NameCensus.

UK surname

Kannan

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'kanna', meaning an agricultural laborer or cultivator.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Kannan surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kannan is 290 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9433.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2013

290 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kannan had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • 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.

Kannan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kannan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kannan 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
1851 historical 9 #31,675
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 45 #33,168
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 182 #19,618
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 248 #16,509
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 255 #16,428
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Kannans 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 Newham, Hounslow and Merton. 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 Newham 010 Newham
2 Hounslow 012 Hounslow
3 Newham 018 Newham
4 Newham 015 Newham
5 Merton 007 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kannan

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

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

Kannan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kannan

The surname Kannan has its origins in India, particularly in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is a name derived from the Tamil language and is believed to have emerged sometime around the 5th or 6th century CE.

One of the earliest known references to the name Kannan can be found in ancient Tamil literary works, such as the Sangam literature, which dates back to the early centuries of the common era. The name is thought to be related to the Tamil word "Kannan," which means "one with beautiful eyes" or "the one with lotus-like eyes."

In the medieval period, the name Kannan was closely associated with the worship of Lord Murugan, one of the most revered deities in Tamil Hindu culture. Many temples dedicated to Lord Murugan were constructed during this time, and it is likely that some individuals took on the name Kannan as a mark of devotion or association with these religious traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kannan can be found in the 11th century CE, when a Tamil scholar and poet named Kannan Adigal lived and composed works that are still celebrated today. Another notable figure bearing this surname was Kannan Devan, a 17th-century ruler of the Kolathunadu region in present-day Kerala.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Kannan gained further prominence, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. For example, Kannan Nair (1718-1782) was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet from Kerala, while Kannan Devan Nair (1923-2008) was a prominent Singaporean politician and diplomat who served as the country's third President.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kannan include Kannan Ranganathan (1923-2015), an acclaimed Indian mathematician and computer scientist known for his contributions to the field of parallel computing, and Kannan Iyer (1936-2010), a renowned Indian classical musician and composer.

Throughout its history, the surname Kannan has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Kannangudi in Tamil Nadu and the Kannanur region in Kerala are believed to be derived from this surname, reflecting the presence of individuals bearing this name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kannan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kannan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 2 Kannans recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.37x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 2 79.37x
Cheshire 1 15.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Cuthbert W O in Cumberland leads with 2 Kannans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
St Cuthbert W O 2 1666.67x
Macclesfield 1 344.83x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kannan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kannan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Peter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kannan households.

FAQ

Kannan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kannan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Kannan surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kannan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Kannan a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Kannan surname mean?

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'kanna', meaning an agricultural laborer or cultivator.

What does the Kannan map show?

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