NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheth

A Gujarati occupational surname referring to a merchant, banker, or moneylender.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Blackburn with Darwen and Preston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheth is 885 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

2011

885 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Sheth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheth surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheth 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
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 477 #9,652
1998 modern 521 #9,296
1999 modern 542 #9,079
2000 modern 579 #8,611
2001 modern 571 #8,575
2002 modern 610 #8,362
2003 modern 642 #7,895
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 725 #7,131
2006 modern 741 #7,052
2007 modern 773 #6,887
2008 modern 796 #6,775
2009 modern 834 #6,663
2010 modern 883 #6,496
2011 modern 885 #6,403
2012 modern 838 #6,600
2013 modern 880 #6,462
2014 modern 861 #6,604
2015 modern 864 #6,517
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

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Where Sheths 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 Harrow, Blackburn with Darwen, Preston and Brent. 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 Harrow 033 Harrow
2 Harrow 017 Harrow
3 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Preston 016 Preston
5 Brent 019 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheth

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

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

Sheth 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

Sheth 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 Sheth 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sheth

The surname SHETH is of Indian origin, specifically from the Gujarat region of western India. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "shreshtha," which means "prosperous" or "eminent." It was initially used as a title or honorific for wealthy merchants and traders from the Sheth community in Gujarat.

The SHETH surname is closely associated with the Sheth caste, which emerged from the Bania or Vaishya community, traditionally involved in trade and commerce. In medieval times, the Sheths played a prominent role in the Indian Ocean maritime trade and established successful business ventures across the region.

One of the earliest recorded references to the SHETH surname can be found in the chronicles of the Sultanate of Gujarat, which ruled over the region from the 15th to the 16th century. These records mention influential Sheth merchants who were part of the court and advisors to the sultans.

Notable individuals with the SHETH surname include Narottam Sheth (1901-1986), an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Narottam Morarjee Group. Another prominent figure was Pranlal Sheth (1898-1963), a renowned Gujarati author and poet who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of Gujarat.

Jagmohandas Sheth (1925-2021) was a prominent marketing scholar and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, known for his contributions to the field of marketing theory and consumer behavior.

In the realm of sports, Dhiren Sheth (born 1967) is a former Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Gujarat and represented India in one Test match in 1990.

Raman Sheth (born 1962) is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist of Gujarati descent, known for his success in the real estate and hospitality industries, as well as his charitable work in the UK and India.

The SHETH surname has also been associated with various place names in Gujarat, such as Sheth Vanikpar and Sheth Vadar, which were once thriving centers of trade and commerce during the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sheth surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sheth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Sheth a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Sheth surname mean?

A Gujarati occupational surname referring to a merchant, banker, or moneylender.

What does the Sheth map show?

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