NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatterjee

A surname of Bengali origin denoting a wise, learned person or teacher, derived from the Sanskrit word "chattra".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Chatterjee surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Epping Forest and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatterjee is 763 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

2014

763 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatterjee had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Chatterjee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatterjee surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chatterjee 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 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 437 #10,299
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 493 #9,765
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 478 #9,783
2002 modern 505 #9,563
2003 modern 491 #9,612
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 514 #9,262
2006 modern 524 #9,150
2007 modern 559 #8,789
2008 modern 590 #8,528
2009 modern 616 #8,428
2010 modern 656 #8,181
2011 modern 671 #7,954
2012 modern 708 #7,543
2013 modern 740 #7,429
2014 modern 763 #7,263
2015 modern 746 #7,334
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

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Where Chatterjees 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 Hounslow, Epping Forest, Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East and Croydon. 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 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
2 Epping Forest 007 Epping Forest
3 Blackburn with Darwen 002 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Cheshire East 006 Cheshire East
5 Croydon 017 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chatterjee

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Chatterjee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Chatterjee 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Chatterjee is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Chatterjee 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chatterjee

The surname Chatterjee originates from India, specifically the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. It traces its roots back to the 13th century CE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chattri," which means an umbrella or canopy, and "jee," a suffix denoting respect. Thus, Chatterjee translates to "the umbrella holder" or "the canopy bearer."

Historically, the Chatterjee surname was associated with the Baidya caste, a community of traditional Hindu physicians and astrologers. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Bengali manuscripts and royal court records from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Chatterjee name was Sree Krishnaram Chatterjee, a renowned Bengali poet and philosopher who lived in the late 16th century. His works, particularly the "Sree Krishnakirtan," made significant contributions to the Vaishnava literary tradition.

Another notable figure was Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1894), a celebrated Bengali writer, novelist, and essayist. He is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in Bengali literature and is considered the father of the Indian novel. His seminal work, "Anandamath," played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.

The Chatterjee surname has also been associated with several prominent scholars and intellectuals throughout history. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891), a Bengali polymath and a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance, was a Chatterjee. He was a philosopher, academic, writer, and social reformer who championed the cause of widow remarriage and women's education.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the first non-European Nobel laureate in literature, was also a Chatterjee by birth. His writings, including the famous collection of poems "Gitanjali," have had a profound impact on Indian and global literature.

Satyendra Nath Chatterjee (1882-1953) was a renowned Indian economist and statesman who served as the first Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of India. He played a crucial role in shaping the economic policies of independent India.

While the Chatterjee surname originated in Bengal, it has since spread throughout India and the world due to migration and the Indian diaspora. The name continues to be associated with intellectual and scholarly pursuits, as well as various professions and fields of endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chatterjee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatterjee 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Chatterjees recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Chatterjees recorded in 1881 and an index of 285.71x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 1 285.71x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 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 Chatterjee households.

Occupation Count
Student At Cambridge 1

FAQ

Chatterjee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatterjee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Chatterjee surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatterjee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Chatterjee a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Chatterjee surname mean?

A surname of Bengali origin denoting a wise, learned person or teacher, derived from the Sanskrit word "chattra".

What does the Chatterjee map show?

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