NameCensus.

UK surname

Puri

A surname of Indian origin referring to someone from Puri, a city in the state of Odisha.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Puri is 1,025 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,025

2016, ranked #5,691

Peak year

2016

1,025 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,025 in 2016, ranked #5,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Puri surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Puri surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Puri 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 585 #8,291
1998 modern 644 #7,963
1999 modern 666 #7,799
2000 modern 671 #7,742
2001 modern 659 #7,714
2002 modern 735 #7,221
2003 modern 761 #6,927
2004 modern 763 #6,935
2005 modern 790 #6,666
2006 modern 831 #6,419
2007 modern 836 #6,460
2008 modern 875 #6,263
2009 modern 918 #6,157
2010 modern 966 #6,043
2011 modern 962 #6,008
2012 modern 965 #5,900
2013 modern 1,008 #5,779
2014 modern 1,017 #5,782
2015 modern 1,014 #5,743
2016 modern 1,025 #5,691

Geography

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Where Puris 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 Hounslow. 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 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
2 Hounslow 012 Hounslow
3 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
4 Hounslow 011 Hounslow
5 Hounslow 004 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Puri

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

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

Puri 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

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

Meaning and origin of Puri

The surname Puri is believed to have originated in India, where it is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word "puri," meaning "town" or "city." This name likely first emerged in the medieval period, though its exact origins are uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Puri can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document commissioned by the Mughal emperor Akbar. This text mentions several individuals with the surname Puri, suggesting that the name was already well-established by that time.

The name Puri may also be linked to certain place names in India, such as the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, which is home to the famous Jagannath Temple. It is possible that the surname originated among individuals who hailed from or had connections to this region.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Puri. One example is Sayyid Ahmad Khan Puri (1550-1624), a prominent Sufi scholar and poet from the Mughal era. Another is Raja Ram Mohan Roy Puri (1772-1833), a renowned social reformer and one of the founders of the Brahmo Samaj movement.

In more recent times, the Puri surname has also been associated with individuals in various fields. These include Harish Puri (1925-2003), an Indian diplomat who served as ambassador to several countries, and Raghunath Puri (1925-2007), a renowned Indian classical vocalist and recipient of the Padma Bhushan award.

Additionally, the name Puri has been carried by several writers and academics, such as Balraj Puri (1919-2014), a noted Punjabi writer and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, and Satya Narain Puri (1927-2011), a distinguished historian and former vice-chancellor of the University of Delhi.

It is worth noting that while the surname Puri is primarily found in India, it has also been adopted by individuals of Indian descent living in other parts of the world, reflecting the diaspora of Indian communities over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Puri surname: questions and answers

How common is the Puri surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,025 in 2016. That gives Puri a modern rank of #5,691.

What does the Puri surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin referring to someone from Puri, a city in the state of Odisha.

What does the Puri map show?

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