NameCensus.

UK surname

Ghelani

A surname derived from a place name or town in India.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ghelani is 317 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

2011

317 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Ghelani surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ghelani surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ghelani 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 260 #14,880
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 272 #14,912
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 274 #14,576
2002 modern 282 #14,585
2003 modern 289 #14,158
2004 modern 301 #13,850
2005 modern 295 #13,972
2006 modern 283 #14,432
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 303 #14,651
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 288 #15,190
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Ghelanis 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 Charnwood, Harrow, Manchester, 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 Charnwood 017 Charnwood
2 Harrow 023 Harrow
3 Manchester 045 Manchester
4 Leicester 002 Leicester
5 Brent 029 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ghelani

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Ghelani surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Ghelani household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Ghelani 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

Ghelani 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ghelani

The surname Ghelani is of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Gujarat. It is believed to have originated in the 15th or 16th century CE. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word 'ghela', which means 'shepherd' or 'cowherd'. This suggests that the name was likely associated with pastoral communities or individuals involved in cattle rearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ghelani can be found in historical documents and manuscripts from the Mughal period. It is mentioned in some land revenue records and local administrative documents from the 16th and 17th centuries in the region of Gujarat. The name appears to have been concentrated in certain areas of Gujarat, particularly around the cities of Ahmedabad and Surat.

One notable early bearer of the name was Ghelani Viraji, a wealthy merchant and trader who lived in the city of Surat in the late 17th century. He was involved in the spice trade and had business dealings with the British East India Company. Another early individual with this surname was Ghelani Ranchhodji, a landowner and agriculturist from the village of Khambhat in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the name Ghelani is found in various official records and documents from the British Raj period. For example, Ghelani Keshavlal (1845-1920) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Ahmedabad who contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions in the city. Ghelani Navalram (1870-1945) was a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on Gujarati language and literature.

During the Indian independence movement, Ghelani Bhailalbhai (1895-1972) was a notable figure who participated in the non-violent resistance against British rule. He was imprisoned several times for his involvement in the freedom struggle. Another individual with this surname, Ghelani Hariram (1910-1985), was a social reformer and activist who worked towards the upliftment of underprivileged communities in Gujarat.

Over time, the surname Ghelani has spread beyond Gujarat to other parts of India and even to other countries due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the pastoral communities of Gujarat from several centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ghelani surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ghelani surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Ghelani a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Ghelani surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or town in India.

What does the Ghelani map show?

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