NameCensus.

UK surname

Debono

An Italian surname meaning "the good" or "the virtuous".

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Debono surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 495, ranked #10,052, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Debono is 521 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6971.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

495

2016, ranked #10,052

Peak year

2014

521 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Debono had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016, ranked #10,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Debono surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Debono surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Debono 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 7 #32,765
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 410 #10,800
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 426 #10,938
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 441 #10,474
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 466 #9,977
2007 modern 479 #9,873
2008 modern 489 #9,808
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 506 #9,971
2011 modern 496 #10,012
2012 modern 499 #9,870
2013 modern 516 #9,783
2014 modern 521 #9,788
2015 modern 505 #9,933
2016 modern 495 #10,052

Geography

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Where Debonos 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 Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan, Calderdale, Wycombe and Tower Hamlets. 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 Cardiff 036 Cardiff
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 008 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
4 Wycombe 017 Wycombe
5 Tower Hamlets 022 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Debono

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Debono

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Debono is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Debono 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

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

Meaning and origin of Debono

The surname DEBONO has its origins in Italy, specifically the island of Sicily. It is believed to have emerged around the 13th century during the period of Norman rule over the island. The name is derived from the Latin phrase "de bono," which translates to "of the good" or "the good one."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval Sicilian records and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is found in the "Codice Diplomatico dei Re Aragonesi," a collection of royal documents from the Aragonese rulers of Sicily, where the name is mentioned in connection with various land transactions and official appointments.

The name DEBONO is thought to have originated as a descriptive surname, possibly given to individuals who were considered virtuous or of good character. It may have also been used to distinguish families or individuals from a particular town or village named "Bono" or a variation of that name.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname DEBONO was Giovanni Debono, a prominent Sicilian merchant who lived in the late 14th century. He was involved in trade between Sicily and other Italian city-states, and his name appears in several commercial records from that time.

In the 16th century, there was a notable figure named Pietro Debono, a Sicilian priest and scholar who authored several works on theology and philosophy. He was born in 1520 and died in 1592.

During the 17th century, the name DEBONO gained recognition in Malta, where many Sicilian families had settled. One notable Maltese bearer of the name was Francesco Debono, a respected jurist and legal expert who served as a judge in the Grand Court of Malta from 1645 to 1672.

In the 18th century, Giuseppe Debono, a Sicilian architect, gained prominence for his work on several churches and public buildings in Palermo and other cities in Sicily. He was born in 1712 and died in 1788.

Another distinguished individual with the surname DEBONO was Vincenzo Debono, a Maltese artist and sculptor who lived in the 19th century. He was known for his religious sculptures and works adorning churches throughout Malta. Vincenzo Debono was born in 1809 and died in 1879.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Debono families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Debono 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 4 Debonos recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 5.13x
Dunbartonshire 3 142.86x
Royal Navy 1 107.53x

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 4 Debonos recorded in 1881 and an index of 92.17x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 4 92.17x
Dumbarton 3 1034.48x
Royal Navy 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Luiggie 1
Victtoriene 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Guriennis 1
Luigi 1
Salvo 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 Debono households.

Occupation Count
Teacher In Music 4
Ordy 1

FAQ

Debono surname: questions and answers

How common was the Debono surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Debono surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Debono surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016. That gives Debono a modern rank of #10,052.

What does the Debono surname mean?

An Italian surname meaning "the good" or "the virtuous".

What does the Debono map show?

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