NameCensus.

UK surname

Kamboj

A surname originating from the ancient Kambojas tribe and region.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Ealing and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kamboj is 144 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2015

144 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Kamboj surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kamboj surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kamboj 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 74 #30,218
1998 modern 76 #30,386
1999 modern 82 #29,933
2000 modern 77 #30,486
2001 modern 75 #30,481
2002 modern 79 #30,499
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Kambojs 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 Hillingdon, Ealing and Leeds. 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 Hillingdon 026 Hillingdon
2 Ealing 037 Ealing
3 Leeds 071 Leeds
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Ealing 017 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kamboj

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kamboj 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

Kamboj 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kamboj

The surname Kamboj has its origins in the historical region of Punjab, which straddles the modern-day border between India and Pakistan. The name is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word "Kamboja," referring to an Indo-Aryan people who inhabited parts of this region during the Vedic period.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Kamboj people can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. The text mentions the Kambojas as a clan or tribe that was part of the larger Aryavarta, or the territory inhabited by the Aryan people.

The Kambojas are also mentioned in the Puranas, a collection of ancient Hindu texts that cover a wide range of subjects, including history, mythology, and genealogy. These texts suggest that the Kambojas were part of the Kshatriya, or warrior caste, and were known for their martial prowess.

In the 6th century CE, the Chinese Buddhist scholar Xuanzang, who traveled through the region, recorded the existence of a kingdom called Kamboja, which was located in what is now modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. This kingdom was likely ruled by the descendants of the ancient Kamboj people.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kamboj was Kamboj Rai, a Hindu king who ruled over parts of Punjab in the late 12th century CE. Another notable figure was Rai Kamboj, a warrior and military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

During the medieval period, the Kambojs were also known for their contributions to the field of agriculture and horticulture. The town of Kambohpur, located in present-day Punjab, Pakistan, was named after the Kamboj community and was renowned for its fruit orchards and gardens.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kamboj include Rattan Singh Kamboj, a freedom fighter who participated in the Indian independence movement against British rule in the early 20th century, and Satya Vir Singh Kamboj, an Indian writer and historian who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Kamboj people.

While the origins of the Kamboj surname can be traced back to ancient times, it continues to be a prominent name in both India and Pakistan, particularly in the regions of Punjab and surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kamboj surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kamboj surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Kamboj a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Kamboj surname mean?

A surname originating from the ancient Kambojas tribe and region.

What does the Kamboj map show?

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