NameCensus.

UK surname

Cilia

A surname derived from Italian or Latin, meaning "eyebrows" or "eyelashes."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromley, Wandsworth and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cilia is 149 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

2010

149 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cilia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cilia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cilia 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 149 #23,598
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Cilias 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 Bromley, Wandsworth, South Northamptonshire, The Vale of Glamorgan and Havering. 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 Bromley 032 Bromley
2 Wandsworth 030 Wandsworth
3 South Northamptonshire 005 South Northamptonshire
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 015 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Havering 002 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cilia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cilia

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cilia is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Cilia 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

Cilia falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cilia

The surname CILIA originates from Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "cilium," meaning "eyelash" or "eyelid," potentially referring to a physical characteristic or occupation of an ancestor.

One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Giovanni Cilia, a merchant from Palermo, Sicily, who lived in the late 1200s. Records show his name appearing in several business transactions and legal documents from that period.

In the 14th century, the name CILIA was found in the city of Florence, where a family of artisans and craftsmen bore this surname. A notable member was Berto Cilia, a skilled woodcarver who worked on several church projects in the region between 1325 and 1378.

The CILIA surname also has a strong presence in the southern Italian regions, particularly in Calabria and Sicily. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in the town of Reggio Calabria, where they became respected landowners and merchants. One prominent figure from this lineage was Vincenzo Cilia (1548-1621), a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of a local hospital.

As the CILIA family spread across Italy, variations in spelling emerged, such as Ciglia, Ciglio, and Ciglia. These alternative forms were often used interchangeably in historical records and documents.

In the 19th century, a notable individual with the CILIA surname was Giuseppe Cilia (1782-1858), a Sicilian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Sicilian Parliament during the revolutionary period of the 1840s.

Another prominent figure was Giuseppe Cilia (1865-1932), an Italian painter and artist from Palermo, whose works were exhibited in various galleries across Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Over the centuries, the CILIA surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, merchants, politicians, and professionals, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and history associated with this Italian name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cilia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Cilia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Cilia a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Cilia surname mean?

A surname derived from Italian or Latin, meaning "eyebrows" or "eyelashes."

What does the Cilia map show?

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