NameCensus.

UK surname

Rajaratnam

A surname of Tamil origin meaning 'king of kings' or 'great king'.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rajaratnam is 398 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

360

2016, ranked #12,867

Peak year

2011

398 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 360 in 2016, ranked #12,867.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rajaratnam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rajaratnam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rajaratnam 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 187 #18,398
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 282 #14,585
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 302 #13,863
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 332 #13,207
2009 modern 380 #12,198
2010 modern 394 #12,131
2011 modern 398 #11,907
2012 modern 367 #12,499
2013 modern 376 #12,472
2014 modern 374 #12,598
2015 modern 368 #12,661
2016 modern 360 #12,867

Geography

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Where Rajaratnams 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 Barnet, Harrow, Merton, Brent and Croydon. 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 Barnet 030 Barnet
2 Harrow 031 Harrow
3 Merton 007 Merton
4 Brent 019 Brent
5 Croydon 009 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rajaratnam

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

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

Rajaratnam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rajaratnam

The surname Rajaratnam originates from the Indian subcontinent, predominantly from regions in the southern part of India such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words "Raja" meaning "king" and "Ratnam" meaning "jewel" or "gem." This suggests that the name may have been associated with royalty or individuals of high social status in ancient times.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rajaratnam can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions from the 5th to 9th centuries CE. During this period, the name was prevalent among the ruling dynasties and aristocratic families of the region. It is possible that the name was bestowed upon individuals who were considered as valuable and precious as a gem in the eyes of the king or the ruling class.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Rajaratnam was Sri Rajaratnam Pillai, a prominent Tamil scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. He was renowned for his literary works and contributions to the Tamil language and culture. Another individual of significance was Rajaratnam Velu Pillai, a prominent trader and merchant from the 19th century who played a significant role in the economic and cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia.

In the modern era, the name Rajaratnam has been carried by several influential individuals. One of the most notable is Raj Rajaratnam, a Sri Lankan-American billionaire and founder of the Galleon Group hedge fund. He was born in 1957 and gained notoriety for being convicted of insider trading in 2011. Another prominent figure is Rajaratnam Sambanthan, a Malaysian politician and former leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress, who was born in 1937 and played a significant role in advocating for the rights of the Indian community in Malaysia.

Other individuals with the surname Rajaratnam include Rajaratnam Krishnamurthy, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who was born in 1956 and has made significant contributions to the field of Bharatanatyam dance. Rajaratnam Sridharan, born in 1952, is a renowned Indian-American engineer and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the field of computer networking and data storage technologies.

While the name Rajaratnam holds deep historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has become more widely dispersed across the globe due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient kingdoms and ruling dynasties of southern India, where it was associated with royalty, nobility, and individuals of high social standing.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rajaratnam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rajaratnam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 360 in 2016. That gives Rajaratnam a modern rank of #12,867.

What does the Rajaratnam surname mean?

A surname of Tamil origin meaning 'king of kings' or 'great king'.

What does the Rajaratnam map show?

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