NameCensus.

UK surname

Sula

A Turkish surname meaning "water."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham, Swansea and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sula is 174 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2016

174 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sula surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sula surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sula 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 9 #37,214
1998 modern 15 #36,457
1999 modern 19 #36,041
2000 modern 19 #36,007
2001 modern 19 #35,866
2002 modern 31 #34,866
2003 modern 44 #33,875
2004 modern 49 #33,647
2005 modern 55 #33,349
2006 modern 71 #32,147
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Sulas 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 Barking and Dagenham, Swansea, Brent, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. 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 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
2 Swansea 007 Swansea
3 Brent 013 Brent
4 Redbridge 019 Redbridge
5 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sula

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Sula surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sula household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sula is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sula 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

Sula falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sula 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sula

The surname SULA has its origins in the Middle Ages, originating from the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Slavic word "sulla," which means "salt" or "salty." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals involved in the production or trade of salt.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SULA dates back to the late 13th century in the Polish town of Sulisławice, which is thought to be named after a person bearing the name Suła or Sułek. In the 14th century, the SULA surname appeared in various documents in the region of Silesia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia.

In the 15th century, the SULA surname gained prominence in the Polish city of Kraków, where several members of the SULA family held prominent positions in the local government and trade guilds. One notable figure was Jan SULA (c. 1420-1491), a successful merchant and city councilor in Kraków.

As the SULA surname spread across Eastern Europe, it also appeared in various forms and spellings, such as Sulla, Suła, and Sullo, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region. In the 16th century, the SULA surname was found in the records of the Duchy of Prussia, which was then a vassal state of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the 17th century, the SULA name gained recognition in the Russian Empire, where it was often associated with individuals of Polish or Ukrainian descent. One notable figure was Andrei SULA (1634-1692), a Ukrainian-born military leader who served in the Russian army and participated in several campaigns against the Ottoman Empire.

Another prominent individual bearing the SULA surname was Ignacy SULA (1786-1857), a Polish poet and writer who lived during the Romantic era. His works, which included poems and plays, often explored themes of patriotism and national identity.

In the 19th century, the SULA surname continued to spread across Eastern Europe, with individuals bearing the name found in various regions of the Russian Empire, as well as in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. One notable figure from this period was Józef SULA (1825-1899), a Polish architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Lviv, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As the 20th century dawned, the SULA surname was well-established across Eastern Europe, with notable individuals bearing the name found in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. One such figure was Tadeusz SULA (1929-2005), a Polish writer and journalist who chronicled life in communist-era Poland through his novels and essays.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sula surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sula surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Sula a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Sula surname mean?

A Turkish surname meaning "water."

What does the Sula map show?

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