NameCensus.

UK surname

Gandhi

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person who sells groceries or owns a grocery store.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gandhi is 1,722 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,674

2016, ranked #3,734

Peak year

2013

1,722 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,674 in 2016, ranked #3,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gandhi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gandhi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gandhi 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 1,080 #5,156
1998 modern 1,155 #5,036
1999 modern 1,156 #5,084
2000 modern 1,185 #4,958
2001 modern 1,162 #4,953
2002 modern 1,258 #4,711
2003 modern 1,280 #4,542
2004 modern 1,374 #4,292
2005 modern 1,399 #4,190
2006 modern 1,465 #4,050
2007 modern 1,555 #3,853
2008 modern 1,587 #3,820
2009 modern 1,639 #3,801
2010 modern 1,696 #3,769
2011 modern 1,687 #3,732
2012 modern 1,655 #3,729
2013 modern 1,722 #3,663
2014 modern 1,707 #3,705
2015 modern 1,700 #3,688
2016 modern 1,674 #3,734

Geography

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Where Gandhis 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 Harrow, 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 Harrow 033 Harrow
2 Leicester 002 Leicester
3 Brent 029 Brent
4 Leicester 010 Leicester
5 Harrow 017 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gandhi

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

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

Gandhi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gandhi

The surname Gandhi originated in India and is derived from the Sanskrit word "gandha" which means "aroma" or "fragrance." It is believed to have first appeared around the 15th century in the northern Indian state of Gujarat.

The earliest recorded use of the name Gandhi can be traced back to the 16th century, where it was found in various historical records and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the mention of a merchant named Gandhi in the chronicles of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar the Great in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Gandhi was associated with several prominent figures in the region, including Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a renowned political and spiritual leader who played a pivotal role in India's independence movement. He was born in 1869 and passed away in 1948.

Another notable figure with the surname Gandhi was Indira Gandhi, the first female Prime Minister of India. She was born in 1917 and served as the Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.

The name Gandhi has also been linked to various place names in India, particularly in the state of Gujarat. For instance, the town of Gandhinagar, which is the capital of Gujarat, is believed to have derived its name from the surname Gandhi.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gandhi throughout history include Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India and son of Indira Gandhi, who served from 1984 to 1989. Feroze Gandhi, the husband of Indira Gandhi and a prominent politician in his own right, was also a bearer of this surname.

It is worth noting that while the surname Gandhi has its roots in India, it has become a globally recognized name due to the influence and legacy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gandhi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gandhi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,674 in 2016. That gives Gandhi a modern rank of #3,734.

What does the Gandhi surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person who sells groceries or owns a grocery store.

What does the Gandhi map show?

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