NameCensus.

UK surname

Barretto

A surname related to the Italian word "barreta" meaning cap or beret.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barretto is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Barretto surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barretto surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barretto 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 3 #33,861
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 137 #22,301
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Barrettos 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 Lambeth, South Hams, Swindon, Ealing 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 Lambeth 018 Lambeth
2 South Hams 008 South Hams
3 Swindon 015 Swindon
4 Ealing 006 Ealing
5 Westminster 007 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barretto

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barretto

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

Barretto 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

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

Meaning and origin of Barretto

The surname Barretto originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "barreta," which means a small bar or rod. The name likely referred to someone who worked with metal bars or rods, such as a blacksmith or a maker of iron tools.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Barretto can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, including Castile, Aragon, and Catalonia. It was often spelled with variations like "Barreta" or "Barreto" in historical documents.

One notable early reference to the Barretto name can be found in the "Libro de Repartimiento" (Book of Distribution), a document that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Christian conquest in the 13th century. Several individuals with the Barretto surname were listed as recipients of land grants.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure bearing the Barretto surname was Juan Barretto, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Barretto played a crucial role in establishing the first European settlement on the island of Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and Dominican Republic).

Another notable Barretto was Pedro Barretto de Meneses, a Portuguese military commander and colonial administrator who served as the 17th Governor of Portuguese India from 1629 to 1639. He was instrumental in strengthening Portugal's control over the coastal regions of western India.

In the 18th century, Antonio Barretto y Peña was a prominent Spanish architect who designed several churches and buildings in Mexico City and other parts of New Spain (colonial Mexico). His most famous work is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, which he helped to rebuild after an earthquake in 1711.

During the 19th century, Juan Barretto was a Cuban poet and writer who actively participated in the country's struggle for independence from Spain. His poems and writings played a significant role in shaping the literary landscape of Cuba during that period.

As the Barretto surname spread across different regions and countries, it underwent various spelling variations, including "Barreto," "Baretta," and "Barretta." However, the origins of the name can be traced back to the medieval Spanish word "barreta" and its association with metalworking professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Barretto surname: questions and answers

How common is the Barretto surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Barretto a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Barretto surname mean?

A surname related to the Italian word "barreta" meaning cap or beret.

What does the Barretto map show?

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