NameCensus.

UK surname

Sen

A surname of Turkish origin meaning "you are" or "you" in Turkish.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Sen surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,106, ranked #5,314, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Middlesbrough and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sen is 1,107 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18333.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

1,106

2016, ranked #5,314

Peak year

2014

1,107 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sen had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016, ranked #5,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sen 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
1851 historical 73 #20,581
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 18 #32,032
1997 modern 570 #8,442
1998 modern 599 #8,407
1999 modern 638 #8,074
2000 modern 637 #8,054
2001 modern 646 #7,837
2002 modern 709 #7,436
2003 modern 726 #7,175
2004 modern 735 #7,129
2005 modern 768 #6,823
2006 modern 791 #6,692
2007 modern 831 #6,491
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 922 #6,140
2010 modern 1,034 #5,718
2011 modern 999 #5,831
2012 modern 1,013 #5,682
2013 modern 1,098 #5,384
2014 modern 1,107 #5,370
2015 modern 1,103 #5,339
2016 modern 1,106 #5,314

Geography

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Where Sens 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 Hackney, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Hackney 002 Hackney
2 Middlesbrough 008 Middlesbrough
3 Oxford 008 Oxford
4 Islington 011 Islington
5 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sen

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sen, 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 Sen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sen 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sen 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

Sen falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sen 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
Unknown

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

Meaning and origin of Sen

The surname "Sen" has its origins in India, where it first emerged as early as the 6th century AD. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "sena," which means army or military. This suggests that the name may have originally been used to denote someone who was part of an army or had a military profession.

In ancient Indian texts and records, the name "Sen" can be found in various spellings, such as "Sena," "Sain," or "Sein." One of the earliest known references is in the Gupta Empire inscriptions from the 4th-6th centuries AD, where individuals with the title "Senapati" (commander of the army) are mentioned.

During the medieval period, the name "Sen" became more widespread across different regions of India. Several notable figures bore this surname, including Ballala Sen (1192-1293), a ruler of the Sena dynasty in Bengal, and Lakshman Sen (1179-1238), the last Hindu ruler of Bengal before the Muslim conquest.

As the name spread across India, it also took on different regional variations. In the state of West Bengal, for example, the spelling "Shen" became common, while in other parts of India, variations like "Senne" or "Senne" were used.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "Sen" was the philosopher and mathematician Bhaskaracharya (1114-1185), also known as Bhaskara II or Bhaskaracharya II. He was a renowned scholar and authored several important works on mathematics and astronomy.

Other notable individuals with the surname "Sen" include the Indian freedom fighter Khudiram Bose (1889-1908), who was hanged by the British for his involvement in the independence movement, and the modern Indian writer and academic Amartya Sen (born 1933), who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998.

It is worth noting that the name "Sen" has also been adopted by individuals from other communities in India, not necessarily linked to its original military connotation. However, the surname's roots can be traced back to the ancient Indian subcontinent, where it emerged as a marker of military or administrative status.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 2 Sens recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.67x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 2 18.67x
Middlesex 2 4.12x
Gloucestershire 1 10.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranmere in Cheshire leads with 2 Sens recorded in 1881 and an index of 512.82x.

Place Total Index
Tranmere 2 512.82x
Cirencester 1 769.23x
Hornsey 1 163.93x
St Pancras London 1 25.64x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ellen 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ambika 1
James 1
Rajanikanta 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sen households.

FAQ

Sen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Sen surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016. That gives Sen a modern rank of #5,314.

What does the Sen surname mean?

A surname of Turkish origin meaning "you are" or "you" in Turkish.

What does the Sen map show?

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