NameCensus.

UK surname

Rajagopalan

A Hindu surname indicating one who is a devotee or worshipper of Lord Krishna.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rajagopalan is 106 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2014

106 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rajagopalan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rajagopalan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rajagopalan 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 33 #34,377
1998 modern 38 #34,066
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 41 #33,889
2001 modern 42 #33,658
2002 modern 53 #33,021
2003 modern 54 #32,990
2004 modern 56 #33,067
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 77 #31,510
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 91 #31,497
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Rajagopalans 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 Watford, Hounslow, Rotherham, South Kesteven and Brent. 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 Watford 007 Watford
2 Hounslow 020 Hounslow
3 Rotherham 023 Rotherham
4 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven
5 Brent 004 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rajagopalan

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Rajagopalan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rajagopalan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rajagopalan 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

Rajagopalan 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

Rajagopalan falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rajagopalan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Rajagopalan

The surname Rajagopalan originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Tamil name that can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier. The name is a combination of two Tamil words, "Raja" meaning king or ruler, and "Gopalan" meaning protector or cowherd.

The earliest known reference to the name Rajagopalan can be found in ancient Tamil literary works and inscriptions from the Chola and Pandya dynasties that ruled over parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. These inscriptions often recorded the names of local chieftains, landowners, and officials, some of whom bore the name Rajagopalan.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire and the Nayak dynasties, the name Rajagopalan became more prevalent among the ruling and land-owning classes in the Tamil region. Several prominent individuals with this surname are mentioned in historical records from this period, including Rajagopalan Nayak, a feudatory ruler in the Madurai region in the late 17th century.

As the British colonial rule expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Rajagopalan appeared in various administrative and legal documents, such as land revenue records and court proceedings. One notable individual was Rajagopalan Pillai, a wealthy landowner and influential figure in the Tanjore district during the early 19th century.

In the 20th century, several individuals with the surname Rajagopalan gained prominence in various fields. Rajagopalachari (1878-1972), also known as Chakravarti Rajagopalachari or C. Rajagopalachari, was a prominent Indian politician, writer, and statesman who served as the last Governor-General of India before independence. Another notable figure was Sir Rajagopala Aiyar Shastri (1880-1953), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rajagopalan include Rajagopalan Naidu (1900-1970), a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer, and Rajagopalan Venkataraman (1910-2009), who served as the eighth President of India from 1987 to 1992.

While the name Rajagopalan is most commonly found in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it has also spread to other parts of India and beyond due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Tamil language and culture, reflecting the rich historical and linguistic heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rajagopalan surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rajagopalan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Rajagopalan a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Rajagopalan surname mean?

A Hindu surname indicating one who is a devotee or worshipper of Lord Krishna.

What does the Rajagopalan map show?

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