NameCensus.

UK surname

Dewan

An honorific title used for ministers and government officials in India and Pakistan.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Dewan surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 423, ranked #11,344, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colinton Mains and Firrhill, Manchester and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dewan is 438 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2126.3%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

423

2016, ranked #11,344

Peak year

2014

438 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dewan had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 423 in 2016, ranked #11,344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dewan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dewan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dewan 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 61 #27,379
1911 historical 28 #30,296
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 207 #17,749
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 264 #15,071
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 290 #14,202
2007 modern 300 #14,048
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 353 #12,894
2010 modern 406 #11,847
2011 modern 407 #11,709
2012 modern 395 #11,836
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 438 #11,149
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 423 #11,344

Geography

Back to top

Where Dewans 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 Colinton Mains and Firrhill, Manchester, Charnwood, Shepway and Powys. 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 Colinton Mains and Firrhill City of Edinburgh
2 Manchester 022 Manchester
3 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
4 Shepway 005 Shepway
5 Powys 015 Powys

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dewan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dewan surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dewan

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

Dewan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dewan

The surname DEWAN is of Indian origin, specifically from the Indian subcontinent region. It traces its roots back to the Sanskrit word 'deva', meaning 'god' or 'deity'. The name likely originated during the medieval period, when it was used to refer to someone who served in a temple or had a religious occupation.

In ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, the word 'dewan' was often used to describe officials or administrators responsible for managing the affairs of a state or a ruler. It evolved from the Persian word 'diwan', which referred to a high-ranking official or a minister in the royal court.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DEWAN can be found in the 16th century, when a prominent figure named Todar Mal Dewan served as the finance minister under the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Todar Mal Dewan is credited with introducing significant reforms to the taxation system and land revenue administration in the Mughal Empire.

During the British Raj in India, the term 'dewan' was used to refer to the prime minister or the highest-ranking official in the princely states. Several individuals with the surname DEWAN held influential positions in the courts of these princely states, such as Sir Mirza Ismail Dewan (1831-1920), who served as the Dewan of Jaipur.

Another notable figure with the surname DEWAN was Sir Ganganath Dewan (1879-1950), an Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Dewan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947. He played a crucial role in the integration of Travancore into the Indian Union after independence.

Kiran Dewan (1930-2012) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her contributions to the revival and promotion of the Kathak dance form. She received numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Prem Dewan (1936-2021) was a prominent Indian architect and urban planner, best known for his work in designing and planning several cities and townships across India, including Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.

The surname DEWAN has also been associated with various places and localities in India, such as Dewanahalli in Karnataka and Dewan Khera in Uttar Pradesh, which may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dewan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dewan 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. Durham leads with 9 Dewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.26x.

County Total Index
Durham 9 18.26x
Lancashire 6 3.05x
Channel Islands 1 20.37x
Kent 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coundon in Durham leads with 9 Dewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4500.00x.

Place Total Index
Coundon 9 4500.00x
Oldham 2 31.55x
Ribby With Wray 2 10000.00x
Hougham 1 294.12x
Preston 1 19.01x
St Peter Port 1 109.89x
Withington 1 158.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Alice 1
Cathrine 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Juliate 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
William 2
Daniel 1
Harry 1
Michael 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 Dewan households.

FAQ

Dewan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dewan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Dewan surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dewan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 423 in 2016. That gives Dewan a modern rank of #11,344.

What does the Dewan surname mean?

An honorific title used for ministers and government officials in India and Pakistan.

What does the Dewan map show?

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