NameCensus.

UK surname

Albu

A Romanian surname derived from the Turkish word "alp," meaning "brave" or "heroic."

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Albu surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #33,110 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albu is 163 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3160.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2016

163 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albu had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Albu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albu 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 14 #36,528
1998 modern 14 #36,565
1999 modern 13 #36,693
2000 modern 19 #36,007
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 17 #36,164
2003 modern 19 #36,011
2004 modern 20 #36,053
2005 modern 20 #36,165
2006 modern 26 #35,822
2007 modern 44 #34,760
2008 modern 55 #34,165
2009 modern 57 #34,225
2010 modern 67 #33,713
2011 modern 76 #32,989
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Albus 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 Brent, Enfield and West Dorset. 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 Brent 006 Brent
2 Enfield 006 Enfield
3 Brent 005 Brent
4 Brent 007 Brent
5 West Dorset 004 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albu

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Albu, 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 Albu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Albu 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Albu is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Albu 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

Albu falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Albu

The surname Albu is of Romanian origin, with roots dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Romanian word "alb," meaning "white," likely referring to someone with fair hair or complexion. The earliest known reference to the name can be found in records from the region of Transylvania, which was part of the Kingdom of Hungary at the time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Albu was Ioan Albu, a merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Sibiu, Transylvania, in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was a prominent figure in the local community and played a role in the town's governance.

In the 16th century, the name Albu appeared in various Hungarian and Romanian documents, often in connection with noble families and landowners. One notable individual was Mihai Albu, a Romanian nobleman who served as a military commander in the army of Michael the Brave, the Prince of Wallachia, in the late 16th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Albu surname spread throughout Romania and neighboring regions. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Moldavian region, where they established themselves as landowners and played a role in the local administration.

One of the most prominent figures bearing the Albu surname was Ion Albu, a Romanian politician and diplomat who lived from 1825 to 1891. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia and played a crucial role in the unification of Romania in 1859.

Another notable individual was Ion I. C. Albu, a Romanian painter and art educator who lived from 1892 to 1976. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of Romanian modern art and is renowned for his portraiture and landscapes.

In the 20th century, the Albu surname continued to be prevalent in Romania, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. One such person was Ion Gheorghe Albu, a renowned physicist and mathematician who lived from 1907 to 1994. He made significant contributions to the field of theoretical mechanics and served as a professor at the University of Bucharest.

While the surname Albu is primarily associated with Romania, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the historical regions of Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, where it has been documented for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albu families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albu 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 5 Albus recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 10.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 5 Albus recorded in 1881 and an index of 280.90x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 5 280.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bella 1
Julie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
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 Albu households.

FAQ

Albu surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albu surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Albu surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Albu a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Albu surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from the Turkish word "alp," meaning "brave" or "heroic."

What does the Albu map show?

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