NameCensus.

UK surname

Bella

An Italian surname derived from the word "bella," meaning "beautiful," likely referring to an attractive ancestor.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Bella surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Kensington and Chelsea and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bella is 146 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 758.8%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

2016

146 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bella had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 45 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Bella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bella 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
1851 historical 8 #31,867
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 38 #33,872
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 34 #34,528
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 30 #34,753
2002 modern 33 #34,717
2003 modern 44 #33,875
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 47 #34,011
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 58 #33,731
2008 modern 68 #33,047
2009 modern 75 #32,733
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

Back to top

Where Bellas 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 Waltham Forest, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Hounslow and Rochdale. 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 Waltham Forest 011 Waltham Forest
2 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Newham 029 Newham
4 Hounslow 025 Hounslow
5 Rochdale 012 Rochdale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bella

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bella

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

Bella 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bella

The surname Bella originates from Italy and dates back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Italian word "bella," which means "beautiful" or "lovely." The name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive surname to someone who was considered attractive or good-looking.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bella can be found in Italian historical records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. The name appears to have been particularly prevalent in regions such as Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where Italian dialects and variations of the name may have been used.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Bella was Arigo Bella, a renowned Italian painter and architect from Florence who lived during the 14th century. His works included frescoes and architectural designs for churches and public buildings in Tuscany.

Another individual of note was Giovanni Bella, a 15th-century Italian merchant and diplomat from Genoa. He was known for his successful trading ventures and negotiations with other European powers on behalf of the Republic of Genoa.

In the 16th century, Vincenzo Bella was a celebrated Italian composer and lutenist from Naples. He contributed to the development of early Baroque music and was renowned for his virtuosic lute compositions.

During the 17th century, Girolamo Bella was a prominent Italian engraver and printmaker from Padua. His etchings and engravings depicted landscapes, architectural scenes, and historical events, and his works were widely circulated throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, Stefano Bella was an Italian poet and writer from Liguria. He was known for his romantic poetry and writings that celebrated the beauty of his native region and its cultural traditions.

While the surname Bella has roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance can be traced back to the medieval era in various regions of the Italian peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bella 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Bellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8 4.07x
Middlesex 6 3.62x
Cambridgeshire 1 9.53x
Kent 1 1.77x
Lanarkshire 1 1.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 5 Bellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.87x.

Place Total Index
Everton 5 79.87x
St Martin In Fields 3 303.03x
Toxteth Park 3 45.05x
Barony 1 7.37x
Beckenham 1 135.14x
Islington London 1 6.23x
Paddington London 1 16.42x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 1666.67x
St Giles In Fields London 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Agnes 1
Edith 1
Francisca 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louise 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 2
Joseph 1
Thomas 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 Bella households.

FAQ

Bella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Bella surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Bella a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Bella surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the word "bella," meaning "beautiful," likely referring to an attractive ancestor.

What does the Bella map show?

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