NameCensus.

UK surname

Belli

An Italian surname derived from the word "bello" meaning beautiful or handsome.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Belli surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Mid Sussex and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belli is 202 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 947.4%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

2013

202 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Belli had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 50 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Belli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Belli 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 50 #27,806
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 184 #19,037
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 199 #19,346
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 196 #19,840
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

Back to top

Where Bellis 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 Sheffield, Mid Sussex, Flintshire, Largs Central and Cumbrae and Caerphilly. 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 Sheffield 063 Sheffield
2 Mid Sussex 004 Mid Sussex
3 Flintshire 016 Flintshire
4 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire
5 Caerphilly 024 Caerphilly

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Belli

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Belli

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Belli is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Belli 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

Belli falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Belli is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Belli, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Belli

The surname Belli is of Italian origin, derived from the adjective "bello," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the late medieval period, possibly as a nickname or descriptive name referring to someone's physical appearance or character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Belli can be found in the Italian city of Siena in the 13th century. In 1260, a document mentions a certain Bindo Belli, a prominent merchant and member of the influential Belli family.

The Belli surname has its roots in various regions of Italy, particularly in Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. It was also found in other parts of the country, such as Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, suggesting that the name may have originated independently in different areas.

In the 14th century, the Belli family rose to prominence in the city of Perugia, where they held influential positions in the local government and played a significant role in the city's political and cultural life. One notable member of this family was Valerio Belli (1468-1546), a renowned jurist and legal scholar who served as a counselor to Pope Clement VII.

During the Renaissance period, the Belli surname was associated with several notable figures in the arts and sciences. Valerio Belli (1510-1584), a sculptor and architect from Vicenza, was renowned for his works in the Venetian Republic. Another prominent figure was Giambattista Belli (1548-1644), an Italian painter and architect who worked in Rome and was a prominent member of the Accademia di San Luca.

In the 17th century, the Belli name gained further recognition with the birth of Giuseppe Gioachino Belli (1791-1863), a renowned poet from Rome. Belli is celebrated for his sonnets written in the Roman dialect, which provided a vivid depiction of the everyday life and culture of the city's working-class population.

Other notable individuals with the surname Belli include Tommaso Belli (1737-1806), an Italian architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Rome, and Giuseppe Belli (1790-1876), an Italian sculptor known for his neoclassical works.

Throughout its history, the Belli surname has been associated with various professions, from merchants and artisans to intellectuals, artists, and government officials, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Belli families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belli 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 12 Bellis recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 6.48x
Midlothian 4 16.12x
Surrey 2 2.22x
Lanarkshire 1 1.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrew Holborn London in Middlesex leads with 6 Bellis recorded in 1881 and an index of 750.00x.

Place Total Index
St Andrew Holborn London 6 750.00x
St Pancras London 5 33.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 40.08x
Croydon 2 39.92x
Lanark 1 208.33x
Westminster St James 1 52.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Marianne 1
Raffaela 1

Top male names

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

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 Belli households.

FAQ

Belli surname: questions and answers

How common was the Belli surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Belli surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Belli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Belli a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Belli surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the word "bello" meaning beautiful or handsome.

What does the Belli map show?

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