NameCensus.

UK surname

Chand

A surname of Hindi origin referring to the moon, often indicating a connection to the Chand dynasty.

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Chand surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,538, ranked #4,026, up from #32,081 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chand is 1,573 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13881.8%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

1,538

2016, ranked #4,026

Peak year

2010

1,573 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chand had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,538 in 2016, ranked #4,026.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 52 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Chand surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chand surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chand 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 1,231 #4,617
1998 modern 1,314 #4,523
1999 modern 1,320 #4,541
2000 modern 1,322 #4,500
2001 modern 1,277 #4,555
2002 modern 1,359 #4,403
2003 modern 1,364 #4,309
2004 modern 1,363 #4,322
2005 modern 1,403 #4,180
2006 modern 1,448 #4,087
2007 modern 1,468 #4,078
2008 modern 1,507 #4,015
2009 modern 1,543 #4,011
2010 modern 1,573 #4,018
2011 modern 1,544 #4,047
2012 modern 1,515 #4,048
2013 modern 1,558 #4,009
2014 modern 1,566 #4,009
2015 modern 1,546 #4,012
2016 modern 1,538 #4,026

Geography

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Where Chands 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 Wolverhampton and Birmingham. 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 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
2 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 133 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
5 Wolverhampton 020 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chand

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

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

Chand 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

Chand falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chand 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 Chand, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chand

The surname CHAND has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, originating from the Sanskrit word "chandra" meaning "moon." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the medieval period, particularly in the northern regions of India and present-day Pakistan.

The name CHAND is often associated with the lunar deity Chandra in Hindu mythology, suggesting that it may have been initially adopted as a surname by individuals or families with a connection to lunar worship or lunar astrology. Some scholars also link the name to the ancient Indo-Aryan tribes known as the Chandravamsha or "Lunar Dynasty."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CHAND can be found in the chronicles of the Delhi Sultanate, where a prominent military commander named Malik Chand served under the reign of Sultan Iltutmish in the 13th century. Another historical figure bearing this name was Chand Bardai, a 12th-century Punjabi poet renowned for his work "Prithviraj Raso," which chronicled the life of the legendary Chauhan ruler Prithviraj Chauhan.

In the 16th century, the CHAND surname gained further prominence with the rise of the Rajput warrior clan known as the Chandelas, who ruled over the region of Bundelkhand in central India. One of the most notable rulers from this dynasty was Raja Ramchandra Chand, who reigned from 1530 to 1568.

The surname CHAND has also been associated with several notable figures in more recent history. One such individual was Sir Shankar Chand Mukherjee (1837-1908), a prominent Indian lawyer and philanthropist who played a key role in the establishment of the University of Calcutta.

Another famous bearer of the CHAND surname was Vidya Chand Naidu (1866-1905), an Indian poet, and activist who was part of the Indian independence movement. She was also the first woman Governor of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) in British India.

In the realm of sports, Sunil Chand Gavaskar (born 1949) is a celebrated former Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He held numerous batting records during his illustrious career spanning from 1971 to 1987.

While the surname CHAND has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots and associations with lunar deities, warrior clans, and notable personalities remain deeply embedded in its legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chand surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 6 Chands recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 4.33x
Cheshire 4 15.50x
Essex 1 4.33x
Royal Navy 1 71.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunham Massey in Cheshire leads with 4 Chands recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Dunham Massey 4 5000.00x
Cheetham 3 291.26x
Kirkdale 3 128.76x
East Ham 1 232.56x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chand surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ada 1
Edna 1
Fanny 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chand surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Bawooden 1
George 1
John 1
Samuel 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chand households.

FAQ

Chand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Chand surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,538 in 2016. That gives Chand a modern rank of #4,026.

What does the Chand surname mean?

A surname of Hindi origin referring to the moon, often indicating a connection to the Chand dynasty.

What does the Chand map show?

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