NameCensus.

UK surname

Sarkar

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person who governs or rules, derived from the Sanskrit word "sārathi".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southampton, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sarkar is 748 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

2015

748 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Sarkar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sarkar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sarkar 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 12 #32,329
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 362 #11,866
1998 modern 388 #11,612
1999 modern 406 #11,329
2000 modern 405 #11,290
2001 modern 410 #11,016
2002 modern 453 #10,391
2003 modern 445 #10,376
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 495 #9,516
2006 modern 509 #9,355
2007 modern 541 #9,006
2008 modern 603 #8,382
2009 modern 654 #8,030
2010 modern 680 #7,956
2011 modern 656 #8,094
2012 modern 691 #7,676
2013 modern 725 #7,535
2014 modern 745 #7,420
2015 modern 748 #7,315
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

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Where Sarkars 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 Southampton, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, Hounslow and Camden. 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 Southampton 022 Southampton
2 Lewisham 021 Lewisham
3 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
4 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
5 Camden 016 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sarkar

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sarkar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sarkar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sarkar

The surname Sarkar is of Indian origin, believed to have originated in the 14th or 15th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "sarkar," which means "government" or "authority." The name was likely given to individuals who held positions of authority or worked for the government during that time.

Sarkar is a common surname found among Hindus, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh. It is also found in other parts of India and among the Bengali diaspora around the world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sarkar can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative manual written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Sarkar who held administrative positions in the Mughal Empire.

In the 17th century, the name Sarkar appeared in the records of the British East India Company, which had established trading posts in various parts of India. Some notable individuals with the surname Sarkar from this period include Ramkrishna Sarkar (1668-1732), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Bengal, and Govinda Sarkar (1692-1760), a prominent scholar and writer.

During the 19th century, several individuals with the surname Sarkar gained recognition in various fields. One such individual was Iswarchandra Sarkar (1834-1889), a renowned Bengali novelist and playwright. Another was Jadunath Sarkar (1870-1958), a renowned historian and scholar known for his works on the Mughal Empire and the Indian independence movement.

In the 20th century, the name Sarkar continued to be associated with notable figures. Amiya Sarkar (1901-1985) was a renowned Bengali writer and poet, while Benoy Sarkar (1914-1992) was a prominent Indian sculptor and painter. Jayanta Sarkar (1923-2005) was a renowned Bengali writer and academic who made significant contributions to the study of Bengali literature.

Other notable individuals with the surname Sarkar include Nrisingha Prasad Sarkar (1885-1949), a prominent Indian lawyer and politician who served as the President of the Indian National Congress, and Amal Sarkar (1913-1987), a renowned Indian political activist and trade union leader.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sarkar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sarkar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Sarkar a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Sarkar surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin referring to a person who governs or rules, derived from the Sanskrit word "sārathi".

What does the Sarkar map show?

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