NameCensus.

UK surname

Costea

A Romanian surname derived from the personal name "Costica," a diminutive form of the Greek name "Constantine."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Costea surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Costea is 218 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

2016

218 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Costea had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Costea surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Costea surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Costea 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1997 modern 5 #37,891
1998 modern 4 #38,082
1999 modern 5 #37,872
2000 modern 5 #37,823
2001 modern 5 #37,652
2002 modern 10 #36,902
2003 modern 9 #37,101
2004 modern 7 #37,496
2005 modern 8 #37,422
2006 modern 8 #37,481
2007 modern 29 #35,725
2008 modern 31 #35,670
2009 modern 39 #35,321
2010 modern 69 #33,560
2011 modern 76 #32,989
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Costeas 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 Harrow 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 010 Harrow
2 Brent 001 Brent
3 Brent 002 Brent
4 Brent 005 Brent
5 Harrow 017 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Costea

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Costea

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Costea surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Costea household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Costea is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Costea 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

Costea 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 Costea 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
Unknown

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

Meaning and origin of Costea

The surname Costea is of Romanian origin and has its roots in the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Romanian word "coasta," which means "hill" or "slope." This suggests that the name may have been given to people who lived on or near hills or slopes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Costea can be found in the 15th century, in the historical region of Wallachia, which is now part of modern-day Romania. The name appears in several legal documents and land registries from that time period, indicating that families with this surname were landowners or had some connection to the land.

In the 16th century, the Costea family became more prominent, with several members holding important positions within the local administration and religious institutions. One notable figure was Mihai Costea, a priest and scholar born in 1525, who authored several theological works and played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of Wallachia during that era.

As the centuries passed, the Costea name spread to other regions of Romania and even beyond its borders. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Moldavian region, where they established themselves as successful merchants and landowners. One prominent member of this branch was Gheorghe Costea, born in 1745, who served as a diplomat and ambassador for the Principality of Moldavia.

Moving into the 19th century, the Costea name gained further recognition through the works of Ioan Costea, a celebrated Romanian poet and writer born in 1823. His literary contributions, which explored themes of national identity and cultural heritage, played a significant role in the Romanian literary renaissance of that period.

Another notable figure from this era was Alexandru Costea, born in 1878, a Romanian general who served in World War I and played a crucial role in the unification of Transylvania with Romania after the war. His military achievements and contributions to the nation's territorial integrity earned him a place in the annals of Romanian history.

Throughout the centuries, the Costea surname has been associated with various place names and variations in spelling, such as Costescu, Costache, and Costachin, reflecting the linguistic and regional diversity within Romania. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained intact, forever linked to the hills and slopes that defined the lives of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Costea families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Costea 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. Essex leads with 1 Costeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.63x.

County Total Index
Essex 1 52.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 1 Costeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 1 238.10x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 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 Costea households.

Occupation Count
Messenger 1

FAQ

Costea surname: questions and answers

How common was the Costea surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Costea surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Costea a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Costea surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from the personal name "Costica," a diminutive form of the Greek name "Constantine."

What does the Costea map show?

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