NameCensus.

UK surname

Cena

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word for supper, referring to an innkeeper or restaurant proprietor.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cena is 442 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

442

2016, ranked #10,943

Peak year

2016

442 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016, ranked #10,943.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Cena surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cena surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cena 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 5 #33,418
1997 modern 4 #38,094
1998 modern 5 #37,861
1999 modern 5 #37,872
2000 modern 6 #37,624
2001 modern 6 #37,456
2002 modern 9 #37,051
2003 modern 8 #37,248
2004 modern 12 #36,835
2005 modern 18 #36,332
2006 modern 19 #36,323
2007 modern 20 #36,362
2008 modern 20 #36,443
2009 modern 30 #35,871
2010 modern 39 #35,451
2011 modern 40 #35,395
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 442 #10,943

Geography

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Where Cenas 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 Havering, Hackney, Kensington and Chelsea, Milton Keynes and Norwich. 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 Havering 022 Havering
2 Hackney 023 Hackney
3 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Milton Keynes 006 Milton Keynes
5 Norwich 007 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cena

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

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

Cena 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cena

The surname CENA originated in Italy, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Italian word "cena," which means "dinner" or "evening meal." The name likely referred to someone who worked in the culinary trade or was associated with the preparation of evening meals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CENA can be found in the historic Florentine tax records of 1427, where a certain Piero di Cena is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use in the early 15th century in the region of Tuscany.

In the 16th century, the CENA name appeared in various Italian documents, such as the Venetian census records of 1548, where a family by the name of Cena is listed as residents of the city.

The name CENA has also been associated with places and locations in Italy. For instance, the village of Cena San Giovanni in the province of Reggio Emilia is believed to have derived its name from the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname CENA. One such person was Giovanni Battista Cena (1590-1673), an Italian painter from the Baroque period who was renowned for his religious works and frescoes in churches across Italy.

Another prominent figure was Giambattista Cena (1661-1720), an Italian mathematician and professor at the University of Milan. He made significant contributions to the field of calculus and authored several treatises on mathematics.

In the 19th century, Antonio Cena (1830-1905) was an Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was actively involved in the Risorgimento movement for Italian unification.

The CENA name also gained recognition in the literary world with the Italian writer and journalist Giovanni Cena (1870-1917), who was known for his novels and short stories depicting life in rural Piedmont.

Additionally, Mariano Cena (1920-2004) was a renowned Italian journalist and author, renowned for his investigative reporting and books on social issues and political scandals in Italy during the latter half of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cena surname: questions and answers

How common is the Cena surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016. That gives Cena a modern rank of #10,943.

What does the Cena surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word for supper, referring to an innkeeper or restaurant proprietor.

What does the Cena map show?

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