UK surname
An Italian occupational surname derived from "costa" meaning "side" or "rib", possibly referring to an occupation related to the sides or flanks.
In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Costella surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #18,412 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Costella is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.1%.
1881 census count
113
Ranked #18,412
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Costella surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Costella surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 113 | #18,412 |
| 1891 | historical | 99 | #24,200 |
| 1901 | historical | 93 | #23,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 61 | #26,724 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 70 | #31,432 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 64 | #33,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 59 | #34,265 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, St Marylebone and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Costella surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Costella, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Costella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Costella household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Costella is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Costella is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Costella, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Costella originated in Italy, likely during the late medieval or early Renaissance period. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "costella," meaning "rib" or "side," possibly referring to a person's physical characteristics or occupation.
The earliest recorded instances of the Costella surname can be traced back to various regions of Italy, such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. Some variations in spelling include Costello, Costelli, and Costelli.
In historical records, the Costella name appears in various documents and manuscripts from the 14th to the 16th centuries. For instance, a certain Niccolò Costella is mentioned in a Florentine tax record from 1427.
One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Pietro Costella, a renowned painter and architect from Pavia, who lived from approximately 1460 to 1535. His works can be found in various churches and buildings throughout northern Italy.
Another notable figure was Girolamo Costella, a Venetian merchant and trader who lived from 1520 to 1587. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes between Venice and the Levant, contributing to the city's economic prosperity.
In the 17th century, a Costella family from Genoa gained prominence in the maritime industry. One member, Gian Battista Costella (1625-1698), was a renowned shipbuilder and naval engineer who designed several galleys for the Genoese Republic.
During the 18th century, Antonio Costella (1742-1823) was a respected lawyer and jurist from Milan. He served as a judge in the Milanese courts and was known for his fair and impartial rulings.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe Costella (1812-1884) was a prominent Italian playwright and poet from Naples. His works, which often explored themes of love and social injustice, were widely popular in his time.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who bore the surname Costella, a name that has its roots in the rich cultural tapestry of Italy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Costella surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 31 Costellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 31 | 2.37x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.27x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.19x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 2.69x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.68x |
| Durham | 8 | 2.44x |
| Renfrewshire | 7 | 8.19x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 4.06x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.84x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.08x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 6.75x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.22x |
| Stirlingshire | 2 | 4.92x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.98x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 13 Costellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.79x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Salford | 13 | 33.79x |
| Wednesfield | 9 | 164.23x |
| Abbey | 7 | 53.72x |
| Marske In Guisbrough | 7 | 360.82x |
| Accrington | 6 | 50.46x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 15.24x |
| Gateshead | 5 | 20.37x |
| Islington London | 5 | 4.68x |
| West Calder | 5 | 171.82x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 4 | 83.86x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 3.24x |
| Dawdon | 3 | 74.44x |
| Barony | 2 | 2.22x |
| Beswick | 2 | 59.88x |
| Clapham | 2 | 14.51x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 7.69x |
| Great Bolton | 2 | 11.55x |
| Huyton With Roby | 2 | 130.72x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 2.52x |
| Manningham | 2 | 14.86x |
| Saffron Hill London | 2 | 833.33x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 20.16x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 2 | 9.02x |
| Stirling | 2 | 38.99x |
| Crumpsall | 1 | 32.47x |
| Denton | 1 | 34.48x |
| Elton | 1 | 22.12x |
| Holywell | 1 | 26.88x |
| Kirkleatham | 1 | 68.03x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 6.45x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 7.03x |
| North Leith | 1 | 14.64x |
| Otterburn | 1 | 769.23x |
| Pemberton | 1 | 19.16x |
| Shotts | 1 | 23.42x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.70x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 11.25x |
| Stone | 1 | 21.01x |
| Westgate | 1 | 9.84x |
| Whitford | 1 | 64.94x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 1 | 28.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Costella surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Costella surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Costella households.
FAQ
In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Costella surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Costella a modern rank of #34,227.
An Italian occupational surname derived from "costa" meaning "side" or "rib", possibly referring to an occupation related to the sides or flanks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Costella bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.