NameCensus.

UK surname

Costa

A toponymic surname indicating a person who lived on or near a slope, riverbank, or seacoast.

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Costa surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,081, ranked #2,188, up from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, - and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Watford, Haringey and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Costa is 3,081 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1488.1%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

3,081

2016, ranked #2,188

Peak year

2016

3,081 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Costa had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,081 in 2016, ranked #2,188.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Costa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Costa surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Costa 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 287 #12,001
1911 historical 310 #11,180
1997 modern 1,144 #4,908
1998 modern 1,271 #4,663
1999 modern 1,323 #4,531
2000 modern 1,392 #4,304
2001 modern 1,388 #4,247
2002 modern 1,521 #4,024
2003 modern 1,536 #3,914
2004 modern 1,671 #3,631
2005 modern 1,826 #3,322
2006 modern 1,965 #3,143
2007 modern 2,062 #3,035
2008 modern 2,217 #2,866
2009 modern 2,395 #2,738
2010 modern 2,642 #2,577
2011 modern 2,595 #2,586
2012 modern 2,737 #2,435
2013 modern 2,858 #2,383
2014 modern 2,967 #2,306
2015 modern 2,969 #2,281
2016 modern 3,081 #2,188

Geography

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Where Costas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, -, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Watford, Haringey, Breckland, Swindon and Brent. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 - City Of London
3 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Watford 010 Watford
2 Haringey 023 Haringey
3 Breckland 016 Breckland
4 Swindon 015 Swindon
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Costa

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Costa

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

Costa 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

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

Meaning and origin of Costa

The surname Costa is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin word "costa" meaning "coast" or "side." It is believed to have originated as a toponymic surname, referring to individuals who lived near the coast or on the side of a hill or mountain.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Costa can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Italy, including Liguria, Tuscany, and Piedmont. It was particularly prevalent in coastal areas, as well as in towns and villages located along the slopes of mountains or hills.

In the 13th century, the name Costa appeared in the records of the Republic of Genoa, where several families bearing this surname held prominent positions in the city's government and maritime affairs. One notable figure from this period was Luca Costa, a Genoese navigator and explorer who participated in several voyages of discovery along the Mediterranean coasts.

The surname Costa also gained prominence in other parts of Italy during the Renaissance period. In the 15th century, Andrea Costa, a renowned sculptor and architect from Genoa, left a lasting legacy with his works adorning churches and palaces throughout Italy.

In the 16th century, the name Costa appeared in the historical records of the Duchy of Milan, where a branch of the family served as high-ranking officials and diplomats. One such individual was Giovanni Battista Costa, a statesman and diplomat who represented the Duchy in various diplomatic missions across Europe.

As the centuries passed, the surname Costa continued to spread across Italy and beyond. In the 18th century, Giuseppe Costa, a celebrated composer and violinist from Naples, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of the Neapolitan operatic tradition.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Costa was Giacomo Costa, an Italian revolutionary and politician who played a significant role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification in the 19th century.

Outside of Italy, the surname Costa can also be found in other countries, such as Spain and Portugal, where it likely originated from Italian immigrants or settlers during the Middle Ages and the Age of Exploration.

In summary, the surname Costa has a rich history rooted in the coastal regions and mountainous landscapes of Italy, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. Throughout the centuries, individuals with this surname have made their mark in various fields, from navigation and exploration to art, music, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Costa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Costa 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. Middlesex leads with 126 Costas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 126 6.66x
Lancashire 15 0.67x
Surrey 8 0.87x
Sussex 8 2.51x
Staffordshire 7 1.10x
Midlothian 6 2.37x
Shropshire 6 3.67x
Yorkshire 6 0.32x
Somerset 3 0.99x
Glamorgan 2 0.61x
Ayrshire 1 0.71x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.31x
Cumberland 1 0.61x
Essex 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Monmouthshire 1 0.73x
Northumberland 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 21 Costas recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.45x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 21 11.45x
Spitalfields London 21 147.58x
St Botolph Aldgate London 21 538.46x
Mile End Old Town London 18 44.70x
Whitechapel London 12 64.34x
Leek Lowe 7 82.35x
Charterhouse London 6 674.16x
Chertsey 6 100.67x
Cleobury Mortimer 6 582.52x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 121.70x
Newington 6 116.28x
Hastings St Leonards 5 106.61x
Kensington London 5 4.75x
Liverpool 4 2.93x
Manchester 4 3.96x
Brighton 3 4.66x
Enfield 3 24.15x
Pilkington 3 35.17x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 36.63x
St George Hanover Square 3 9.00x
Toxteth Park 3 3.95x
Cardiff St Mary 2 11.02x
Frome 2 27.47x
Fulham London 2 7.29x
Paddington London 2 2.87x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 5.61x
Christ Church Newgate 1 113.64x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.24x
East Ham 1 14.43x
Llanbeblig 1 12.89x
Newington 1 1.43x
Newport 1 15.31x
Old Cumnock 1 31.75x
Poplar London 1 2.80x
Road 1 270.27x
St Bartholomew Great 1 58.14x
St Cuthbert Within 1 52.91x
St Helens 1 35.46x
St Marylebone London 1 0.99x
St Pancras London 1 0.66x
St Sepulchre London 1 36.10x
Sutton 1 14.99x
Twickenham 1 12.33x
Tynemouth 1 6.63x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Betsy 2
Esther 2
Margaret 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Catherina 1
Diane 1
Edith 1
Elbica 1
Elease 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Filomena 1
Frances 1
Jannette 1
Kitty 1
Lea 1
Leah 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Niece 1
Perry 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Rosenna 1
Sapples 1
Siemy 1
Susan 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Samuel 6
William 6
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Raphael 4
Benjamin 3
George 3
Isaac 3
James 3
Solomon 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Frank 2
Guiseppe 2
Hyman 2
Jacob 2
Joseph 2
Manuel 2
Michael 2
Moses 2
Vincent 2
Batista 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Dion 1
Domenico 1
Dominick 1
Edwards 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francesio 1
Francis 1
Gabriel 1
Gerioloma 1
Giogilina 1
Guerseppe 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Josiah 1
Judah 1
Leon 1
Leopoldo 1
Lewis 1
Lipman 1
Louis 1
Luigi 1
Mathew 1
Mitchell 1
Xavier 1

FAQ

Costa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Costa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Costa surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Costa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,081 in 2016. That gives Costa a modern rank of #2,188.

What does the Costa surname mean?

A toponymic surname indicating a person who lived on or near a slope, riverbank, or seacoast.

What does the Costa map show?

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