NameCensus.

UK surname

Deb

A surname of Bengali origin meaning "gift".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Deb surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 495, ranked #10,052, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deb is 495 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

495

2016, ranked #10,052

Peak year

2016

495 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deb had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016, ranked #10,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Deb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deb surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deb 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 259 #14,912
1998 modern 269 #14,941
1999 modern 288 #14,346
2000 modern 287 #14,345
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 291 #14,275
2003 modern 313 #13,443
2004 modern 322 #13,260
2005 modern 347 #12,436
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 379 #11,854
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 466 #10,595
2011 modern 452 #10,748
2012 modern 453 #10,598
2013 modern 460 #10,661
2014 modern 470 #10,557
2015 modern 482 #10,281
2016 modern 495 #10,052

Geography

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Where Debs 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 Islington, Haringey 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 Islington 023 Islington
2 Islington 018 Islington
3 Haringey 026 Haringey
4 Birmingham 090 Birmingham
5 Islington 007 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deb

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Deb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Deb 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Deb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deb 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

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

Meaning and origin of Deb

The surname "Deb" is of Indian origin, specifically from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "deva," which means "god" or "deity." The name is thought to have first appeared around the 8th or 9th century AD.

In ancient India, the "Deb" surname was often associated with individuals who held positions of religious or spiritual significance, such as priests, scholars, or philosophers. It was considered a prestigious title and was granted to those who demonstrated exceptional knowledge and wisdom.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Deb surname can be found in the "Nidhanpur Copper Plate Inscription" from the 9th century AD. This historical document, written in Sanskrit, refers to a person named "Debendra" who was a prominent figure during that time period.

The Deb surname has also been documented in various ancient manuscripts and literary works from the Bengal region, including the "Charyapada," a collection of Buddhist mystic songs from the 10th-12th centuries AD. Some notable individuals bearing the Deb surname from those times include Harideb, a renowned Buddhist philosopher and poet who lived in the 11th century AD, and Umadeb, a celebrated Sanskrit scholar from the 12th century AD.

Over the centuries, the Deb surname has been linked to several influential figures in Indian history. One such individual was Raja Debendra Narayan, a prominent ruler of the Cooch Behar Kingdom in the 18th century AD. Another notable figure was Girish Chandra Deb, a renowned Bengali playwright, and novelist who lived from 1857 to 1925.

In more recent times, the Deb surname has been associated with various political and literary figures, such as Sukumar Deb, a renowned Bengali writer and journalist who lived from 1899 to 1972, and Kalipada Deb, a prominent Indian freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century.

While the Deb surname has its roots in the Bengal region, it has since spread to other parts of India and beyond, with people bearing this name contributing to various fields, including literature, politics, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Deb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deb surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Deb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016. That gives Deb a modern rank of #10,052.

What does the Deb surname mean?

A surname of Bengali origin meaning "gift".

What does the Deb map show?

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