NameCensus.

UK surname

Taj

A surname derived from the Persian word "taj" meaning crown or diadem, likely referring to an exalted ancestor.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Birmingham and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taj is 994 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

948

2016, ranked #6,053

Peak year

2010

994 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 948 in 2016, ranked #6,053.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Taj surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taj surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taj 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 539 #8,796
1998 modern 613 #8,263
1999 modern 621 #8,253
2000 modern 611 #8,322
2001 modern 619 #8,092
2002 modern 682 #7,667
2003 modern 719 #7,230
2004 modern 722 #7,213
2005 modern 730 #7,100
2006 modern 800 #6,629
2007 modern 849 #6,379
2008 modern 897 #6,145
2009 modern 941 #6,040
2010 modern 994 #5,905
2011 modern 973 #5,939
2012 modern 937 #6,051
2013 modern 955 #6,050
2014 modern 964 #6,052
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 948 #6,053

Geography

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Where Tajs 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 Hyndburn, Birmingham, Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
2 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
3 Bradford 037 Bradford
4 Bradford 038 Bradford
5 Blackburn with Darwen 005 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taj

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

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

Taj 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

Taj falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Taj 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Taj

The surname "TAJ" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region now known as the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in northern India. Its roots can be traced back to the 16th century during the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the mid-19th century.

The name "TAJ" is derived from the Persian word "tāj," meaning "crown" or "diadem," reflecting the regal and aristocratic connotations associated with this surname. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or were associated with the royal court during the Mughal era.

One of the most renowned historical references to the name "TAJ" is the iconic Taj Mahal, a mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a monument of love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is considered one of the most exquisite examples of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "TAJ" can be found in various historical documents and records from the Mughal period, such as land ownership records, tax registers, and court proceedings. It is worth noting that the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have varied slightly over time and across different regions.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname "TAJ" throughout history. One such figure was Mirza Aftab Taj, a renowned poet and courtier who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was Mir Taqi Mir (1723-1810), a celebrated Urdu poet and scholar who is considered one of the pioneers of the Urdu literary tradition.

Other notable individuals with the surname "TAJ" include Taj Muhammad Khan Balauch (1673-1701), a prominent military commander and statesman during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and Ghalib Taj (1887-1959), an Indian politician and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.

The surname "TAJ" has also been associated with certain place names and geographic locations within the Indian subcontinent, such as the city of Tajpur in Uttar Pradesh and the Taj Ganj area of Agra, which is located near the Taj Mahal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Taj surname: questions and answers

How common is the Taj surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 948 in 2016. That gives Taj a modern rank of #6,053.

What does the Taj surname mean?

A surname derived from the Persian word "taj" meaning crown or diadem, likely referring to an exalted ancestor.

What does the Taj map show?

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