NameCensus.

UK surname

Gautam

A surname originating from the Sanskrit name Gautama, meaning "descendant of the sage Gautama".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Greenwich and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gautam is 422 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

2016

422 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gautam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gautam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gautam 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 181 #19,463
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 273 #15,113
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 352 #13,032
2012 modern 377 #12,238
2013 modern 402 #11,871
2014 modern 411 #11,768
2015 modern 414 #11,605
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Gautams 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 Hounslow, Greenwich, Wolverhampton, Telford and Wrekin and Newham. 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 Hounslow 016 Hounslow
2 Greenwich 006 Greenwich
3 Wolverhampton 026 Wolverhampton
4 Telford and Wrekin 008 Telford and Wrekin
5 Newham 017 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gautam

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

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

Gautam 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

Gautam falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gautam

The surname Gautam is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "Gautama," which means "a descendant of the sage Gautama." The name traces its roots back to ancient India, where it was associated with the renowned sage and philosopher Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

The earliest known records of the name Gautam can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, dating back to the 6th century BCE. Gautama Buddha, whose birth name was Siddhartha Gautama, lived during this period and is considered one of the most influential figures in world history.

In the centuries that followed, the name Gautam became prevalent among various communities and regions within the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It was often associated with people who claimed descent from the sage Gautama or followed the teachings of Buddhism.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Gautam can be found in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, where a character named Gautama is mentioned as a renowned sage and teacher. Additionally, the name appears in various inscriptions and manuscripts from medieval India, further solidifying its historical significance.

Over the course of Indian history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Gautam. Among them are Chanakya (350-275 BCE), a renowned philosopher, teacher, and adviser to the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya; Maharshi Gautama, a legendary sage and author of the Nyaya Sutras, a foundational text in Hindu philosophy; and Gautama Siddhartha, better known as Gautama Buddha (563-483 BCE), the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gautam include Rahul Gautam, an Indian cricketer who represented India in the early 2000s; Sampooran Singh Kalra, also known as Gulzar Gautam (1934-1997), a renowned Urdu poet, lyricist, and writer; and Govind Vallabh Pant Gautam (1887-1951), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The surname Gautam has been prevalent across various regions of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Punjab, among others. It has also been adopted by people from different communities and faiths, reflecting the cultural diversity and rich heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gautam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gautam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Gautam a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Gautam surname mean?

A surname originating from the Sanskrit name Gautama, meaning "descendant of the sage Gautama".

What does the Gautam map show?

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