NameCensus.

UK surname

Alfonso

A patronymic surname derived from the Germanic name Adalfuns, meaning "noble and ready."

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Alfonso surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wandsworth, Bromley and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alfonso is 226 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11200.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2014

226 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alfonso had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Alfonso surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alfonso surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alfonso 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 2 #33,721
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 125 #24,198
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 136 #22,855
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 212 #18,726
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Alfonsos 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 Wandsworth, Bromley, Hackney, Swindon and Haringey. 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 Wandsworth 037 Wandsworth
2 Bromley 005 Bromley
3 Hackney 013 Hackney
4 Swindon 015 Swindon
5 Haringey 025 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alfonso

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Alfonso surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Alfonso 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Alfonso 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

Alfonso 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

Alfonso 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 Alfonso 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 Alfonso, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Alfonso

The surname Alfonso has its origins in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic name Alfons, which itself is a combination of the elements "alf" meaning "elf" and "naus" meaning "valiant" or "brave." The name was popularized in the Iberian Peninsula after the Reconquista, the period of Christian reconquest of the region from the Moors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alfonso can be found in the 13th-century Codex Calixtinus, a medieval manuscript chronicling the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. The document mentions a nobleman named Alfonso Fernández, who played a significant role in the expansion of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several historical documents from the Kingdom of Aragon, such as the Llibre de Priviliegis de la Ciutat de València, where it was often spelled as "Alonso." This variation was likely influenced by the local Valencian dialect.

During the Renaissance period, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Alfonso V of Aragon (1396-1458), also known as Alfonso the Magnanimous. He was a renowned patron of the arts and a significant figure in the Italian Renaissance.

In the 16th century, the explorer and conquistador Alfonso de Ojeda (1468-1515) played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, leading expeditions to present-day Colombia and Venezuela.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Alfonso X of Castile (1221-1284), also known as Alfonso the Wise. He was a prolific patron of literature and science, and his court was a center of intellectual activity, producing works such as the Libros del Saber de Astronomía and the Cantigas de Santa María.

The name Alfonso also has connections to various place names in Spain and Portugal. For instance, the town of Alfonso in the province of Valencia is believed to have been named after a notable local figure bearing the surname.

While the surname Alfonso has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has since spread globally due to Spanish and Portuguese colonization and migration. Throughout history, it has been associated with numerous individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alfonso families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alfonso 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. Channel Islands leads with 1 Alfonsos recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.94x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 1 114.94x
Lancashire 1 2.88x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1 Alfonsos recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.39x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1 47.39x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 769.23x
St Peter Port 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Verallo 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 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 Alfonso households.

Occupation Count
Organ Woman 1
Seaman 1

FAQ

Alfonso surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alfonso surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Alfonso surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alfonso surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Alfonso a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Alfonso surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the Germanic name Adalfuns, meaning "noble and ready."

What does the Alfonso map show?

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