NameCensus.

UK surname

Munshi

A surname indicating one who functions as a secretary or language expert.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Lancaster and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munshi is 653 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

608

2016, ranked #8,623

Peak year

2010

653 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016, ranked #8,623.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Munshi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munshi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munshi 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 343 #12,349
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 381 #11,873
2000 modern 414 #11,127
2001 modern 424 #10,740
2002 modern 478 #9,963
2003 modern 525 #9,162
2004 modern 536 #9,032
2005 modern 553 #8,749
2006 modern 567 #8,637
2007 modern 572 #8,657
2008 modern 602 #8,392
2009 modern 621 #8,376
2010 modern 653 #8,212
2011 modern 627 #8,394
2012 modern 586 #8,757
2013 modern 601 #8,741
2014 modern 603 #8,769
2015 modern 603 #8,704
2016 modern 608 #8,623

Geography

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Where Munshis 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 Kirklees, Lancaster, Bolton and Preston. 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 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
2 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
3 Bolton 005 Bolton
4 Preston 016 Preston
5 Bolton 016 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munshi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munshi

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Munshi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Munshi household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Munshi 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

Munshi 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

Munshi falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Munshi

The surname MUNSHI is of Indian origin, specifically from the Hindi language. It emerged during the medieval period in the Indian subcontinent, around the 12th to 16th centuries.

MUNSHI is derived from the Persian word "munshi," which means a writer, secretary, or clerk. The name was initially used to refer to individuals who were proficient in written language and employed as scribes or record-keepers in various administrative or literary roles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MUNSHI can be found in the Akbarnama, a 16th-century biography of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions several individuals with the title "Munshi," indicating their roles as writers or secretaries in the imperial court.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the surname MUNSHI was Isardas Nagar Munshi, a renowned poet and author from Agra. His literary works, including the Nagar Shobha and Ardhkathanak, are considered significant contributions to the Hindi literary tradition.

Another prominent individual with the surname MUNSHI was Kavi Kalidas Munshi (1888-1971), an Indian writer, scholar, and politician. He served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh and played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement, working closely with Mahatma Gandhi.

The name MUNSHI is also associated with Lilavati Munshi (1863-1938), a pioneering Indian social reformer and educator. She established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote women's education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the realm of literature, Khushwant Singh Munshi (1915-2014) was a renowned Indian author, journalist, and diplomat. His works, including novels, short stories, and non-fiction, provided insightful perspectives on Indian culture, history, and society.

The surname MUNSHI has also been found in various historical records and manuscripts from different regions of India, reflecting the widespread presence of individuals with this occupation across the subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Munshi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Munshi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016. That gives Munshi a modern rank of #8,623.

What does the Munshi surname mean?

A surname indicating one who functions as a secretary or language expert.

What does the Munshi map show?

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