UK surname

Kotak

A surname of Indian origin meaning treasury or strongbox.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kotak is 278 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

2010

278 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Map

Kotak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kotak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Kotak 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
1911	historical	2	#34,020
1997	modern	155	#20,684
1998	modern	161	#20,754
1999	modern	166	#20,458
2000	modern	167	#20,332
2001	modern	161	#20,543
2002	modern	180	#19,533
2003	modern	197	#18,311
2004	modern	195	#18,500
2005	modern	211	#17,520
2006	modern	223	#17,036
2007	modern	234	#16,706
2008	modern	255	#15,859
2009	modern	253	#16,283
2010	modern	278	#15,567
2011	modern	253	#16,493
2012	modern	261	#16,041
2013	modern	261	#16,309
2014	modern	263	#16,334
2015	modern	261	#16,318
2016	modern	257	#16,485

Geography

Where Kotaks 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, Charnwood, Brent 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 008	Leicester
2	Leicester 002	Leicester
3	Charnwood 021	Charnwood
4	Brent 007	Brent
5	Harrow 019	Harrow

Forenames

First names often paired with Kotak

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Dipa Harsha Rama Gemma Reena Avni Rakhee Meera Ila Nisha

Recent male names

Vishal Bharat Bhavin Mahendra Dharmesh Naresh Bipin Ashish Nishit Minesh

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Kotak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kotak, 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 Kotak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kotak 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, Kotak 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

Kotak 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kotak falls in decile 6 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kotak 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Asian - Indian

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Kotak

The surname Kotak is believed to have originated in India, with its roots tracing back several centuries. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "koshtha," which means "treasury" or "granary." It is thought to have initially referred to individuals who were involved in managing or overseeing financial affairs or granaries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kotak can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts, where it was used to identify individuals associated with financial or administrative roles. The name gained prominence during the medieval period in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions like Gujarat and Maharashtra.

In the 16th century, the surname Kotak appeared in several historical records and documents related to trade and commerce. One notable example is the mention of a merchant named Shyam Kotak, who was involved in the flourishing spice trade between India and Europe during the reign of the Mughal Empire.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kotak name became more widespread as members of this family established themselves as successful traders and businessmen. One prominent figure from this era was Ratan Kotak, a wealthy merchant from Gujarat who funded the construction of several temples and educational institutions in the region.

In the 19th century, the Kotak surname gained further recognition with the emergence of notable figures like Narottam Kotak, a renowned scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement alongside leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. Narottam Kotak was born in 1875 and dedicated his life to promoting education and social reform.

Another significant individual with the Kotak surname was Laxmi Kotak, a pioneering woman entrepreneur who established one of the first textile mills owned and operated by a woman in India. Laxmi Kotak, born in 1892, challenged societal norms and paved the way for women's empowerment in business and industry.

In more recent times, the Kotak name has been associated with successful business ventures and prominent individuals in various fields. One such example is Uday Kotak, the founder and executive vice-chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of India's leading private sector banks. Uday Kotak, born in 1959, is widely recognized as a visionary entrepreneur and a respected figure in the Indian financial sector.

While the surname Kotak has its origins in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical roots and significance of this name can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it has played a significant role in shaping the country's cultural and economic landscape over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kotak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kotak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Kotak a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Kotak surname mean?