NameCensus.

UK surname

Britto

A surname of Portuguese origin meaning "Breton" or "from Brittany, France".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Britto surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Sefton and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Britto is 171 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2011

171 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Britto had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Britto surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Britto surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Britto 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 171 #21,337
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Brittos 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 Hackney, Sefton, Brent, Hounslow and Sutton. 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 Hackney 006 Hackney
2 Sefton 034 Sefton
3 Brent 024 Brent
4 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
5 Sutton 016 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Britto

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Britto

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Britto is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Britto 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

Britto falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Britto

The surname Britto is believed to have originated in Portugal, with roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the old Portuguese word "brito," which translates to "Briton" or "Breton," referring to the Celtic inhabitants of northwestern France and parts of the British Isles.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese genealogical record dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals bearing the surname Britto, suggesting that the name was already well-established in Portugal by that time.

During the Age of Exploration, as Portuguese navigators and explorers embarked on voyages across the globe, the name Britto spread to various parts of the world that came under Portuguese influence or colonization. This includes regions such as Brazil, India, and parts of Asia and Africa.

One notable figure with the surname Britto was João de Britto, a Portuguese Jesuit missionary who lived from 1647 to 1693. He worked extensively in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Tamil Nadu and Goa, and is revered as a martyr and saint in the Catholic Church.

Another prominent individual was Filipe Nery Xavier Britto, a Brazilian lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the independence movement of Brazil in the early 19th century. He was born in 1801 and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted Brazil's first constitution.

In the field of literature, José Geraldo Vidigal Britto (1927-2022) was a renowned Brazilian writer and poet, known for his contributions to the modernist movement in Brazilian literature. His works explored themes of identity, social issues, and the human experience.

Moving to the realm of sports, João Britto (1948-2022) was a Brazilian professional soccer player who played as a defender for several notable clubs, including Fluminense and Vasco da Gama, during the 1960s and 1970s.

Lastly, Miguel Britto (born 1944) is a Venezuelan writer, essayist, and literary critic who has garnered international recognition for his works exploring Latin American literature and culture. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the National Prize for Literature in Venezuela.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals bearing the surname Britto throughout history, spanning various fields and regions. The name's origins and global spread reflect the far-reaching influence of Portuguese exploration and colonization, as well as the diverse cultural and historical legacies associated with this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Britto families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Britto 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. Glamorgan leads with 1 Brittos recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.52x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1 59.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardiff St Mary in Glamorgan leads with 1 Brittos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Cardiff St Mary 1 1111.11x

FAQ

Britto surname: questions and answers

How common was the Britto surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Britto surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Britto surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Britto a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Britto surname mean?

A surname of Portuguese origin meaning "Breton" or "from Brittany, France".

What does the Britto map show?

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