NameCensus.

UK surname

Das

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "dasa," meaning "servant of God" or "devotee."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Das surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,414, ranked #2,729, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Hounslow and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Das is 2,414 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24040.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

2,414

2016, ranked #2,729

Peak year

2016

2,414 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Das had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,414 in 2016, ranked #2,729.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Das surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Das surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Das 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1997 modern 1,056 #5,253
1998 modern 1,147 #5,071
1999 modern 1,194 #4,958
2000 modern 1,181 #4,977
2001 modern 1,173 #4,912
2002 modern 1,332 #4,480
2003 modern 1,337 #4,380
2004 modern 1,454 #4,105
2005 modern 1,573 #3,787
2006 modern 1,699 #3,545
2007 modern 1,830 #3,351
2008 modern 2,007 #3,143
2009 modern 2,109 #3,062
2010 modern 2,198 #3,015
2011 modern 2,193 #2,980
2012 modern 2,228 #2,889
2013 modern 2,299 #2,856
2014 modern 2,371 #2,793
2015 modern 2,397 #2,750
2016 modern 2,414 #2,729

Geography

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Where Das' 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 Charnwood, Hounslow, Oldham and Rochdale. 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 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
2 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
3 Oldham 012 Oldham
4 Rochdale 005 Rochdale
5 Rochdale 008 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Das

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

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

Das 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

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

Meaning and origin of Das

The surname DAS is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the Bengal region, during the 12th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "dasa," which means "servant" or "slave." In ancient times, it was common for people to be identified by their occupations or social status, and the surname DAS was likely given to individuals who were servants or worked in service-related roles.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DAS can be traced back to medieval Bengali manuscripts and records from the Pala and Sena dynasties, which ruled over parts of present-day Bangladesh and West Bengal between the 8th and 12th centuries. These ancient texts often referred to individuals with the surname DAS, indicating its widespread use among certain communities during that period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname DAS was a Bengali poet and philosopher named Bipradas Pipilai, who lived in the 15th century. He is renowned for his literary works, including the famous epic poem "Manasavijaya." Another notable figure was Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-1833), a Bengali Renaissance man who played a significant role in the Bengal Renaissance and was a pioneering figure in the movement against social injustice and superstition.

In the 16th century, the surname DAS was also found in parts of present-day Odisha and Assam, where it was used by different communities and castes. During this period, the name appeared in various local records and genealogical documents, indicating its widespread adoption across the region.

As people migrated and settled in different parts of the Indian subcontinent, the surname DAS spread to other areas, including present-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Notable individuals with this surname include the renowned Bengali writer and social reformer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894), who is considered a key figure in the Bengali Renaissance and is credited with writing the national song of India, "Vande Mataram."

Another prominent figure with the surname DAS was the Indian mathematician and astronomer Radhanath Siddhanta Sarasvati (1594-1668), who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and wrote several treatises on mathematics and astronomy.

Throughout its history, the surname DAS has been associated with various professions, including literature, philosophy, social reform, mathematics, and astronomy, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals carrying this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Das families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Das 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. Monmouthshire leads with 5 Das' recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.52x.

County Total Index
Monmouthshire 5 64.52x
Middlesex 4 3.73x
Lanarkshire 1 2.88x
Norfolk 1 6.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 5 Das' recorded in 1881 and an index of 364.96x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 5 364.96x
St Pancras London 3 34.76x
Kensington London 1 16.78x
North Walsham 1 833.33x
Old Monkland 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Ethel 1
Jemimah 1
Maryann 1
Sarah 1
Upendra 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Davendra 1
Isaac 1
Morgan 1
Satyr 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 Das households.

FAQ

Das surname: questions and answers

How common was the Das surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Das surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Das surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,414 in 2016. That gives Das a modern rank of #2,729.

What does the Das surname mean?

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "dasa," meaning "servant of God" or "devotee."

What does the Das map show?

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