NameCensus.

UK surname

Murugesan

A Tamil surname derived from Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murugesan is 141 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2014

141 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Murugesan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murugesan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murugesan 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 18 #36,053
1998 modern 20 #35,885
1999 modern 21 #35,810
2000 modern 19 #36,007
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 32 #34,862
2004 modern 39 #34,477
2005 modern 39 #34,652
2006 modern 59 #33,330
2007 modern 65 #33,045
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Murugesans 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, Croydon, Newham and Southampton. 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 030 Brent
2 Croydon 011 Croydon
3 Croydon 020 Croydon
4 Newham 010 Newham
5 Southampton 007 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murugesan

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

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

Murugesan 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

Murugesan 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 Murugesan 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 Murugesan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Murugesan

The surname Murugesan originated in India, specifically in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It can be traced back to the ancient Dravidian language of Tamil, which has a rich literary tradition dating back to the 3rd century BCE. The name Murugesan is derived from the Hindu deity Murugan, who is also known as Kartikeya or Subrahmanya, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

The name Murugesan has its roots in the Tamil word "Murugan," which means "beautiful one" or "the handsome one." It is believed that the suffix "esan" was added to the name, denoting reverence or respect for the deity. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Tamil literature, such as the Sangam period works and the Puranas, which are Hindu religious texts.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Murugesan was Sri Murugesan, a renowned Tamil scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. He is best known for his work "Murugan Arupathu," which is a collection of hymns dedicated to Lord Murugan. Another notable figure was Murugesan Pillai, a 17th-century Tamil poet and playwright who wrote several influential works, including the play "Nandanar Charithram."

In the 18th century, a prominent Murugesan was Murugesan Sastri, a scholar and author who wrote extensively on Tamil grammar and literature. His works, such as "Ilakkana Vilakkam" and "Nannul Urai," remain important references for Tamil scholars to this day. During the same period, Murugesan Mudaliar, a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Madras (now Chennai), made significant contributions to the city's development and supported various educational and cultural institutions.

In more recent times, Murugesan Sivaprakasam was a renowned Tamil writer and journalist who lived from 1880 to 1946. He was a prolific author, known for his novels, short stories, and essays, and was also a strong advocate for social reform and women's rights. Another notable figure was Murugesan Muthiah, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Tamil Nadu who lived from 1916 to 2008. He was instrumental in the growth of several industries in the state and was also a patron of arts, culture, and education.

The surname Murugesan continues to be prevalent in Tamil Nadu and among the Tamil diaspora around the world, reflecting the deep cultural and religious roots of this ancient name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Murugesan surname: questions and answers

How common is the Murugesan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Murugesan a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Murugesan surname mean?

A Tamil surname derived from Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.

What does the Murugesan map show?

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