NameCensus.

UK surname

Virdee

A surname of Indian origin indicating someone from the Vird village or region.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Virdee is 1,993 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,857

2016, ranked #3,417

Peak year

2011

1,993 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016, ranked #3,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Virdee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Virdee surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Virdee 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 1,342 #4,287
1998 modern 1,485 #4,090
1999 modern 1,528 #4,012
2000 modern 1,576 #3,900
2001 modern 1,570 #3,847
2002 modern 1,647 #3,738
2003 modern 1,679 #3,618
2004 modern 1,725 #3,527
2005 modern 1,727 #3,493
2006 modern 1,747 #3,467
2007 modern 1,795 #3,415
2008 modern 1,820 #3,402
2009 modern 1,856 #3,423
2010 modern 1,958 #3,331
2011 modern 1,993 #3,242
2012 modern 1,857 #3,393
2013 modern 1,934 #3,334
2014 modern 1,921 #3,363
2015 modern 1,894 #3,377
2016 modern 1,857 #3,417

Geography

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Where Virdees 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 Ealing and Hounslow. 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 Ealing 017 Ealing
2 Ealing 026 Ealing
3 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
4 Ealing 023 Ealing
5 Ealing 037 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Virdee

These lists show first names that appear often with the Virdee surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Virdee

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

Virdee 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

Virdee falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Virdee

The surname Virdee originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the Punjab region of present-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, where the word "vir" means warrior or brave, and "dee" signifies an honorific or respectful title. This name likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames were becoming more prevalent among various communities in the region.

The name Virdee can be traced back to the 16th century, with references found in historical records and manuscripts from that era. One such record is the Ain-i-Akbari, a detailed administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which mentions individuals bearing the surname Virdee among the nobility and warrior classes of the time.

In the 18th century, the Virdee name appears in several accounts and chronicles related to the Sikh Empire, which dominated parts of the Punjab region during that period. Notable figures include Bhai Virdee Singh, a prominent Sikh warrior and commander who fought alongside Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 19th century.

The earliest recorded example of the name Virdee can be found in a land grant document from the 16th century, which mentions a village called "Virdeepur" (meaning "town of the Virdees") in the present-day Indian state of Punjab. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name or a clan association.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Virdee have gained recognition in various fields. Prominent examples include:

1. Gurdial Singh Virdee (1932-2021), an Indian-British physicist known for his contributions to particle physics and the discovery of the gluon particle. 2. Kulwant Singh Virdee (born 1956), a British businessman and entrepreneur, founder of the successful Virdee Plc company. 3. Harjinder Singh Virdee (born 1967), a British Labour Party politician and former Member of the European Parliament. 4. Barinder Singh Virdee (born 1982), an Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Punjab and represented India in the Under-19 World Cup. 5. Sonia Virdee (born 1967), a British academic and sociologist known for her work on race, ethnicity, and social justice.

While the surname Virdee is primarily associated with the Sikh and Punjabi communities, it has also been adopted by individuals of other religious and cultural backgrounds within the Indian subcontinent over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Virdee surname: questions and answers

How common is the Virdee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016. That gives Virdee a modern rank of #3,417.

What does the Virdee surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin indicating someone from the Vird village or region.

What does the Virdee map show?

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