NameCensus.

UK surname

Castello

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked in or near a castle.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Castello surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, down from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes and Ballingry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Bromsgrove and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Castello is 205 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.6%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

2014

205 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Castello had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 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 168 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Castello surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Castello surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Castello 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 165 #17,143
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 169 #20,206
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 178 #20,809
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

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Where Castellos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes, Ballingry, Edinburgh and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Bromsgrove, Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney and Hillingdon. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Ballingry Fife
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
2 Bromsgrove 006 Bromsgrove
3 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Hackney 007 Hackney
5 Hillingdon 008 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Castello

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Castello

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Castello 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

Castello 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

Castello 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 Castello is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Castello

The surname Castello is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin word "castellum," meaning a castle or fortified town. It is thought to have originated in the early Middle Ages, likely between the 9th and 11th centuries, when many families took on surnames based on their occupations, places of residence, or other distinguishing features.

The earliest recorded instances of the Castello surname can be found in various Italian regions, such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Sicily. It was often associated with families who lived in or near castles or fortified settlements, or those who held positions related to the defense or administration of such structures.

One notable historical reference to the Castello name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of documents from the Benedictine monastery of Cava dei Tirreni in southern Italy, dating back to the 9th century. This manuscript includes mentions of individuals with the surname Castello, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Galeazzo Castello (c. 1220-1275) was a nobleman and military leader from the city of Milan. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, supporting the Ghibelline faction.

Another notable individual was Niccolò Castello (c. 1425-1500), a Venetian navigator and explorer who is credited with discovering the islands of Cape Verde in 1456. He is also believed to have been the first European to reach the Rio de Oro region of present-day Western Sahara.

During the Renaissance, the Castello family of Genoa produced several influential members, including Battista Castello (1505-1576), a renowned architect and engineer who worked on various fortifications and military structures throughout Italy.

In the 16th century, Giovanni Battista Castello (1509-1569) was a prominent Italian mathematician and engineer from Genoa. He made significant contributions to the field of mechanics and is known for his work on the principles of statics and dynamics.

The Castello surname can also be found in various place names throughout Italy, such as Castello d'Argile in Emilia-Romagna, Castello di Godego in Veneto, and Castello di Lecce in Apulia, further reinforcing its connection to fortified settlements and defensive structures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Castello families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Castello 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. Yorkshire leads with 28 Castellos recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.45x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 28 2.45x
Lancashire 12 0.88x
Middlesex 11 0.96x
Fife 9 13.21x
Midlothian 9 5.84x
Warwickshire 8 2.76x
Surrey 7 1.25x
Angus 6 5.63x
Cheshire 5 1.97x
Glamorgan 4 2.00x
Stirlingshire 4 9.42x
Essex 3 1.32x
Lanarkshire 3 0.81x
Roxburghshire 3 14.39x
Northumberland 2 1.17x
Channel Islands 1 2.93x
Derbyshire 1 0.55x
Royal Navy 1 7.29x
Sussex 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ballingry in Fife leads with 8 Castellos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1904.76x.

Place Total Index
Ballingry 8 1904.76x
Carrington 7 2916.67x
Dundee 6 15.07x
Great Bolton 6 33.17x
Sheffield 6 16.52x
Thornaby 6 140.85x
Aston 4 5.00x
Birmingham 4 4.13x
Camberwell 4 5.44x
Clase 4 53.69x
Falkirk 4 40.24x
Northwich 4 1000.00x
Wortley In Bramley 4 44.30x
Hammersmith London 3 10.58x
Leeds 3 4.66x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 147.78x
Whitechapel London 3 26.43x
Wilton 3 131.00x
Chelsea London 2 5.77x
Govan 2 2.17x
St Martin In Fields 2 29.03x
Upper Hallam 2 202.02x
Bingley 1 13.77x
Carnbee 1 238.10x
Catterick 1 384.62x
Colchester St Botolph 1 51.81x
Cowpen 1 25.38x
Doveridge 1 370.37x
East Ham 1 23.70x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 103.09x
Everton 1 2.30x
Glasgow 1 1.51x
Kirkdale 1 4.35x
Lambeth 1 1.00x
Leyton 1 25.58x
Liverpool 1 1.21x
Manchester 1 1.63x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 11.26x
Newington 1 2.35x
Normanby In 1 32.79x
North Leith 1 14.01x
Paddington London 1 2.36x
Preston 1 2.74x
Seaton Ross 1 526.32x
Southwick 1 97.09x
St Helier 1 9.01x
Wandsworth 1 9.03x
Widnes 1 10.15x
Winnington 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Margaret 5
Alice 3
Ann 3
Sarah 3
Amelia 2
Agnes 1
Bridget 1
Bridgett 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Lizzie 1
Margt. 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Vicenza 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
James 5
Thomas 5
William 4
Patrick 3
George 2
Alfred 1
Antonio 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Federick 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
Jos. 1
Mannel 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Phillip 1
Vergilio 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Castello surname: questions and answers

How common was the Castello surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Castello surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Castello surname today?

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

What does the Castello surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked in or near a castle.

What does the Castello map show?

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