NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheik

A surname of Arabic origin meaning an elder of a tribe or family.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Sheik surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheik is 155 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7000.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2010

155 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheik had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sheik surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheik surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheik 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 42 #33,459
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 58 #32,268
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 44 #33,490
2002 modern 54 #32,927
2003 modern 59 #32,530
2004 modern 78 #30,919
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Sheiks 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 Huntingdonshire and Leicester. 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 Huntingdonshire 019 Huntingdonshire
2 Huntingdonshire 018 Huntingdonshire
3 Huntingdonshire 017 Huntingdonshire
4 Leicester 017 Leicester
5 Leicester 022 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheik

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

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

Sheik 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

Sheik 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 Sheik is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Sheik, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sheik

The surname "SHEIK" is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "Shaykh" which means "elder" or "leader". This name is closely associated with the Arab world and is believed to have first appeared in the Middle Eastern region during the early centuries of the Islamic civilization.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "SHEIK" can be traced back to the 7th century, when it was used to refer to the tribal leaders and revered elders in the Arabian Peninsula. The name gained prominence during the rise of Islam, as it became a title of respect for religious leaders and scholars.

One of the earliest known references to the name "SHEIK" can be found in the works of famous Muslim historians like Al-Tabari (838-923 CE) and Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 CE), who chronicled the lives and achievements of influential sheiks and their tribes.

As the Islamic empires expanded, the name "SHEIK" spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe, particularly in areas that were once under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. In some regions, the name evolved into different spellings and variations, such as "Sheikh" or "Cheikh".

Historically, several notable figures have carried the surname "SHEIK". One of the most famous was Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi (1564-1624), a renowned Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic from the Indian subcontinent, who played a significant role in the revival of Islamic spirituality during the Mughal era.

Another prominent figure was Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948-2022), the former President of the United Arab Emirates, who ruled the country from 2004 until his death. He was a key figure in the modernization and development of the UAE.

In Lebanon, the Shehab family, also known as the Shihab dynasty, was a prominent noble family that ruled parts of Lebanon and Syria from the 16th to the 18th century. One of the most notable members of this family was Emir Bashir Shihab II (1767-1850), who was the prominent ruler of Mount Lebanon during the early 19th century.

In the literary world, the Egyptian writer and poet Ahmed Shawqi (1868-1932), who was often referred to as the "Prince of Poets" and is considered one of the most celebrated literary figures in the Arabic language, carried the surname "Sheik".

Another notable figure with the surname "SHEIK" was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), the founder and first President of the United Arab Emirates. He played a crucial role in the unification of the seven emirates and the development of the country's infrastructure and economy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sheik families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheik 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. Berkshire leads with 2 Sheiks recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.93x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 2 137.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hungerford in Berkshire leads with 2 Sheiks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hungerford 2 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
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 Sheik households.

Occupation Count
Farm Laborer 1

FAQ

Sheik surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheik surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Sheik surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheik surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Sheik a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Sheik surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning an elder of a tribe or family.

What does the Sheik map show?

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