NameCensus.

UK surname

Sohal

A surname of Indian origin referring to someone from the village of Sohal or its surrounding area.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sohal is 1,758 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,704

2016, ranked #3,661

Peak year

2010

1,758 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,704 in 2016, ranked #3,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sohal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sohal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sohal 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 1,138 #4,931
1998 modern 1,224 #4,803
1999 modern 1,271 #4,694
2000 modern 1,302 #4,570
2001 modern 1,300 #4,481
2002 modern 1,414 #4,261
2003 modern 1,438 #4,133
2004 modern 1,489 #4,031
2005 modern 1,515 #3,926
2006 modern 1,569 #3,796
2007 modern 1,642 #3,688
2008 modern 1,646 #3,706
2009 modern 1,699 #3,671
2010 modern 1,758 #3,636
2011 modern 1,758 #3,592
2012 modern 1,702 #3,643
2013 modern 1,732 #3,642
2014 modern 1,716 #3,689
2015 modern 1,702 #3,680
2016 modern 1,704 #3,661

Geography

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Where Sohals 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 Birmingham, Slough and Ealing. 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 Birmingham 133 Birmingham
2 Slough 005 Slough
3 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Slough 011 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sohal

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

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

Sohal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sohal

The surname Sohal originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the Punjab region of northern India and eastern Pakistan. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "sohala," which means "red-colored" or "reddish-brown." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone with a reddish or tanned complexion.

The earliest known record of the Sohal surname dates back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts from the Mughal Empire. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Sohail" or "Sohel," reflecting the phonetic variations common in the region.

One notable historical reference to the Sohal name can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century document written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This comprehensive work recorded the administrative and fiscal details of Akbar's empire and included several individuals bearing the Sohal surname.

In the 18th century, the Sohal surname gained prominence in the Sikh Empire, which ruled over the Punjab region. Several Sikh warriors and military leaders carried this name, including Sardar Jassa Singh Sohal (1718-1805), who played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Another notable figure from this period was Bhai Taru Singh Sohal (1720-1745), a Sikh religious scholar and martyr who sacrificed his life for his beliefs during the persecution of Sikhs by the Mughal rulers.

During the British Raj in India, the Sohal surname continued to be prevalent among Punjabi communities. One prominent individual was Sir Chhotu Ram Sohal (1881-1945), a distinguished politician and social reformer who advocated for the rights of peasants and worked towards the upliftment of rural communities in the Punjab region.

In more recent times, the Sohal name has been associated with several accomplished individuals across various fields. This includes Inderjit Singh Sohal (1924-2006), a renowned Sikh theologian and author who made significant contributions to the study of Sikhism and its scriptures.

It is important to note that the Sohal surname has also been subject to variations and spellings over time, with forms such as "Sohail," "Sohel," and "Sohayl" being used interchangeably in different regions and contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sohal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sohal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,704 in 2016. That gives Sohal a modern rank of #3,661.

What does the Sohal surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin referring to someone from the village of Sohal or its surrounding area.

What does the Sohal map show?

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