NameCensus.

UK surname

Joshi

A surname of Indian origin, indicating a person belonging to the Joshi caste, traditionally astrologers, teachers, or priests.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joshi is 4,737 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

4,616

2016, ranked #1,475

Peak year

2014

4,737 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,616 in 2016, ranked #1,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Joshi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Joshi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joshi 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 11 #32,452
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 2,935 #2,207
1998 modern 3,063 #2,199
1999 modern 3,190 #2,121
2000 modern 3,248 #2,069
2001 modern 3,177 #2,072
2002 modern 3,433 #1,969
2003 modern 3,530 #1,872
2004 modern 3,661 #1,808
2005 modern 3,786 #1,727
2006 modern 3,923 #1,661
2007 modern 4,187 #1,573
2008 modern 4,313 #1,539
2009 modern 4,460 #1,525
2010 modern 4,700 #1,487
2011 modern 4,684 #1,467
2012 modern 4,534 #1,490
2013 modern 4,714 #1,457
2014 modern 4,737 #1,457
2015 modern 4,656 #1,467
2016 modern 4,616 #1,475

Geography

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Where Joshis 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 Harrow. 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 010 Leicester
2 Leicester 006 Leicester
3 Leicester 007 Leicester
4 Harrow 033 Harrow
5 Leicester 002 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joshi

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

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

Joshi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Joshi

The surname Joshi originates from India, specifically from the Sanskrit language. It is believed to have emerged around the 5th century AD during the Gupta Empire period.

Joshi is derived from the Sanskrit word "jyoti," which means "light" or "brightness." It was initially used as a title or an honorific for Brahmin scholars and priests who were considered enlightened and learned individuals.

In ancient Hindu scriptures and manuscripts, references to individuals with the title "Joshi" can be found. One of the earliest recorded examples is from the 7th century CE in the Puranic literature, where a scholar named Kashyap Joshi is mentioned.

The name Joshi was particularly prevalent in the regions of present-day Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, where Sanskrit learning and Brahmin traditions were deeply rooted.

Notable Joshis throughout history include Anantadev Joshi, a 12th-century Marathi poet and scholar, and Pandit Vishnu Narayan Joshi, a 19th-century Sanskrit scholar and author born in 1812.

Another prominent figure was Raja Jai Singh Joshi, a renowned astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1686 to 1743. He played a crucial role in establishing the city of Jaipur and its famous observatories.

In the field of literature, Vaman Shivram Joshi, born in 1850, was a distinguished Marathi writer and social reformer who contributed significantly to the promotion of education and women's rights.

Lastly, Gajanan Digambar Joshi, born in 1908, was a respected Indian freedom fighter and social activist who dedicated his life to the cause of Indian independence and the upliftment of marginalized communities.

While the surname Joshi is predominantly found in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Joshi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Joshi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,616 in 2016. That gives Joshi a modern rank of #1,475.

What does the Joshi surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, indicating a person belonging to the Joshi caste, traditionally astrologers, teachers, or priests.

What does the Joshi map show?

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