NameCensus.

UK surname

Ganesan

A surname of Indian origin meaning the servant or devotee of Lord Ganesha.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ganesan is 235 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

2016

235 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ganesan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ganesan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ganesan 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 34 #34,282
1998 modern 40 #33,856
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 50 #33,087
2001 modern 48 #33,129
2002 modern 57 #32,661
2003 modern 69 #31,587
2004 modern 78 #30,919
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 211 #18,630
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Ganesans 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 Birmingham, Newham, Havering, Newcastle upon Tyne and Camden. 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 Birmingham 096 Birmingham
2 Newham 010 Newham
3 Havering 025 Havering
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 006 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Camden 011 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ganesan

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

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

Ganesan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ganesan

The surname Ganesan is of Indian origin, specifically from the Tamil language and culture. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, several centuries ago.

The name Ganesan is derived from the Hindu deity Ganesha, who is revered as the remover of obstacles and the lord of beginnings. Ganesha is one of the most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon, and the name Ganesan is a patronymic form, indicating a devotee or follower of Ganesha.

Historical records show that the name Ganesan appeared in ancient Tamil literature, such as the Sangam era poetry and inscriptions from the Pallava and Chola dynasties, which ruled parts of southern India between the 3rd and 13th centuries CE. These inscriptions often mentioned individuals with the name Ganesan, indicating their social status, professions, or religious affiliations.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ganesan can be found in the Vaishnava literature of the 7th century CE, where a poet and scholar named Ganesan Bhatta is mentioned. He is believed to have been a contemporary of the famous Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar.

In the 12th century, a renowned Tamil scholar and grammarian named Ganesan Araiyar authored the influential work "Kalittogai," which is a commentary on the grammar text "Nannul." His contributions to Tamil literature and linguistics are widely recognized and celebrated.

Another notable figure in Indian history with the surname Ganesan was Rao Bahadur P.K. Ganesan (1891-1964), a prominent Indian industrialist and philanthropist from Tamil Nadu. He was the founder of the Ganesan Group of Companies and played a significant role in the industrial development of southern India.

In the field of arts and culture, M.R. Ganesan (1932-2007) was a renowned Indian actor who was fondly known as "Gemini Ganesan." He had an illustrious career spanning over six decades and starred in numerous Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films, earning him several accolades and a revered status in Indian cinema.

The surname Ganesan continues to be prevalent among Tamil communities across India and the diaspora, carrying the cultural and religious significance associated with the venerated Hindu deity, Ganesha.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ganesan surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ganesan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Ganesan a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Ganesan surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin meaning the servant or devotee of Lord Ganesha.

What does the Ganesan map show?

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