NameCensus.

UK surname

Barua

A surname of Arabic origin meaning letter or document.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barua is 230 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2016

230 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Barua surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barua surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barua 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 5 #33,418
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 151 #21,818
2007 modern 182 #19,618
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Baruas 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 Tower Hamlets, Newham, Wycombe, Bassetlaw and Hounslow. 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 Tower Hamlets 008 Tower Hamlets
2 Newham 010 Newham
3 Wycombe 015 Wycombe
4 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
5 Hounslow 016 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barua

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

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

Barua 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

Barua falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barua is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Barua

The surname BARUA is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the region of Bengal. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "varua," which means "scribe" or "writer." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in professions related to writing or record-keeping.

The BARUA surname can be traced back to the medieval period in Bengal, which was a prominent center of learning and culture during that time. Some historical references suggest that the name was associated with the educated class and those who worked as scribes or secretaries in the courts of kings and noblemen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BARUA surname can be found in a manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a scribe named Govinda BARUA who was employed in the court of a local ruler. Another notable figure from this period is Mahendra BARUA, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 14th century and whose works are still studied today.

During the Mughal period in India, which spanned from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the BARUA surname became more widespread as many families took up clerical and administrative roles in the expanding bureaucracy of the empire. Several members of the BARUA clan are mentioned in official records and chronicles from this era.

In the 19th century, the BARUA surname gained prominence in the field of education and academia. One notable figure was Kali Prasanna BARUA (1832-1901), a renowned educator and social reformer who established several schools and colleges in Bengal. Another prominent individual was Ramendra Sundar BARUA (1846-1906), a highly respected scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Bengali literature.

As the BARUA surname spread across India, it also found its way to other parts of the subcontinent, including present-day Bangladesh and Pakistan. In the 20th century, several BARUA families established themselves in various professions, including law, medicine, and politics. For example, Anup BARUA (1919-2002) was a distinguished lawyer and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Assam, a state in northeastern India.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Barua surname: questions and answers

How common is the Barua surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Barua a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Barua surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning letter or document.

What does the Barua map show?

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