some notable individuals with the SHARMA surname include:

1. Pandit Vishnu Sharma (c. 3rd century BCE), the legendary author of the ancient Sanskrit collection of fables and folktales known as the Panchatantra.

2. Aryabhata (476-550 CE), a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who contributed significantly to the field of astronomy and developed the concept of zero.

3. Acharya Shridhara (c. 8th century CE), a prominent Hindu philosopher and commentator on various Sanskrit texts, including the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita.

4. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833 CE), a Bengali Hindu Renaissance figure who played a pivotal role in the abolition of the practice of Sati (widow burning) and the revival of Hinduism.

5. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946 CE), an Indian educationist and politician who founded the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and was a prominent member of the Indian Independence Movement.

The SHARMA surname is also closely associated with various place names and localities across India, such as Sharma Nagar, Sharma Colony, and Sharma Kund, reflecting the widespread presence of individuals bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sharma families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharma 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 2 Sharmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 6.84x
Lincolnshire 1 21.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Friern Barnet in Middlesex leads with 2 Sharmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Friern Barnet 2 3333.33x
Spalding 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 2
Lillie 1

FAQ

Sharma surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sharma surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Sharma surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sharma surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,982 in 2016. That gives Sharma a modern rank of #497.

What does the Sharma surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin indicating the individual belongs to the Brahmin caste, traditionally associated with priests, teachers, and scholars.

What does the Sharma map show?

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