NameCensus.

UK surname

Sher

A Persian and Jewish occupational surname referring to a lion or a brave, courageous person.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Sher surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 508, ranked #9,877, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pollokshields West, Newham and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sher is 508 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4133.3%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

508

2016, ranked #9,877

Peak year

2014

508 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sher had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 508 in 2016, ranked #9,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sher 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 43 #28,581
1997 modern 307 #13,328
1998 modern 328 #13,100
1999 modern 338 #12,922
2000 modern 359 #12,333
2001 modern 354 #12,274
2002 modern 402 #11,405
2003 modern 427 #10,720
2004 modern 414 #11,005
2005 modern 414 #10,899
2006 modern 428 #10,659
2007 modern 451 #10,318
2008 modern 462 #10,223
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 499 #10,078
2011 modern 499 #9,965
2012 modern 487 #10,061
2013 modern 504 #9,966
2014 modern 508 #9,972
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 508 #9,877

Geography

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Where Shers 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 Pollokshields West, Newham, Birmingham, Maxwell Park and Barnet. 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 Pollokshields West Glasgow City
2 Newham 008 Newham
3 Birmingham 051 Birmingham
4 Maxwell Park Glasgow City
5 Barnet 033 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sher

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

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

Sher 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

Sher falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sher 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Sher

The surname SHER is believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) during the medieval period. It is derived from the Persian word "shir," which means "lion." This association with strength and courage suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon a person of great bravery or a warrior.

In the 13th century, records show the name SHER appearing in Persian manuscripts and chronicles, often referring to individuals of high social status or military leaders. One notable example is Amir Khusrau Sher, a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived from 1253 to 1325.

As the Persian Empire expanded, the name SHER spread to other regions, including Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In India, the name gained prominence during the Mughal era, particularly among the ruling class and nobility. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan ruler who established the Sur Empire and reigned from 1540 to 1545.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SHER surname appeared in various historical documents and records across the Middle East and South Asia. In Turkey, for instance, the name Sher Ali was recorded in Ottoman archives from the late 16th century.

The SHER surname also found its way to Europe through trade and cultural exchange. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals with the name SHER in England, possibly immigrants or descendants of Persian or Indian merchants.

Some notable individuals with the surname SHER throughout history include:

1. Amir Khusrau Sher (1253-1325), Persian poet and scholar. 2. Sher Shah Suri (1486-1545), Afghan ruler and founder of the Sur Empire. 3. Sher Ali Khan (1825-1879), Emir of Afghanistan from 1863 to 1879. 4. Sher Bahadur Deuba (born 1946), Nepali politician and former Prime Minister. 5. Sher Singh Rana (1889-1967), Indian civil servant and diplomat.

The surname SHER has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Shir, Shyr, and Shyr, reflecting regional linguistic differences and influences. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as Sher Khan Bandar, a town in Pakistan named after the 16th-century Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sher 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 8 Shers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 7.46x
Essex 1 4.73x
Hertfordshire 1 13.53x
Sussex 1 5.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Shers recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.00x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 8 77.00x
Great Hormead 1 5000.00x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 256.41x
West Ham 1 21.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriett 2
Edith 1
Maude 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Arthur 1
Henry 1
Micheal 1
Timothy 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 Sher households.

FAQ

Sher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Sher surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 508 in 2016. That gives Sher a modern rank of #9,877.

What does the Sher surname mean?

A Persian and Jewish occupational surname referring to a lion or a brave, courageous person.

What does the Sher map show?

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