NameCensus.

UK surname

Gagan

A Hindu surname meaning sky or heaven.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Gagan surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Chorley and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gagan is 143 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

2013

143 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gagan had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gagan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gagan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gagan 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Gagans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Manchester and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Chorley and Hartlepool. 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 St Anne Soho London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 021 Rochdale
2 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
3 Chorley 010 Chorley
4 Rochdale 025 Rochdale
5 Hartlepool 009 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gagan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gagan

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Gagan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gagan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gagan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gagan is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gagan falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gagan 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
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gagan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gagan

The surname GAGAN originates from the Indian subcontinent, where it has roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "gagana," which means "sky" or "heaven." This name was likely given to individuals who lived in regions with a clear, expansive sky or those who had a deep appreciation for the celestial realm.

In the early medieval period, the GAGAN name was primarily found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in areas now known as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries mention individuals with this surname, indicating its widespread use during that time.

One of the earliest documented references to the GAGAN surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This record lists several individuals with the GAGAN surname, suggesting their prominence in the royal courts or administrative positions.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the GAGAN surname was Pandit Rameshwar Dayal Gagan (1714-1791), a renowned scholar and poet from the region of Haryana. His works, including the epic poem "Gagan Granth," have left a lasting impact on Indian literature.

Another prominent individual was Raja Gagan Singh (1801-1857), a ruler of the princely state of Bikaner in present-day Rajasthan. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of the region and his support for the arts and culture.

During the 19th century, the GAGAN surname gained recognition with the birth of Gagan Chandra Chakravarti (1854-1918), a pioneering Indian scientist and inventor. His innovative work in the field of electricity and telecommunications earned him worldwide acclaim.

In the early 20th century, Gagan Vihari Mehta (1900-1981), a renowned social reformer and freedom fighter, played a significant role in India's struggle for independence. His dedicated efforts towards social justice and equality continue to inspire generations.

The GAGAN surname has also been associated with various place names across the Indian subcontinent, such as Gagannath Puri, a famous Hindu temple town in Odisha, and Gaganbavda, a village in Maharashtra. These place names likely derived their origins from the same Sanskrit root as the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gagan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gagan 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. Lancashire leads with 44 Gagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 44 3.69x
Middlesex 32 3.18x
Angus 16 17.19x
Durham 6 2.01x
Hampshire 2 0.97x
Cheshire 1 0.45x
Hertfordshire 1 1.44x
Surrey 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 16 Gagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.04x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 16 46.04x
Salford 11 31.37x
Everton 7 18.42x
Manchester 7 13.06x
Poplar London 6 31.65x
Sunderland 6 113.64x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 83.61x
Gorton 5 44.60x
St Martin In Fields 5 83.19x
St Marylebone London 5 9.32x
St Anne Soho London 4 69.69x
Liverpool 3 4.14x
Warrington 3 21.23x
Aldershot 2 28.99x
Chelsea London 2 6.61x
Clerkenwell London 2 8.44x
Islington London 2 2.05x
St Michael Bassishaw 2 2857.14x
Blackburn 1 3.15x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 5.28x
Hammersmith London 1 4.04x
Kensington London 1 1.79x
Kingston On Thames 1 8.50x
Marple 1 65.79x
Shoreditch London 1 2.30x
St Giles In Fields London 1 20.28x
Walton On Hill 1 15.48x
Watford 1 18.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 4
Margaret 4
Kate 3
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Rose 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lenin 1
Louisa 1
Marg. 1
Margrett 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Gagan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gagan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Gagan surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gagan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Gagan a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Gagan surname mean?

A Hindu surname meaning sky or heaven.

What does the Gagan map show?

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