NameCensus.

UK surname

Raja

A royal title or surname referring to a ruler, monarch, or princely status in several South Asian languages.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raja is 4,771 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

4,731

2016, ranked #1,438

Peak year

2010

4,771 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,731 in 2016, ranked #1,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Raja surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raja surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raja 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
1997 modern 2,080 #2,952
1998 modern 2,284 #2,826
1999 modern 2,467 #2,661
2000 modern 2,637 #2,494
2001 modern 2,675 #2,426
2002 modern 3,103 #2,169
2003 modern 3,291 #2,009
2004 modern 3,406 #1,943
2005 modern 3,576 #1,828
2006 modern 3,770 #1,738
2007 modern 3,974 #1,657
2008 modern 4,218 #1,570
2009 modern 4,517 #1,510
2010 modern 4,771 #1,462
2011 modern 4,713 #1,456
2012 modern 4,629 #1,453
2013 modern 4,752 #1,444
2014 modern 4,766 #1,446
2015 modern 4,703 #1,450
2016 modern 4,731 #1,438

Geography

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Where Rajas 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 Manchester, Newham, Pendle, Slough and Kirklees. 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 Manchester 027 Manchester
2 Newham 010 Newham
3 Pendle 011 Pendle
4 Slough 007 Slough
5 Kirklees 013 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raja

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

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Raja 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

Raja 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

Raja 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 Raja 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
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Raja, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Raja

The surname RAJA originates from India and is derived from the Sanskrit word "raja," which means "king" or "ruler." The name has a long and rich history dating back to ancient times.

In India, the title "Raja" was used to refer to the rulers of various kingdoms and principalities. The name RAJA was often associated with royalty and nobility, and it was carried by many influential and powerful individuals throughout Indian history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAJA can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Mahabharata. These texts mention various kings and rulers who bore the title "Raja," indicating that the name has been in use for thousands of years.

During the medieval period, the name RAJA gained further prominence as many ruling dynasties emerged across different regions of India. Some notable individuals with the surname RAJA include Raja Raja Chola (985-1014 CE), a powerful ruler of the Chola Empire, and Raja Rana Sanga (1482-1528 CE), a legendary Rajput ruler known for his bravery and military prowess.

The name RAJA also appears in various historical records and manuscripts, such as the Bakhshali Manuscript, an ancient Indian mathematical treatise dating back to the 3rd or 4th century CE, which mentions a scribe named RAJA.

In addition to its royal connotations, the name RAJA has also been associated with certain place names and geographical locations in India. For instance, the city of Rajasthan, which translates to "the land of kings," is derived from the word "Raja," reflecting the region's rich history of royal dynasties.

Notable individuals with the surname RAJA include Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833 CE), a prominent social reformer and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj movement, and Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906 CE), a celebrated Indian painter best known for his depictions of mythological and historical scenes.

Other famous individuals with the surname RAJA include Raja Ramanna (1925-2004 CE), an eminent Indian nuclear physicist and the architect of India's nuclear program, and Raja Rao (1908-2006 CE), a celebrated Indian writer and one of the pioneers of philosophical fiction in the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Raja surname: questions and answers

How common is the Raja surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,731 in 2016. That gives Raja a modern rank of #1,438.

What does the Raja surname mean?

A royal title or surname referring to a ruler, monarch, or princely status in several South Asian languages.

What does the Raja map show?

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