NameCensus.

UK surname

Kundu

A surname of Indian origin meaning "pot-maker" or "drummer."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Kirklees and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kundu is 173 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

171

2016, ranked #21,726

Peak year

2015

173 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016, ranked #21,726.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Kundu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kundu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kundu 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 87 #28,749
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 115 #25,538
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 171 #21,726

Geography

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Where Kundus 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 Lewisham, Kirklees, Stockton-on-Tees, Wakefield 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 Lewisham 031 Lewisham
2 Kirklees 007 Kirklees
3 Stockton-on-Tees 002 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Wakefield 019 Wakefield
5 Leeds 104 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kundu

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

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Kundu is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Kundu 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

Kundu 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 Kundu is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Kundu

The surname Kundu originates from India, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Bengali word "kundu," which refers to a type of small hand drum traditionally used in folk music and dance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kundu name can be found in historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent between the 16th and 19th centuries. During this period, the Kundu family was likely involved in the arts, particularly music and dance, as the name's connection to the traditional drum suggests.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Hari Kundu emerged as a renowned musician and composer in the court of the Nawab of Bengal. His contributions to the development of classical Indian music have been celebrated by historians and music scholars alike.

Another notable bearer of the Kundu name was Shyama Kundu, a Bengali poet and writer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1879, Shyama Kundu's works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, earning him a respected place in the literary canon of Bengal.

In the realm of Indian politics, Radha Mohan Kundu was a prominent figure during the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century. A staunch supporter of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance, Radha Mohan Kundu (1887-1964) dedicated his life to the cause of Indian freedom from British colonial rule.

Additionally, the Kundu name has been associated with various places and regions within India. For example, Kundu Bari is a historic village in West Bengal, while Kundu Pathar is a hill station located in the state of Jharkhand.

Throughout its history, the Kundu surname has maintained a strong connection to its roots in the arts, literature, and cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the rich diversity and heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kundu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kundu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016. That gives Kundu a modern rank of #21,726.

What does the Kundu surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin meaning "pot-maker" or "drummer."

What does the Kundu map show?

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