NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonnici

A Maltese surname believed to derive from the Latin word "bona" meaning "good".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, Eastbourne and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonnici is 262 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

2010

262 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bonnici surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonnici surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonnici 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
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 226 #16,884
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 262 #16,252
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 231 #17,448
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Bonnicis 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 Newport, Eastbourne, Caerphilly, Hackney and Bolton. 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 Newport 015 Newport
2 Eastbourne 007 Eastbourne
3 Caerphilly 021 Caerphilly
4 Hackney 002 Hackney
5 Bolton 034 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonnici

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonnici

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

Bonnici 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

Bonnici falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bonnici 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 Bonnici, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bonnici

The surname Bonnici originates from the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. It is believed to have emerged during the period of the Norman rule of Malta in the 11th and 12th centuries. The name is derived from the Italian word "buona," meaning "good," and is thought to have been a descriptive surname initially given to individuals with a kind or virtuous nature.

Bonnici is a variation of the more common Italian surname Buonanno, which shares the same root word. The earliest records of the name Bonnici can be found in medieval Maltese documents and parish registers, with various spellings such as Bonnici, Bonici, and Bonich.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Bonnici is in a 14th-century legal document from the town of Żejtun, where a certain "Petrus Bonnici" is mentioned. Another notable early occurrence is in a 16th-century manuscript from the village of Qormi, which documents the marriage of "Nicola Bonnici" to "Catherina Abela."

Over the centuries, several individuals with the surname Bonnici have left their mark on Maltese history and culture. For instance, Franġisk Saverju Bonnici (1796-1870) was a prominent Maltese lawyer and politician who served as the President of the Council of Government in the mid-19th century.

Another notable figure is Arturo Bonnici (1856-1921), a Maltese-Italian composer and conductor who composed several operas and orchestral works. His contemporary, Salvatore Bonnici (1872-1937), was a Maltese artist renowned for his religious paintings and frescoes adorning various churches across the island.

In more recent times, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (born 1933) was a prominent Maltese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Malta from 1984 to 1987. Additionally, Michael Bonnici (1946-2021) was a respected Maltese attorney and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of Malta from 2004 to 2014.

While the name Bonnici is primarily associated with Malta, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to Maltese immigration. Individuals with this surname can now be found in various countries, particularly in Australia, Canada, and the United States, where significant Maltese communities have established roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonnici families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonnici 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. Royal Navy leads with 4 Bonnicis recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 4 869.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 4 Bonnicis recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 4 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Antonio 1
Francisco 1
Lorenzo 1
Salvo 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 Bonnici households.

FAQ

Bonnici surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bonnici surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Bonnici a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Bonnici surname mean?

A Maltese surname believed to derive from the Latin word "bona" meaning "good".

What does the Bonnici map show?

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