NameCensus.

UK surname

Suman

A surname of Indian origin meaning 'good', 'well-mannered', or 'virtuous'.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Suman surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Bedford and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Suman is 388 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9600.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

2016

388 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Suman had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Suman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Suman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Suman 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 35 #31,540
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 199 #18,177
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 230 #16,415
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 275 #14,624
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 348 #13,134
2012 modern 370 #12,417
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 386 #12,318
2015 modern 384 #12,276
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

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Where Sumans 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 Wolverhampton, Bedford, Sandwell, Hillingdon and Ealing. 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 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
2 Bedford 015 Bedford
3 Sandwell 020 Sandwell
4 Hillingdon 023 Hillingdon
5 Ealing 017 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Suman

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

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

Suman 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

Suman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Suman 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 Suman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Suman

The surname Suman has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Punjab. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "sumana," which means "flower" or "fragrant."

In ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, the name Suman can be found mentioned in various contexts, often referring to individuals from the Kshatriya (warrior) or Vaishya (merchant) castes. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, where a poet named Suman is mentioned.

The name Suman has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known figures was Suman Rishi, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century. He is credited with writing several literary works, including the Navaratna, a collection of nine poetic gems.

Another prominent individual with the surname Suman was Suman Lal, a 17th-century poet and author from the Mughal Empire. He wrote extensively in Persian and is known for his works such as the Tazkira-e-Shuara, a biographical dictionary of poets.

In the 19th century, Suman Singh Bhandari was a prominent figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company. He was a military commander who fought against the British forces in the region of Avadh (now part of Uttar Pradesh).

More recently, Suman Kalyanpur was a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee from India, born in 1937. She was known for her contributions to the Khayal and Thumri genres of Indian classical music.

In the field of academia, Suman Gupta is a notable figure. Born in 1958, he is a distinguished professor of English and Cultural Studies at The Open University in the United Kingdom, with a focus on postcolonial literature and theory.

While the surname Suman has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly among the Indian diaspora. However, its earliest origins and historical references can be traced back to the medieval period in the Punjab region, where it was initially associated with literary and scholarly pursuits, as well as military and political figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Suman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Suman 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Sumans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.15x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 5.15x
Lancashire 1 2.17x
Sussex 1 15.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 1 Sumans recorded in 1881 and an index of 158.73x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 1 158.73x
Brighton 1 75.76x
Islington London 1 26.53x
Spitalfields London 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
John 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 Suman households.

FAQ

Suman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Suman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Suman surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Suman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Suman a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Suman surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin meaning 'good', 'well-mannered', or 'virtuous'.

What does the Suman map show?

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