NameCensus.

UK surname

Da

A surname often derived from the abbreviated Italian masculine article "da".

In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Da surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, up from #28,011 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Da is 148 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 270.0%.

1881 census count

40

Ranked #28,011

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

2016

148 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Da had 40 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Da surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Da surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Da 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
1881 historical 40 #28,011
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 5 #37,891
1998 modern 3 #38,304
1999 modern 5 #37,872
2000 modern 4 #38,004
2001 modern 3 #38,091
2002 modern 6 #37,532
2003 modern 4 #37,951
2004 modern 7 #37,496
2005 modern 7 #37,581
2006 modern 53 #33,854
2007 modern 5 #38,004
2008 modern 9 #37,473
2009 modern 10 #37,446
2010 modern 24 #36,341
2011 modern 42 #35,283
2012 modern 76 #33,191
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Das 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 Enfield. 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 Enfield 004 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Da

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Da is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Da 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

Da falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Da

The surname DA has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal and Spain, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "de," which means "from" or "of," and was commonly used as a prefix in names to indicate a person's place of origin or lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DA can be found in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese manuscript from the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals with the surname DA, suggesting its widespread use during that time period.

In Spain, the surname DA is often associated with the region of Galicia, where it is believed to have originated from the Latin word "data," meaning "given" or "dated." This connection may indicate that the name was initially used to identify individuals who were born or lived in a specific area or estate.

One notable example of a historical figure with the surname DA is João da Gama, a Portuguese explorer from the 15th century who was the first to successfully navigate a sea route from Europe to India. His voyage, which took place between 1497 and 1499, played a crucial role in establishing Portugal's maritime empire and the Age of Discovery.

Another prominent individual with the surname DA was Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea. Born in 1460 and dying in 1524, Vasco da Gama's expeditions established a sea route between Europe and Asia, revolutionizing global trade and paving the way for the Portuguese Empire's expansion.

In the realm of arts and literature, the Portuguese poet and playwright Gil Vicente (c. 1465-1537) is considered one of the most influential figures of the Renaissance period in Portugal. His works, written in both Portuguese and Spanish, played a significant role in the development of the Portuguese language and theater.

Another notable figure with the surname DA is the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), whose full name was Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential painters of the Spanish Golden Age and is renowned for his masterpieces such as "Las Meninas" and portraits of Spanish royalty.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012), whose full name was Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho. He is considered one of the most important figures in modern architecture and is renowned for his distinctive curving designs and innovative use of reinforced concrete.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Da families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Da 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. Derbyshire leads with 1 Das recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.11x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 1 33.11x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Das recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.46x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 1 93.46x
Mickleover 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
W. 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 Da households.

Occupation Count
Cook Domestic 1
Engine Fitter 1

FAQ

Da surname: questions and answers

How common was the Da surname in 1881?

In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Da surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Da surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Da a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Da surname mean?

A surname often derived from the abbreviated Italian masculine article "da".

What does the Da map show?

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