NameCensus.

UK surname

Dacosta

Portuguese and Galician toponymic surname indicating someone from the coast or shore.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Dacosta surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,162, ranked #2,992, up from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, Christ Church Spitalfields and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Peterborough and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dacosta is 2,162 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1107.8%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

2,162

2016, ranked #2,992

Peak year

2016

2,162 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dacosta had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,162 in 2016, ranked #2,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dacosta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dacosta surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dacosta 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 361 #10,044
1997 modern 1,206 #4,686
1998 modern 1,281 #4,635
1999 modern 1,315 #4,556
2000 modern 1,331 #4,475
2001 modern 1,289 #4,515
2002 modern 1,402 #4,287
2003 modern 1,440 #4,128
2004 modern 1,503 #3,987
2005 modern 1,534 #3,876
2006 modern 1,604 #3,725
2007 modern 1,689 #3,590
2008 modern 1,775 #3,476
2009 modern 1,857 #3,420
2010 modern 1,991 #3,292
2011 modern 1,950 #3,307
2012 modern 1,978 #3,215
2013 modern 2,035 #3,193
2014 modern 2,092 #3,138
2015 modern 2,107 #3,083
2016 modern 2,162 #2,992

Geography

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Where Dacostas are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Peterborough, Kensington and Chelsea and Lewisham. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
5 Paddington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
3 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Swindon 017 Swindon
5 Lewisham 025 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dacosta

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dacosta

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dacosta 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

Dacosta 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dacosta

The surname DACOSTA originated in Portugal, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese phrase "da costa," which translates to "from the coast" or "of the coast." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who resided near the coastline or had some connection to maritime activities.

DACOSTA is a topographic surname, meaning it was derived from a geographic feature or location. In this case, the name likely referred to individuals who lived in coastal regions of Portugal, such as the Algarve or the coastal areas around Lisbon and Porto.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DACOSTA surname can be found in the "Livro de Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese genealogical manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions several families with the DACOSTA name, indicating that the surname was already established by that time.

During the Age of Discovery, which began in the 15th century, many Portuguese explorers and navigators carried the DACOSTA surname. One notable example is João da Costa, a 15th-century navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499.

Another prominent figure with the DACOSTA surname was José da Costa Pereira Furtado de Mendonça (1738-1808), a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who served as the Secretary of State for the Navy and Overseas Dominions during the reign of King José I.

In the 19th century, Joaquim da Costa (1789-1856), a Portuguese poet and playwright, gained recognition for his works that celebrated the country's national identity and historical achievements.

Afonso da Costa (1871-1937), a Portuguese painter and illustrator, was known for his contributions to the modernist movement in Portuguese art, particularly his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

Miguel da Costa (1932-1994), a Brazilian writer and journalist, was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Brazil, known for his novels and short stories that explored social and political themes.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the DACOSTA surname spread to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia, where Portuguese settlers and colonists established communities. Today, the name can be found in many countries with historical ties to Portugal, reflecting the global reach of Portuguese exploration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dacosta families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dacosta 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 132 Dacostas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.83x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 132 6.83x
Sussex 26 7.98x
Surrey 14 1.49x
Kent 8 1.21x
Hampshire 6 1.52x
Lancashire 6 0.26x
Aberdeenshire 2 1.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.53x
Royal Navy 2 8.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 40 Dacostas recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.30x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 40 97.30x
Brighton 26 39.58x
Ratcliffe London 20 187.44x
St Botolph Aldgate London 20 502.51x
Shoreditch London 12 14.33x
Mitcham 10 168.07x
Bethnal Green London 8 9.54x
Bow London 6 24.40x
Fulham London 6 21.42x
Paddington London 6 8.45x
Spitalfields London 6 41.29x
Clapham 4 16.57x
Folkestone 4 31.30x
Millbrook 4 40.12x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 5.98x
Cheltenham 2 6.84x
Everton 2 2.74x
Fulwood 2 80.65x
Gillingham 2 14.72x
Harrow On The Hill 2 51.81x
Hound 2 74.35x
Lee 2 20.90x
Liverpool 2 1.44x
Royal Navy 2 10.17x
St Gilesin Fields London 2 122.70x
St Katherine Creechurch 2 606.06x
St Marylebone London 2 1.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 7
Rachel 5
Hannah 4
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Rose 2
A.B. 1
Abigail 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Dorothy 1
E.C. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Florentina 1
J. 1
Kathleen 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1
Rachal 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 4
Benjamin 4
Hyam 4
Isaac 4
Aaron 3
John 3
Emanuel 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Augusta 1
Barnett 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Elias 1
Evan 1
F.A. 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Hyman 1
Is... 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jonah 1
Joseph 1
Kennett 1
Linz 1
Louis 1
Michal 1
Monty 1
Mordecai 1
Odorice 1
Oscar 1
Ronald 1
Seymour 1

FAQ

Dacosta surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dacosta surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Dacosta surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dacosta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,162 in 2016. That gives Dacosta a modern rank of #2,992.

What does the Dacosta surname mean?

Portuguese and Galician toponymic surname indicating someone from the coast or shore.

What does the Dacosta map show?

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