NameCensus.

UK surname

Channa

A surname of Indian origin potentially referring to a maker or seller of grains.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Channa is 362 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

2010

362 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Channa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Channa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Channa 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 229 #16,657
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 316 #13,402
2007 modern 322 #13,382
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 345 #13,107
2010 modern 362 #12,914
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 340 #13,245
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 352 #13,206
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Channas 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 Redbridge, Gravesham and Maidstone. 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 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
2 Redbridge 015 Redbridge
3 Redbridge 031 Redbridge
4 Gravesham 002 Gravesham
5 Maidstone 011 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Channa

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

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

Channa 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

Channa falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Channa

The surname CHANNA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Punjab region. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "channa" or "chhana," which means "gram" or "chickpea." The name likely emerged as an occupational surname for those involved in the cultivation, processing, or trading of chickpeas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CHANNA can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document contains detailed records of the administrative and financial affairs of the Mughal Empire, including lists of landowners and their holdings.

During the medieval period, the CHANNA surname was particularly prominent among the Khatri community, a Hindu trading and business caste found primarily in the Punjab region. Many members of this community were engaged in the trade of grains, spices, and other agricultural commodities, which may have contributed to the surname's association with chickpeas.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the CHANNA surname was Lala Channa Mall, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the city of Amritsar. He is credited with financing the construction of several historical buildings, including the iconic Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.

Another prominent individual with the CHANNA surname was Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), a renowned Sikh theologian, scholar, and writer. He was born in the village of Amritsar and is revered for his contributions to the revival of the Punjabi language and literature, as well as his efforts in promoting Sikh teachings and values.

The CHANNA surname has also been associated with several historical place names in the Punjab region. One example is the village of Channa, located in the Patiala district of Punjab, which likely derived its name from the surname itself or from its association with the cultivation of chickpeas in the area.

Other notable individuals with the CHANNA surname include:

1. Gurkirat Singh Channa (born 1978), an Indian cricketer who played for the Punjab cricket team. 2. Lakhvir Singh Channa (1923-1998), an Indian politician and member of the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament). 3. Jagtar Singh Channa (1929-2013), an Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh from 1994 to 1999. 4. Prem Channa (born 1941), a British-Indian artist and sculptor known for her contemporary abstract works. 5. Prem Nath Channa (1923-2005), an Indian politician and member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian parliament).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Channa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Channa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016. That gives Channa a modern rank of #13,552.

What does the Channa surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin potentially referring to a maker or seller of grains.

What does the Channa map show?

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