NameCensus.

UK surname

Cella

An Italian occupational surname referring to a storeroom worker or one who managed a pantry or cellar.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Cella surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, South Somerset and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cella is 151 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

2013

151 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cella had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Cella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cella 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
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Cellas 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 Three Rivers, South Somerset, Chichester and Bromley. 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 Three Rivers 007 Three Rivers
2 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
3 Chichester 005 Chichester
4 Bromley 033 Bromley
5 Bromley 016 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cella

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Cella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Cella 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cella 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

Cella 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

Cella falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cella 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cella

The surname Cella originated in Italy, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "cella," which means "a small room" or "a small dwelling." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in small houses or worked in storage rooms.

In the early medieval period, the name Cella was found primarily in the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the areas around Milan and Genoa. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 11th and 12th centuries, when it appeared in various legal documents and property records.

One notable historical reference to the name Cella is found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis," a collection of medieval documents from the Benedictine monastery in Cava dei Tirreni, located in the southern Italian region of Campania. The codex contains several mentions of individuals with the surname Cella, suggesting that the name had spread to other parts of Italy by the 13th century.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Cella was Guglielmo Cella, a merchant from Milan who lived in the late 12th century. He is mentioned in a document from 1187 as having conducted trade with the city of Pisa. Another early example is Pietro Cella, a lawyer from Genoa who was active in the 13th century and is referenced in legal records from the time.

During the Renaissance period, the Cella name gained further prominence, with several notable figures emerging. One such individual was Giovan Battista Cella, a renowned sculptor from Milan who lived from 1480 to 1557. His works can be found in various churches and palaces across northern Italy.

Another significant figure was Girolamo Cella, a 16th-century physician and scholar from Genoa. He authored several medical treatises and was highly regarded for his contributions to the field of anatomy.

In the 17th century, the Cella name became associated with the town of Cella Monte, located in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont. This area was once known as Cella Monti, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

Throughout history, other notable individuals with the surname Cella include Paolo Cella, a 15th-century painter from Venice; Claudio Cella, a 16th-century architect from Ferrara; and Lorenzo Cella, a 17th-century composer and musician from Naples.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cella 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 1 Cellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.92x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 1 76.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 1 Cellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 294.12x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Cloey 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 Cella households.

Occupation Count
No Occupation 1

FAQ

Cella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cella surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Cella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Cella a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Cella surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a storeroom worker or one who managed a pantry or cellar.

What does the Cella map show?

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