NameCensus.

UK surname

Arunachalam

A Tamil surname derived from the name of the Hindu deity Arunachaleswara.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arunachalam is 103 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2015

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Arunachalam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arunachalam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arunachalam 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
1997 modern 22 #35,584
1998 modern 27 #35,148
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 45 #33,712
2003 modern 36 #34,522
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 50 #33,784
2006 modern 58 #33,433
2007 modern 69 #32,662
2008 modern 74 #32,460
2009 modern 84 #31,842
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Arunachalams 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 Hillingdon, Newham, Redbridge, Croydon and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Hillingdon 016 Hillingdon
2 Newham 010 Newham
3 Redbridge 015 Redbridge
4 Croydon 019 Croydon
5 Kensington and Chelsea 003 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arunachalam

These lists show first names that appear often with the Arunachalam surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

Vijay Jason Sundar Sudhakar Subramaniam Babu Srikanth Anand Arul James

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arunachalam

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Arunachalam 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

Arunachalam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Arunachalam

The surname "ARUNACHALAM" is of Tamil origin, derived from the Indian subcontinent. The name can be traced back to the 8th century CE, when it was primarily found in the regions of modern-day Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

The name "ARUNACHALAM" is composed of two Tamil words: "Arunai" meaning "reddish-brown" or "sun-like" and "Achalam" meaning "hill" or "mountain." Therefore, the name likely originated as a reference to a reddish-brown hill or mountain, possibly a significant geographical feature in the region where the name first arose.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 9th century Tamil literary work, the "Silappadikaram," which mentions an individual named "Arunachalam." This suggests that the name was in use among the Tamil people during that time period.

In the 12th century, the renowned Tamil philosopher and spiritual leader, Arunachala Ramananuja (1017-1137), bore a variation of the name. He was a prominent figure in the Sri Vaishnava tradition and is credited with reviving and propagating the teachings of the Tamil saint-poet, Nammalvar.

Another notable individual with this surname was Arunachalam Mudaliar (1825-1899), a prominent Indian lawyer, judge, and social reformer. He played a significant role in the establishment of educational institutions and the promotion of women's rights in Tamil Nadu during the 19th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name "ARUNACHALAM" was also associated with the Arunachaleswara Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. This ancient temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, and is considered a significant pilgrimage site for devotees.

Other historical figures bearing the surname "ARUNACHALAM" include Arunachalam Sivasubramania Iyer (1884-1975), a renowned Indian lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and Arunachalam Srinivasan (1891-1968), a pioneering Indian cinematographer and filmmaker.

Throughout its history, the surname "ARUNACHALAM" has been associated with various places and geographical features in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, where it originated and has a strong cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Arunachalam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Arunachalam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Arunachalam a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Arunachalam surname mean?

A Tamil surname derived from the name of the Hindu deity Arunachaleswara.

What does the Arunachalam map show?

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