NameCensus.

UK surname

Abela

Derived from a Semitic root meaning "breath" or "vanity," or from Abel, a biblical place name.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Abela surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 327, ranked #13,868, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Camden and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abela is 344 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10800.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

327

2016, ranked #13,868

Peak year

2014

344 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abela had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016, ranked #13,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Abela surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abela surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abela 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
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 293 #14,094
1999 modern 287 #14,374
2000 modern 305 #13,769
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 334 #12,897
2005 modern 337 #12,738
2006 modern 328 #13,073
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 317 #13,632
2009 modern 316 #13,933
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 329 #13,694
2012 modern 330 #13,571
2013 modern 336 #13,574
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 334 #13,645
2016 modern 327 #13,868

Geography

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Where Abelas 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 The Vale of Glamorgan, Camden, Tower Hamlets, Manchester and Barking and Dagenham. 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 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Camden 025 Camden
3 Tower Hamlets 004 Tower Hamlets
4 Manchester 015 Manchester
5 Barking and Dagenham 007 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abela

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Abela surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Abela 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Abela is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Abela 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

Abela 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 Abela is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Abela

The surname Abela has its origins in Malta, a small island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "abel," meaning "meadow" or "green field." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who lived in or near a lush, verdant area.

Abela is considered a quintessentially Maltese surname, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era when Malta was under Islamic rule. During this period, Arabic was the predominant language, and many names and surnames were influenced by the Arabic culture and language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Abela can be found in the Militia Roster of 1419-1420, a historical document that lists the names of Maltese men eligible for military service. This record provides valuable insight into the prevalence of the name during that time period.

Throughout the centuries, the Abela surname has been represented in various historical documents and records. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Giovanni Francesco Abela, a prominent Maltese historian and author born in 1582. His seminal work, "Della Descrittione di Malta," published in 1647, is considered one of the earliest and most comprehensive historical accounts of Malta.

Another prominent individual with the Abela surname was Girolamo Abela, a Maltese architect and military engineer who lived in the 17th century. He is renowned for his contributions to the fortifications of Malta, including his work on the Cottonera Lines, a series of fortifications built to protect the Three Cities of Malta.

In the 19th century, Salvatore Abela, born in 1836, was a Maltese politician who served as the Mayor of Valletta, Malta's capital city, from 1881 to 1887. He played a significant role in the city's development and infrastructure projects during his tenure.

The Abela surname has also been associated with several notable places in Malta. For instance, the village of Ħal Għaxaq was formerly known as Ħal Abela, suggesting a historical connection between the surname and the locality.

While the surname Abela is predominantly found in Malta, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the small Mediterranean island, where it has been a part of the cultural fabric for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abela families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abela 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. Royal Navy leads with 4 Abelas recorded in 1881 and an index of 430.11x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 4 430.11x
Hampshire 2 12.51x
Glamorgan 1 7.36x
Kent 1 3.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 2 Abelas recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.16x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 2 253.16x
Southampton 2 20000.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 133.33x
Milton In Gravesend 1 250.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Guiseppe 1
Jos. 1
L. 1
Lorenzo 1
Salvatore 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 Abela households.

Occupation Count
A B 2
Bandn 2
A B Seaman 1

FAQ

Abela surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abela surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Abela surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abela surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016. That gives Abela a modern rank of #13,868.

What does the Abela surname mean?

Derived from a Semitic root meaning "breath" or "vanity," or from Abel, a biblical place name.

What does the Abela map show?

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