NameCensus.

UK surname

Kapasi

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'kapashi' meaning 'cotton worker' or 'cotton trader'.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Salford and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kapasi is 259 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

2012

259 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Kapasi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kapasi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kapasi 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 150 #21,119
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 198 #18,308
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 211 #17,662
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 255 #16,428
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 252 #16,689
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

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Where Kapasis 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 Waltham Forest, Salford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Lincolnshire and Bolton. 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 Waltham Forest 009 Waltham Forest
2 Salford 007 Salford
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 016 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 North Lincolnshire 017 North Lincolnshire
5 Bolton 016 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kapasi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kapasi

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Kapasi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kapasi household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kapasi 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

Kapasi is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kapasi falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kapasi 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
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kapasi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kapasi

The surname "KAPASI" is believed to have originated in India, dating back to the 16th century or earlier. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "kapasa," which means cotton or the cotton plant. The name suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in the cultivation, trade, or processing of cotton.

The earliest records of the name "KAPASI" can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from the Indian subcontinent. One notable mention is in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which lists various professional groups and their respective surnames.

In the 17th century, the name "KAPASI" appears in the records of the East India Company, indicating that individuals with this surname were engaged in the cotton trade with British merchants. One such individual was Govind Kapasi, a prominent cotton trader from Surat, Gujarat, who lived in the late 17th century.

As the British Empire expanded its influence in India, the name "KAPASI" became more widely dispersed across various regions. In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with this surname in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai) and Calcutta (now Kolkata), where they were involved in the textile industry and other commercial activities.

One notable figure with the surname "KAPASI" was Narottam Kapasi, a social reformer and advocate for women's education in the late 19th century. He founded the Kapasi Boarding School for Girls in Bombay in 1892, which was one of the earliest institutions dedicated to providing education for Indian women.

Another prominent individual was Jamsetji Kapasi, a successful businessman and philanthropist from Bombay, who lived from 1833 to 1906. He was known for his charitable contributions, particularly in the field of education and healthcare.

In the 20th century, the name "KAPASI" continued to be associated with various professionals and notable figures. For example, Muljibhai Kapasi was a renowned Indian architect who designed several iconic buildings in Bombay during the mid-20th century.

While the name "KAPASI" is most commonly found in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and the Indian diaspora. Today, individuals with this surname can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kapasi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kapasi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Kapasi a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Kapasi surname mean?

An Indian surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'kapashi' meaning 'cotton worker' or 'cotton trader'.

What does the Kapasi map show?

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