NameCensus.

UK surname

Borja

Spanish habitational surname indicating a person from any of the various places named Borja, likely derived from Arabic "burj" meaning "tower".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Cardiff and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borja is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Borja surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borja surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borja 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
1997 modern 39 #33,759
1998 modern 52 #32,732
1999 modern 53 #32,746
2000 modern 45 #33,526
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 53 #33,021
2003 modern 51 #33,266
2004 modern 52 #33,418
2005 modern 55 #33,349
2006 modern 57 #33,513
2007 modern 65 #33,045
2008 modern 67 #33,135
2009 modern 72 #33,021
2010 modern 92 #31,366
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Borjas 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 Caerphilly, Cardiff and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Caerphilly 024 Caerphilly
2 Cardiff 038 Cardiff
3 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly
4 Richmond upon Thames 001 Richmond upon Thames
5 Cardiff 046 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borja

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Borja surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Borja 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Borja 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

Borja 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

Borja falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Borja

The surname Borja is of Spanish origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Aragonese town of Borja, located in the present-day province of Zaragoza. The town's name is believed to have originated from the Latin word "boria," meaning "north wind" or "north."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Borja surname appears in the 14th century chronicles of the Kingdom of Aragon. During this time, the Borja family held significant political and ecclesiastical power, with members serving as nobles, military leaders, and high-ranking officials within the Catholic Church.

Rodrigo Borja, also known as Pope Alexander VI (1431-1503), was a prominent figure in the Renaissance era. Born in Xàtiva, near Valencia, he ascended to the papacy in 1492 and is renowned for his controversial reign, which was marked by nepotism and accusations of immorality.

Another notable individual bearing the Borja surname was St. Francis Borja (1510-1572), a Spanish Jesuit and the third Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was canonized in 1671 and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

In the 16th century, Juan Borja y Enríquez (1494-1543) was a Spanish nobleman and military leader who served as the Viceroy of Peru from 1542 to 1543. He played a significant role in the early Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Gaspar de Borja y Velasco (1580-1645) was a Spanish diplomat and cardinal who served as the Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See during the reign of Pope Urban VIII. He was renowned for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in mediating conflicts between Spain and other European powers.

The Borja surname has also been associated with various places in Spain, such as Borja in Aragon, Borges Blanques in Catalonia, and Borges in Mallorca. These locations may have contributed to the spread and variations of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Borja surname: questions and answers

How common is the Borja surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Borja a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Borja surname mean?

Spanish habitational surname indicating a person from any of the various places named Borja, likely derived from Arabic "burj" meaning "tower".

What does the Borja map show?

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