NameCensus.

UK surname

Shaul

A surname derived from the Hebrew name "Saul" or "Shaul", meaning "asked for" or "prayed for".

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Shaul surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 178, ranked #21,160, up from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rudham, East and Gorleston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, North Norfolk and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shaul is 185 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.3%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

2012

185 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shaul had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Shaul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shaul surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shaul 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 143 #18,920
1901 historical 139 #18,876
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 182 #19,215
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 162 #21,115
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 178 #21,160

Geography

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Where Shauls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rudham, East, Gorleston, Penrith and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, North Norfolk, Plymouth, Cheshire East and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Rudham, East Norfolk
3 Gorleston Suffolk
4 Penrith Cumberland
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
2 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
3 Plymouth 021 Plymouth
4 Cheshire East 015 Cheshire East
5 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shaul

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shaul

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Shaul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Shaul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Shaul is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shaul is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shaul falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shaul is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shaul

The surname "SHAUL" has its origins in the Hebrew language and can be traced back to ancient times in the Middle East. It is believed to have derived from the Hebrew word "sha'ul," which means "asked" or "requested." The name was likely first given as a descriptive name to someone who was known for asking questions or making requests frequently.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SHAUL" can be found in the biblical Book of Samuel, where it refers to Saul, the first king of Israel, who reigned around 1020 BCE. This suggests that the name has been in use for over three thousand years.

During the Middle Ages, the surname "SHAUL" was found in various Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in areas with significant Sephardic Jewish populations, such as Spain and Portugal. It is possible that the name was brought to these regions by Jewish migrants from the Middle East.

In the 16th century, there are records of individuals with the surname "SHAUL" in the Netherlands, where it was likely introduced by Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal. One notable bearer of this name was Menasseh Ben Israel (1604-1657), a influential rabbi, writer, and scholar who played a crucial role in the readmission of Jews to England.

The surname "SHAUL" also appears in historical records from the 17th and 18th centuries in various parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in areas with significant Ashkenazi Jewish populations, such as Poland and Russia. This suggests that the name may have been adopted by Ashkenazi Jews as well.

Other notable individuals with the surname "SHAUL" include:

1. Avraham Shaul (1914-1976), an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset. 2. Menachem Shaoul (1915-1981), an Israeli composer and conductor. 3. Shlomo Shaul (1921-2014), an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset. 4. Yitzhak Shaul (1922-2005), an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset. 5. Shaul Ladany (born 1936), an Israeli marathon runner and survivor of the Holocaust.

While the surname "SHAUL" has its roots in the Hebrew language and Jewish culture, it has been adopted by individuals of various backgrounds and ethnicities over the centuries, particularly in regions with significant Jewish populations or influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shaul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shaul 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. Suffolk leads with 18 Shauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.20x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 18 20.20x
Middlesex 14 1.91x
Cumberland 9 14.29x
Norfolk 8 7.11x
Surrey 7 1.96x
Somerset 5 4.25x
Wiltshire 5 7.73x
Sussex 4 3.24x
Durham 3 1.38x
Essex 2 1.39x

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 16 Shauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 707.96x.

Place Total Index
Gorleston 16 707.96x
Penrith 9 386.27x
Camberwell 6 12.84x
Melksham 5 446.43x
Spitalfields London 5 90.91x
St George Hanover 5 52.36x
East Rudham 4 2000.00x
St Pancras London 4 6.79x
Westbourne 4 655.74x
Walcot 3 47.85x
Dagenham 2 232.56x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 59.17x
Westoe 2 16.21x
Weston 2 219.78x
Helhoughton 1 1250.00x
Ipswich St Peter 1 83.33x
Lowestoft 1 23.75x
South Lynn 1 78.74x
Stranton 1 13.64x
Sutton 1 38.76x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 6
Edward 5
Benjamin 4
David 3
James 3
William 3
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Arthur 1
Bengamin 1
Charles 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
John 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Shaul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shaul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Shaul surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shaul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Shaul a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Shaul surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew name "Saul" or "Shaul", meaning "asked for" or "prayed for".

What does the Shaul map show?

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