NameCensus.

UK surname

Arias

A Spanish toponymic surname indicating an individual who resided near or was from an area with many altars.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Arias surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arias is 183 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3560.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

2016

183 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arias had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Arias surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arias surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arias 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 10 #32,589
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 75 #30,109
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

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Where Arias' 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 Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Barnet, Croydon and Charnwood. 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 Camden 027 Camden
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 010 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Barnet 029 Barnet
4 Croydon 025 Croydon
5 Charnwood 017 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arias

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Arias surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Arias 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Arias 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

Arias 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

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

Meaning and origin of Arias

The surname Arias has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Latin word "arius," which means "heir" or "descendant." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, identifying individuals as descendants or heirs of a particular lineage or family.

One of the earliest records of the name Arias can be found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript that contains information about the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. The manuscript mentions several individuals with the surname Arias, suggesting its presence in the Iberian Peninsula during that time.

In the 13th century, the name Arias appeared in various historical documents, such as the Cantar de Mio Cid, a Castilian epic poem that celebrates the exploits of the legendary Spanish hero, El Cid. One of the prominent characters in the poem is Alvar Arias, a nobleman and military leader who fought alongside El Cid.

The town of Arias, located in the province of Navarra, Spain, likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname in that region. It is believed that some individuals adopted the place name as their surname, further solidifying the presence of Arias in Spain.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Arias include:

1. Benito Arias Montano (1527-1598), a Spanish scholar and humanist known for his contributions to biblical studies and his work on the Antwerp Polyglot Bible.

2. Pedro Arias Dávila (c. 1440-1531), a Spanish conquistador and the first Governor of Panama, appointed by the Spanish Crown in 1514.

3. Juan de Arias Dávila y Ovando (1462-1520), a Spanish nobleman and military commander during the reign of Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon.

4. Diego Arias de Ávila (c. 1470-1538), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who served as the Governor of Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the early 16th century.

5. Gonzalo Arias de Saavedra (c. 1516-1598), a Spanish conquistador and the first Governor of the Río de la Plata region (present-day Argentina and Uruguay).

The surname Arias has maintained a strong presence throughout Spain and its former colonies, reflecting its deep-rooted history and the legacy of those who bore this name in the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arias families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arias 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. Sussex leads with 2 Arias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.45x.

County Total Index
Sussex 2 24.45x
Lancashire 1 1.74x
Middlesex 1 2.06x
Yorkshire 1 2.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 2 Arias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.21x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 2 121.21x
Liverpool 1 28.65x
Norton In Malton 1 1666.67x
St Pancras London 1 25.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Lucy 1
Therise 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Anslem 1
Antonio 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 Arias households.

FAQ

Arias surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arias surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Arias surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Arias a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Arias surname mean?

A Spanish toponymic surname indicating an individual who resided near or was from an area with many altars.

What does the Arias map show?

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