NameCensus.

UK surname

Gani

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "gani" meaning "skilled" or "learned".

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Gani surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 537, ranked #9,475, up from #33,288 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gani is 543 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13325.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

537

2016, ranked #9,475

Peak year

2014

543 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gani had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016, ranked #9,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gani surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gani surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gani 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 327 #13,126
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 366 #12,167
2001 modern 345 #12,504
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 392 #11,425
2004 modern 403 #11,224
2005 modern 414 #10,899
2006 modern 435 #10,525
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 466 #10,162
2009 modern 491 #9,999
2010 modern 530 #9,632
2011 modern 519 #9,687
2012 modern 512 #9,693
2013 modern 541 #9,459
2014 modern 543 #9,497
2015 modern 537 #9,505
2016 modern 537 #9,475

Geography

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Where Ganis 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 Bolton, Lambeth, Newham, Leeds and Redbridge. 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 Bolton 005 Bolton
2 Lambeth 029 Lambeth
3 Newham 010 Newham
4 Leeds 086 Leeds
5 Redbridge 026 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gani

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gani

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Gani surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gani household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Gani is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Gani 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

Gani 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 Gani 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Gani

The surname GANI is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in parts of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 8th to 10th centuries CE.

GANI is thought to be derived from the Persian word "gani," which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." It is possible that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who were affluent or belonged to a prosperous family or community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GANI can be found in the manuscripts of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over parts of northern India between the 13th and 16th centuries. Several historical figures with the surname GANI are mentioned in these texts, although their exact birth and death dates are uncertain.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name GANI was Sheikh Gani, a prominent Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the city of Multan (now in modern-day Pakistan). His teachings and writings had a significant influence on the spread of Sufism in the region.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the name GANI continued to be found among Muslim communities. One example is Mirza Gani, a Persian-born poet and courtier who lived in the 17th century and served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the surname GANI was Ghulam Ahmad Gani, a prominent Indian Muslim politician and scholar from Kashmir. He was born in 1834 and played a pivotal role in the political and educational reform movements of his time.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name GANI was Abdur Rahman Gani, a renowned Indian Muslim scholar and theologian who lived from 1828 to 1901. He was a prolific writer and made significant contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy.

The surname GANI has also been found among various ethnic groups and communities in different parts of South Asia, including Bangladesh, where it is sometimes spelled as "Ghani" or "Goni."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gani families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gani 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. Warwickshire leads with 4 Ganis recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.82x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 4 40.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 4 Ganis recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.32x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 4 122.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Lizzie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Willie 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gani households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Artificial Florist 1

FAQ

Gani surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gani surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Gani surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gani surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016. That gives Gani a modern rank of #9,475.

What does the Gani surname mean?

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word "gani" meaning "skilled" or "learned".

What does the Gani map show?

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