NameCensus.

UK surname

Gajjar

An occupational surname referring to someone who tended or worked with elephants.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, Brent and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gajjar is 522 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

477

2016, ranked #10,344

Peak year

2013

522 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016, ranked #10,344.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gajjar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gajjar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gajjar 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 341 #12,407
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 361 #12,347
2000 modern 360 #12,309
2001 modern 363 #12,057
2002 modern 379 #11,913
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 402 #11,244
2005 modern 402 #11,137
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 456 #10,221
2008 modern 464 #10,190
2009 modern 477 #10,206
2010 modern 494 #10,144
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 475 #10,232
2013 modern 522 #9,713
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 477 #10,344

Geography

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Where Gajjars 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 Newham, Brent, Walsall, Leicester and Barnet. 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 Newham 019 Newham
2 Brent 019 Brent
3 Walsall 034 Walsall
4 Leicester 010 Leicester
5 Barnet 019 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gajjar

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

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

Gajjar 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

Gajjar falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gajjar 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 Gajjar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gajjar

The surname Gajjar has its origins in India, specifically in the northwestern regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is believed to have emerged around the 8th century CE during the reign of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.

The name Gajjar is derived from the Sanskrit word "gaja," which means elephant. It is believed that the Gajjar community was once involved in elephant trading or elephant keeping, which led to their association with this name.

Historical records suggest that the Gajjars were a prominent community in the medieval period, and they played a significant role in various military campaigns and local governance. Some early references to the Gajjar name can be found in inscriptions and manuscripts from the Pratihara and Chauhan periods.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Gajjar name is found in the Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem composed in the 12th century CE. It tells the story of Prithviraj Chauhan, a famous Rajput king, and references the Gajjars as allies in his military campaigns.

In the 14th century, the Gajjar community gained prominence under the Delhi Sultanate, with many Gajjars holding important positions in the administration and military. One notable figure was Malik Ghazi Beg Gajjar, a prominent military commander who served under Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the mid-14th century.

During the Mughal period, the Gajjars played a significant role in the Mughal army and were often employed as elephant handlers and cavalry troops. Gajjar chieftains like Raja Rai Singh Gajjar (1590-1666) and Raja Ram Singh Gajjar (1623-1688) were renowned for their loyalty and military service to the Mughal emperors.

In the 18th century, the Gajjar community established their own princely state, known as the Gajjar Kingdom or the Bharatpur State, in the region of present-day Rajasthan. The Gajjar rulers, such as Maharaja Suraj Mal (1707-1763) and Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1778-1805), were known for their military prowess and administrative skills.

Other notable figures with the Gajjar surname include Devi Singh Gajjar (1672-1723), a military commander who served under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and Maharaja Balwant Singh Gajjar (1838-1868), the ruler of the Bharatpur State during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gajjar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gajjar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016. That gives Gajjar a modern rank of #10,344.

What does the Gajjar surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who tended or worked with elephants.

What does the Gajjar map show?

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