NameCensus.

UK surname

Dhanji

An Indian surname derived from the given name Dhanjibhai, meaning 'affluent'.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, Harrow and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dhanji is 337 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

2016

337 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dhanji surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dhanji surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dhanji 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
1997 modern 246 #15,445
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 264 #15,191
2001 modern 265 #14,915
2002 modern 275 #14,819
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 306 #13,720
2005 modern 294 #14,006
2006 modern 292 #14,148
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 323 #14,005
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 307 #14,608
2015 modern 321 #14,062
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Dhanjis 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 Peterborough, Harrow, Milton Keynes, Leicester and Brent. 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 Peterborough 013 Peterborough
2 Harrow 004 Harrow
3 Milton Keynes 027 Milton Keynes
4 Leicester 017 Leicester
5 Brent 029 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dhanji

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dhanji 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

Dhanji 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dhanji

The surname DHANJI originated in India, specifically in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. It can be traced back to the 15th century, when it was used as a form of address for a person who was a trader or merchant.

The name is derived from the Sanskrit words 'dhan' meaning wealth, and 'ji' which is an honorific suffix used to show respect. Thus, DHANJI essentially translates to 'respected wealthy person' or 'respected merchant'.

In the 16th century, the name appears in several historical records, including the Akbarnama, a biography of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, where it is mentioned in reference to wealthy traders and merchants from the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DHANJI can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document detailing the administration of the Mughal Empire, where a merchant named Dhanji Virji is listed as a prominent figure in the city of Surat.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the DHANJI surname gained prominence among the Gujarati and Marathi communities, particularly among those involved in trade and commerce. Some notable individuals from this period include Dhanji Jadhav (1670-1738), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Pune, and Dhanji Dadaji (1725-1804), a famous trader and financier from Surat.

In the 19th century, the name DHANJI was widely used in various parts of western India. One notable figure was Dhanji Morarji (1810-1885), a successful businessman and industrialist from Mumbai, who played a significant role in the development of the city's textile industry.

As Indian communities spread across the world, the DHANJI surname traveled with them. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, individuals with the DHANJI surname can be found in historical records from countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, where they had established businesses and communities.

Other notable individuals with the DHANJI surname include Dhanji Devji (1855-1920), a prominent philanthropist and businessman from Zanzibar, and Dhanji Rattansi (1880-1953), a successful businessman and community leader in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dhanji surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dhanji surname today?

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

What does the Dhanji surname mean?

An Indian surname derived from the given name Dhanjibhai, meaning 'affluent'.

What does the Dhanji map show?

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