NameCensus.

UK surname

Arena

A surname of Italian origin referring to someone who lived near an arena or sandy place.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Arena surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Bedford and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arena is 101 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2016

101 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arena had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Arena surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arena surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arena 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 16 #31,832
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 71 #31,082
2001 modern 71 #30,907
2002 modern 71 #31,351
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 65 #32,177
2005 modern 70 #31,912
2006 modern 62 #33,043
2007 modern 69 #32,662
2008 modern 66 #33,217
2009 modern 68 #33,341
2010 modern 68 #33,632
2011 modern 74 #33,151
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 86 #32,557
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 97 #31,499
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Arenas 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 Swansea, Bedford, Warwick, Newham and Westminster. 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 Swansea 028 Swansea
2 Bedford 004 Bedford
3 Warwick 007 Warwick
4 Newham 034 Newham
5 Westminster 006 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arena

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arena

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Arena, 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 Arena surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Arena 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Arena is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arena 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

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

Meaning and origin of Arena

The surname Arena has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Latin word "arena," which means "sand" or "sandy area."

One theory suggests that the name Arena was initially given to families living near sandy areas or beaches, perhaps indicating their occupation or geographical location. Another possibility is that the name originated from a place name or topographical feature involving sand or sandy soil.

Historical records indicate that the Arena surname appeared in various documents in Sicily and Calabria as early as the 13th century. One notable early reference is found in the Sicilian tax rolls of 1283, where the name "Arenas" is mentioned.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Arena was Giovanni Arena, a Sicilian nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. Another prominent figure was Antonino Arena, a renowned jurist and legal scholar from Palermo, who lived from 1450 to 1521.

In the 16th century, the Arena family gained prominence in the city of Messina, Sicily. Pietro Arena (1510-1585) was a distinguished mathematician and astronomer from Messina, known for his contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

During the 17th century, the Arena surname spread to other parts of Italy, including Naples and Rome. One notable figure was Gaspare Arena (1607-1668), a Neapolitan painter and engraver who specialized in religious and mythological scenes.

In the 18th century, Giuseppe Arena (1713-1784) was a celebrated architect from Sicily who designed several churches and other notable buildings in Palermo and surrounding areas.

As the Arena family expanded and migrated throughout Italy and beyond, they maintained their prominence in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and academia. While the name Arena has its roots in southern Italy, it has since become widely dispersed across the country and around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arena families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arena 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 1 Arenas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 1 Arenas recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 1 128.21x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Giovanni 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 Arena households.

Occupation Count
Commision Agent 1

FAQ

Arena surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arena surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Arena surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arena surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Arena a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Arena surname mean?

A surname of Italian origin referring to someone who lived near an arena or sandy place.

What does the Arena map show?

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