NameCensus.

UK surname

Kanwar

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Kanhwar" meaning prince or heir apparent.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kanwar is 240 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2016

240 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Kanwar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kanwar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kanwar 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 149 #21,214
1998 modern 156 #21,144
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 199 #18,699
2009 modern 217 #18,070
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 235 #17,619
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Kanwars 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 Hounslow, Charnwood, Hillingdon and Warwick. 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 Hounslow 004 Hounslow
2 Charnwood 022 Charnwood
3 Hillingdon 006 Hillingdon
4 Hillingdon 030 Hillingdon
5 Warwick 006 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kanwar

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

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

Kanwar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kanwar

The surname "KANWAR" originated in India and is believed to have roots dating back to the 8th century AD. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kanwar," which means "prince" or "heir apparent." It was historically used as a title for the sons of Rajput rulers in various princely states of India.

During the medieval period, the title "Kanwar" was often bestowed upon the eldest son and heir of a Rajput king or chieftain. This tradition was particularly prevalent in the regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The name became a hereditary surname for the families of these Rajput princes and their descendants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "KANWAR" can be found in the Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem written in the 12th century. It mentions several Rajput princes and warriors with the title "Kanwar," indicating the established use of the name during that era.

In the 16th century, the Mughal emperor Akbar's courtier, Kanwar Man Singh Sisodia, was a prominent figure who bore the surname "KANWAR." He was a Rajput nobleman from the Sisodia clan and served as a military commander and administrator under Akbar's reign.

Another notable figure with the surname "KANWAR" was Kanwar Krishnaji Appa Saheb Peshwa, who lived from 1800 to 1853. He was a Maratha aristocrat and the last Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire before its annexation by the British East India Company.

During the British Raj in India, several members of the Rajput nobility retained the surname "KANWAR." One example is Kanwar Sir Pratap Singh Bahadur, who was born in 1858 and served as the Prime Minister of the princely state of Jodhpur.

In more recent history, Kanwar Pal Singh Gill (1923-2017) was a prominent Indian civil servant and diplomat who held various high-ranking positions, including that of the Ambassador to the United States and the Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Overall, the surname "KANWAR" has a rich historical significance in India, particularly among the Rajput community, where it was originally used as a title for princes and later adopted as a hereditary surname by their descendants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kanwar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kanwar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Kanwar a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Kanwar surname mean?

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word "Kanhwar" meaning prince or heir apparent.

What does the Kanwar map show?

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