NameCensus.

UK surname

Mitra

A surname of Indian origin meaning "friend," derived from the Sanskrit word "mitra."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Ellon East and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mitra is 541 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

525

2016, ranked #9,654

Peak year

2011

541 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016, ranked #9,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mitra surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mitra surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mitra 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 339 #12,810
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 346 #12,478
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 406 #11,150
2004 modern 434 #10,619
2005 modern 443 #10,331
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 516 #9,416
2009 modern 525 #9,501
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 541 #9,400
2012 modern 523 #9,555
2013 modern 540 #9,483
2014 modern 537 #9,565
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 525 #9,654

Geography

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Where Mitras 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 Wycombe, Ellon East, Bradford, Barnet and Camden. 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 Wycombe 015 Wycombe
2 Ellon East Aberdeenshire
3 Bradford 039 Bradford
4 Barnet 023 Barnet
5 Camden 005 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mitra

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Mitra surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mitra household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mitra is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mitra 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

Mitra falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mitra 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 Mitra, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mitra

The surname Mitra has its origins in India, with the earliest known references dating back to the Vedic period, around 1500-500 BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "mitra," which means "friend" or "ally." The name is associated with the Mitra clan or gotra, which was prominent in the ancient Indian society.

In Hindu mythology, Mitra is also the name of a Vedic deity, the god of friendship, contracts, and oaths. The name is mentioned in various ancient Indian texts, including the Rigveda, one of the oldest Hindu scriptures.

The Mitra surname is found predominantly among Hindu Brahmin communities, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam in eastern India. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to inscriptions and manuscripts from the 5th to 7th centuries CE.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Mitra was Haraprasad Mitra, a Bengali scholar and linguist who lived in the 19th century (1809-1864). He made significant contributions to the study of Sanskrit literature and grammar.

Another notable figure was Rajendralala Mitra (1824-1891), a renowned Bengali scholar, antiquarian, and writer. He was a pioneer in the field of Indian archaeology and contributed greatly to the preservation of ancient Indian manuscripts and artifacts.

In the field of literature, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the Nobel Prize-winning Bengali poet and philosopher, had a close friend and collaborator named Ramananda Mitra, who was also a writer and translator.

Mitra Subhash Chandra Bose (1897-1945), an Indian nationalist and revolutionary leader, is another important figure with the surname. He played a crucial role in India's struggle for independence from British rule.

Lastly, Hirendra Nath Mitra (1881-1956) was a prominent Indian mathematician and physicist, known for his contributions to the study of differential geometry and tensor analysis.

Overall, the surname Mitra has a rich history and cultural significance in India, particularly in the eastern regions, and has been associated with scholars, writers, and intellectuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mitra surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mitra surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016. That gives Mitra a modern rank of #9,654.

What does the Mitra surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin meaning "friend," derived from the Sanskrit word "mitra."

What does the Mitra map show?

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