NameCensus.

UK surname

Oza

A surname derived from the biblical name Joshua or Hosea, meaning "salvation" or "deliverance."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Islington, Harrow and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oza is 224 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

2010

224 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Oza surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oza surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oza 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 164 #19,944
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 165 #20,199
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 213 #18,284
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Ozas 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 Islington, Harrow, Hertsmere, Enfield and Redbridge. 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 Islington 012 Islington
2 Harrow 033 Harrow
3 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
4 Enfield 035 Enfield
5 Redbridge 034 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oza

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

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Oza 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

Oza 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

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

Meaning and origin of Oza

The surname OZA has its origins in India, where it can be traced back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Osha," which means "herb" or "plant." The name is believed to have been originally used by Hindu families involved in the cultivation and trade of medicinal herbs and spices.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name OZA can be found in the archives of the Maratha Empire, which ruled a large part of the Indian subcontinent from the 17th to the 19th century. The records mention an individual named Govind Oza, who served as a chief advisor to the Maratha ruler Shivaji in the late 17th century.

The name OZA was also prevalent in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where many families with this surname were engaged in the production and trading of spices and textiles. The city of Surat, a major trading hub during the Mughal era, had a significant population of OZA families.

In the 18th century, the name OZA appeared in the records of the East India Company, which had established trading posts in various parts of India. One notable figure was Rambhai Oza, a wealthy merchant from Surat who supplied spices and textiles to the British East India Company in the late 1700s.

During the British colonial period, several individuals with the surname OZA made significant contributions in various fields. Keshavlal Oza (1848-1921) was a prominent educationist and social reformer who established several schools and colleges in Gujarat. Manubhai Oza (1897-1971) was a renowned lawyer and a leader of the Indian independence movement, who actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.

In the field of literature, Jayant Oza (1929-2007) was a renowned Gujarati poet and playwright, known for his contribution to the Akhil Bharatiya Gujarati Sahitya Parishad (All India Gujarati Literary Council). Suresh Oza (born 1944) is a prominent Indian artist and sculptor, known for his works in bronze and stone.

While the name OZA is most prevalent in the western Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, it has also spread to other parts of the country and around the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oza surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oza surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Oza a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Oza surname mean?

A surname derived from the biblical name Joshua or Hosea, meaning "salvation" or "deliverance."

What does the Oza map show?

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