NameCensus.

UK surname

Popat

A surname of Indian origin, meaning religious head or leader.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Popat is 1,650 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,518

2016, ranked #4,076

Peak year

2010

1,650 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,518 in 2016, ranked #4,076.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Popat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Popat surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Popat 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 1,161 #4,852
1998 modern 1,247 #4,733
1999 modern 1,285 #4,647
2000 modern 1,295 #4,596
2001 modern 1,276 #4,558
2002 modern 1,352 #4,423
2003 modern 1,437 #4,135
2004 modern 1,460 #4,084
2005 modern 1,437 #4,106
2006 modern 1,481 #4,012
2007 modern 1,542 #3,893
2008 modern 1,573 #3,843
2009 modern 1,570 #3,942
2010 modern 1,650 #3,854
2011 modern 1,609 #3,900
2012 modern 1,542 #3,983
2013 modern 1,596 #3,927
2014 modern 1,578 #3,985
2015 modern 1,529 #4,067
2016 modern 1,518 #4,076

Geography

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Where Popats 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 Leicester and Harrow. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 009 Leicester
3 Harrow 015 Harrow
4 Leicester 010 Leicester
5 Leicester 002 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Popat

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

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

Popat 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

Popat falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Popat

The surname POPAT is of Indian origin, specifically from the Gujarat region of western India. It is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century. The name is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "poppat," which means "a kind of sweet cake." This suggests that the name may have been originally an occupational surname for someone who made or sold these sweet treats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the POPAT surname dates back to the late 17th century in a village record from the Surat district of Gujarat. A merchant named Govind POPAT was listed as a resident of the village in 1685. The name also appears in a few 18th-century trade documents from the East India Company, which had a strong presence in Gujarat during that time.

In the 19th century, the name POPAT can be found in various historical records from the Bombay Presidency (now part of the modern-day states of Maharashtra and Gujarat). A notable figure was Magan POPAT, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from the city of Surat, who lived from 1810 to 1887. He is remembered for his contributions to education and public works in the region.

Another prominent individual bearing the POPAT surname was Govind POPAT, a social reformer and educator who lived from 1845 to 1910. He was a vocal advocate for women's education and the abolition of practices like child marriage and the caste system. Govind POPAT founded several schools and educational institutions in Gujarat during his lifetime.

In the early 20th century, Chamanlal POPAT was a successful businessman and industrialist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He established the Chamanlal POPAT Mills, a textile manufacturing company that played a significant role in the region's industrial development.

Another notable figure from the 20th century was Narottam POPAT, a celebrated writer and poet from Gujarat. Born in 1923, he is known for his contributions to Gujarati literature, particularly in the genres of poetry, short stories, and essays. Narottam POPAT's works often explored themes of social justice, human emotions, and the beauty of nature.

While the POPAT surname has its roots in Gujarat, it has since spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the western Indian state, where it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Popat surname: questions and answers

How common is the Popat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,518 in 2016. That gives Popat a modern rank of #4,076.

What does the Popat surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, meaning religious head or leader.

What does the Popat map show?

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