NameCensus.

UK surname

Manji

A surname of Japanese origin meaning "roadside inn" or "lodge keeper."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manji is 395 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

371

2016, ranked #12,561

Peak year

2010

395 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016, ranked #12,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Manji surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Manji surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Manji 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 286 #13,942
1998 modern 322 #13,248
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 305 #13,594
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 347 #12,516
2005 modern 354 #12,270
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 369 #12,098
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 388 #12,000
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 391 #12,062
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 376 #12,472
2014 modern 376 #12,553
2015 modern 377 #12,428
2016 modern 371 #12,561

Geography

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Where Manjis 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 Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon. 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 Brent 001 Brent
2 Brent 033 Brent
3 Harrow 017 Harrow
4 Hillingdon 002 Hillingdon
5 Harrow 011 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Manji

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

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

Manji 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

Manji 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 Manji is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
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 Manji, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Manji

The surname Manji has its origins in India, and it is believed to have emerged in the 16th century or earlier. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "manji," which means "a small cot or bedstead." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person whose occupation was related to making or selling these cots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Manji can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document commissioned by the Mughal emperor Akbar. This document mentions a person named Manji Khatri, who held a position in the imperial court.

In the 17th century, the surname Manji appeared in various historical records from the region of Gujarat, India. For example, a merchant named Manji Virji is mentioned in the East India Company's trade records from the 1670s.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Manji surname was found in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Some notable individuals with this surname include Manji Khetshi Meghji (1818-1891), a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Bombay (now Mumbai), and Manji Govindji Desai (1871-1945), a lawyer and judge in the Bombay Presidency.

In the 20th century, the surname Manji gained greater prominence as people with this name made significant contributions in various fields. One example is Irshad Manji (born 1968), a Canadian author, activist, and educator known for her work on Muslim reform and advocacy for human rights.

Another notable figure with the surname Manji is Mahmoud Manji (1939-2017), a Tanzanian-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist who founded and led several successful companies. He was also recognized for his philanthropic efforts in education and healthcare.

Other individuals with the surname Manji include Shafiq Manji (born 1958), a Ugandan-born British journalist and author, and Mahesh Manji (born 1970), an Indian-born American businessman and entrepreneur in the technology sector.

While the surname Manji is most commonly associated with the Indian subcontinent, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Manji surname: questions and answers

How common is the Manji surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016. That gives Manji a modern rank of #12,561.

What does the Manji surname mean?

A surname of Japanese origin meaning "roadside inn" or "lodge keeper."

What does the Manji map show?

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