NameCensus.

UK surname

Natarajan

An Indian surname indicating the family's historical association with the Hindu deity Nataraja, an aspect of Lord Shiva.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Natarajan is 338 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

314

2016, ranked #14,291

Peak year

2013

338 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016, ranked #14,291.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Natarajan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Natarajan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Natarajan 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 70 #30,618
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 87 #29,398
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 203 #17,961
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 251 #16,026
2009 modern 274 #15,395
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 315 #14,131
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 338 #13,508
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 314 #14,291

Geography

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Where Natarajans 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 Hillingdon, Newham, Redbridge 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 Hillingdon 029 Hillingdon
2 Newham 010 Newham
3 Newham 018 Newham
4 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
5 Leeds 018 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Natarajan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Natarajan

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Natarajan 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

Natarajan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Natarajan

The surname Natarajan originated in India, specifically in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. The name is derived from the Tamil words "Natarajar," which refer to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer.

Natarajan is a combination of two words: "Natar" meaning "dancer" and "ajan" meaning "lord" or "master." This surname was likely adopted by devotees or followers of Lord Shiva, who revered him as the Lord of Dance (Nataraja). The name may have been associated with individuals involved in temple services, dance, or other artistic pursuits related to Shiva's worship.

Early records mentioning the surname Natarajan can be found in ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions on temple walls dating back to the Chola and Pallava dynasties, which ruled parts of present-day Tamil Nadu between the 6th and 13th centuries AD. Some notable examples include references in the Tevaram hymns composed by the Nayanar saints and in the inscriptions of the Brihadeshwara Temple in Thanjavur, built by the Chola king Rajaraja Chola I in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Natarajan was Nataraja Desika, a prominent Hindu philosopher and scholar who lived in the 14th century. He was a renowned exponent of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy and authored several literary works, including the Srimad Rahasyatrayasara.

Another notable figure was Nataraja Mudaliar, a 17th-century Tamil scholar and poet from the Thanjavur region. He is renowned for his contribution to Tamil literature, particularly in the field of grammar and poetics.

In the 19th century, Natarajan Govindhacharya, a Sanskrit scholar and grammarian, gained recognition for his works on Sanskrit grammar and literature. He authored several treatises, including the Narayana Vrittih, a commentary on the Ashtadhyayi of Panini.

During the 20th century, Natarajan Subramaniam, a renowned carnatic vocalist and music composer, left a significant impact on the world of Indian classical music. He was born in 1928 and received numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Another notable figure was Natarajan Krishnaswamy, a distinguished mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of partial differential equations. He was born in 1928 and served as a professor at various prestigious institutions, including the Indian Statistical Institute and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Natarajan surname: questions and answers

How common is the Natarajan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016. That gives Natarajan a modern rank of #14,291.

What does the Natarajan surname mean?

An Indian surname indicating the family's historical association with the Hindu deity Nataraja, an aspect of Lord Shiva.

What does the Natarajan map show?

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