NameCensus.

UK surname

Bugeja

A surname of Maltese origin, possibly derived from an occupational term related to agriculture or rural activities.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Tunbridge Wells and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bugeja is 189 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2011

189 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bugeja surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bugeja surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bugeja 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 166 #19,797
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 178 #19,570
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 174 #19,971
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 162 #20,756
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Bugejas 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 Bradford, Tunbridge Wells, Northumberland and Bury. 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 Bradford 009 Bradford
2 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
3 Northumberland 029 Northumberland
4 Bury 006 Bury
5 Northumberland 028 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bugeja

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bugeja

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bugeja surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bugeja household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bugeja 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

Bugeja 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bugeja

The surname Bugeja originated on the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "bugia" or "bugiah," meaning "a dwelling place" or "a place for goods." This suggests that the name may have been given to families or individuals who lived in or were associated with a particular place, possibly a trading post or a market town.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 15th century, during the time of the Knights Hospitaller, a Catholic military order that ruled over Malta. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name included Nicolau Bugeja, mentioned in a document from 1419, and Petru Bugeja, who appeared in records from 1460.

In the 16th century, the Bugeja family was among the prominent families in the village of Żebbuġ, Malta. One notable member was Salvo Bugeja, a wealthy landowner and merchant who lived from 1532 to 1602. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the local community for generations.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Bugeja appeared in various historical records and documents related to Malta. For example, Marì Bugeja (1675-1742) was a well-known artist and painter who received commissions from the Church and nobility. Another prominent figure was Franġisk Bugeja (1701-1784), a respected lawyer and judge.

In the 19th century, the Bugeja family produced several notable individuals, including Ġużeppi Bugeja (1815-1892), a renowned architect who designed many churches and public buildings in Malta. His son, Ġużeppi Bugeja (1848-1919), followed in his footsteps and became a celebrated architect as well.

One of the most famous Bugejas in modern times was Maurus Caruana Bugeja (1896-1967), a Maltese politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Malta from 1947 to 1950. He played a crucial role in Malta's transition towards self-governance and independence from the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bugeja families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bugeja 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 1 Bugejas recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

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 1 Bugejas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francesco 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 Bugeja households.

Occupation Count
Carpenters Crew 1

FAQ

Bugeja surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bugeja surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Bugeja a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Bugeja surname mean?

A surname of Maltese origin, possibly derived from an occupational term related to agriculture or rural activities.

What does the Bugeja map show?

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