NameCensus.

UK surname

Afonso

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Afonso," a Spanish and Portuguese form of Alfonso, derived from Germanic Adalfuns.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Westminster and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Afonso is 698 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

698

2016, ranked #7,719

Peak year

2016

698 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016, ranked #7,719.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Afonso surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Afonso surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Afonso 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 81 #29,436
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 120 #24,960
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 185 #19,212
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 272 #14,742
2006 modern 313 #13,517
2007 modern 333 #13,062
2008 modern 388 #11,745
2009 modern 398 #11,768
2010 modern 464 #10,633
2011 modern 443 #10,924
2012 modern 526 #9,513
2013 modern 597 #8,782
2014 modern 644 #8,324
2015 modern 676 #7,943
2016 modern 698 #7,719

Geography

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Where Afonsos 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 Swindon, Westminster and Brent. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Swindon 017 Swindon
3 Swindon 019 Swindon
4 Westminster 014 Westminster
5 Brent 020 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Afonso

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Afonso surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Afonso household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Afonso 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

Afonso 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

Afonso falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Afonso 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Afonso

The surname Afonso is of Portuguese origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic name, derived from the medieval Portuguese given name Afonso, which itself originated from the Germanic name Alfonso, a combination of the elements "adal" meaning "noble" and "funiz" meaning "ready".

Afonso was a popular name among the Portuguese nobility and royalty during the medieval period. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Afonso I, also known as Afonso Henriques, who reigned as the first King of Portugal from 1139 to 1185. He played a crucial role in establishing Portugal as an independent kingdom.

The surname Afonso can be traced back to various historical records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, it appears in the Portuguese royal charters and chronicles of the time, indicating its prevalence among the aristocracy and influential families.

One notable figure who bore the surname Afonso was Álvaro Afonso, a Portuguese nobleman and military commander who lived in the 14th century. He served as the Governor of Portugal's overseas territories and played a significant role in the country's expansionist efforts during the Age of Discovery.

Another prominent bearer of the surname was Pedro Afonso, a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer. He is credited with discovering and colonizing the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa, contributing to Portugal's maritime exploration and colonial expansion.

In the realm of literature, the surname Afonso is associated with the 16th-century Portuguese poet and dramatist Gil Vicente. Born in the late 15th century, he is regarded as the founder of Portuguese theater and is widely celebrated for his religious plays and satirical works.

The surname Afonso has also been linked to various place names throughout Portugal, particularly in regions where the name was historically prevalent. For example, the town of Afonsoeiro in central Portugal is believed to have derived its name from the surname, indicating the presence of families bearing the name in that area.

Over the centuries, the surname Afonso has undergone various spellings and regional variations, such as Affonso, Affonço, and Affonsso, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional dialects within Portugal. However, the core form of Afonso has remained the most widely recognized and used spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Afonso surname: questions and answers

How common is the Afonso surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016. That gives Afonso a modern rank of #7,719.

What does the Afonso surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Afonso," a Spanish and Portuguese form of Alfonso, derived from Germanic Adalfuns.

What does the Afonso map show?

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