NameCensus.

UK surname

Gosai

A surname suggesting a gau sai or village headman of the Gurjars in India.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gosai is 394 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

377

2016, ranked #12,415

Peak year

2010

394 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016, ranked #12,415.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gosai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gosai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gosai 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 301 #13,492
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 323 #13,315
2000 modern 336 #12,921
2001 modern 333 #12,817
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 343 #12,616
2005 modern 341 #12,605
2006 modern 358 #12,234
2007 modern 364 #12,237
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 380 #12,198
2010 modern 394 #12,131
2011 modern 384 #12,218
2012 modern 371 #12,396
2013 modern 380 #12,382
2014 modern 385 #12,340
2015 modern 377 #12,428
2016 modern 377 #12,415

Geography

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Where Gosais 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 Leicester and Enfield. 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 Leicester 004 Leicester
2 Leicester 010 Leicester
3 Enfield 031 Enfield
4 Leicester 007 Leicester
5 Enfield 035 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gosai

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gosai

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

Gosai 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gosai

The surname GOSAI is believed to have originated in India, particularly in the western state of Gujarat. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Gosain," which refers to a revered Hindu ascetic or spiritual preceptor. The name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period when the Hindu monastic order of Gosains gained prominence.

GOSAI is closely associated with the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, which venerates Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Many GOSAI individuals historically belonged to priestly or scholarly families within this tradition. The name is also found among communities that followed or were influenced by the teachings of renowned saints and gurus from Gujarat, such as Narsi Mehta and Mirabai.

Historical records suggest that the name GOSAI appeared in various manuscripts and inscriptions related to religious texts, temple records, and land grants from the 13th to 16th centuries in Gujarat. One notable example is the mention of a GOSAI family in the Prakrit literature work "Prabhavaka Charita" written by the Jain scholar Prabhachandra in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname GOSAI was Shri Vitthalnath Gosai, a renowned spiritual leader and scholar who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the Varkari Sampradaya, a Hindu devotional tradition centered around the worship of Lord Vithoba. Another notable GOSAI was Shri Vallabhacharya (1479-1531), the founder of the Pushtimarg sect within Vaishnavism.

Throughout history, the GOSAI surname has been associated with several influential figures in the religious, literary, and cultural spheres of India. Some notable individuals include:

1. Shri Gokulanath Gosai (16th century), a renowned poet and saint in the Vaishnava tradition. 2. Shri Jagannath Gosai (17th century), a celebrated scholar and author of several Sanskrit texts on Hindu philosophy and theology. 3. Shri Damodardas Gosai (18th century), a prominent figure in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Hindu spiritual tradition founded by Lord Swaminarayan. 4. Shri Ramdas Gosai (19th century), a revered spiritual leader and social reformer who worked towards the upliftment of the downtrodden communities in Gujarat. 5. Shri Narayan Gosai (1920-2002), a renowned Gujarati poet, playwright, and novelist who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of Gujarat.

The surname GOSAI continues to be prevalent among various communities in Gujarat and other parts of India, particularly those with connections to the Vaishnava tradition and its various sects and sampradayas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Gosai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Gosai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016. That gives Gosai a modern rank of #12,415.

What does the Gosai surname mean?

A surname suggesting a gau sai or village headman of the Gurjars in India.

What does the Gosai map show?

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