NameCensus.

UK surname

Nath

A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "natha," meaning "lord" or "protector."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Nath surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 598, ranked #8,735, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Weald Bassett, Yardley and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Redbridge and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nath is 614 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8442.9%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

598

2016, ranked #8,735

Peak year

2010

614 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nath had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016, ranked #8,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 240 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Nath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nath surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nath 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
1851 historical 83 #19,181
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 147 #18,592
1901 historical 23 #31,466
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 398 #11,486
2000 modern 438 #10,669
2001 modern 431 #10,606
2002 modern 457 #10,314
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 482 #9,685
2006 modern 511 #9,331
2007 modern 522 #9,254
2008 modern 544 #9,041
2009 modern 577 #8,838
2010 modern 614 #8,638
2011 modern 609 #8,585
2012 modern 581 #8,804
2013 modern 609 #8,636
2014 modern 608 #8,709
2015 modern 606 #8,667
2016 modern 598 #8,735

Geography

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Where Naths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Weald Bassett, Yardley, Portsmouth, Portsea, St George the Martyr and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Redbridge, Bedford, Charnwood and Kingston upon Thames. 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 North Weald Bassett Essex
2 Yardley Warwickshire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 022 Ealing
2 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
3 Bedford 015 Bedford
4 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
5 Kingston upon Thames 017 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nath

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

Nath 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nath

The surname Nath has its origins in India, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "natha," which means "lord" or "protector." The name is believed to have originated among the Brahmin caste in the northern and central regions of the subcontinent.

One of the earliest documented references to the Nath surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The work mentions several individuals with the surname Nath who held positions of authority during the reign of Akbar.

In the 17th century, the Nath surname appeared in various local records and historical documents from the region now known as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Some notable individuals from this period include Pandit Gokul Nath (1600-1680), a renowned scholar and poet, and Swami Vishnu Nath (1635-1710), a revered spiritual leader.

During the 18th century, the Nath surname gained prominence in the region of Bengal, where several families with this name held influential positions in local administration and society. One such figure was Raja Ram Nath (1720-1785), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who funded the construction of several temples and educational institutions.

In the 19th century, the Nath surname continued to be well-represented among the educated and professional classes in various parts of India. Notable individuals from this period include Lala Shyam Nath (1810-1875), a prominent social reformer and educationist, and Sir Ganesh Nath (1850-1920), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

As India entered the modern era, the Nath surname continued to be associated with achievements in various fields. Some notable figures include Dr. Radha Nath (1890-1970), a pioneering scientist who made significant contributions to the field of plant genetics, and Govind Nath (1915-1992), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional and modern styles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nath surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 4 Naths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 5.88x
Caernarfonshire 1 36.36x
Gloucestershire 1 7.49x
Sussex 1 8.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 3 Naths recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.53x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 3 78.53x
Bristol St Michael 1 909.09x
Hastings St Mary 1 344.83x
Llangybi 1 10000.00x
St Clement Danes 1 909.09x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Leah 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 1
Hugh 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nath households.

FAQ

Nath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Nath surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016. That gives Nath a modern rank of #8,735.

What does the Nath surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "natha," meaning "lord" or "protector."

What does the Nath map show?

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