NameCensus.

UK surname

Decastro

Of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "of the castle," referring to someone who lived or worked at a castle.

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Decastro surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Mole Valley and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Decastro is 238 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 720.7%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

2016

238 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Decastro had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 37 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Decastro surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Decastro surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Decastro 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 37 #29,263
1997 modern 84 #29,106
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Decastros 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 Ealing, Mole Valley, Barnet, Enfield and Isle of Wight. 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 Ealing 022 Ealing
2 Mole Valley 013 Mole Valley
3 Barnet 021 Barnet
4 Enfield 023 Enfield
5 Isle of Wight 016 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Decastro

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Decastro

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Decastro surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Decastro 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Decastro 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

Decastro 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

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

Meaning and origin of Decastro

The surname DeCastro originates from Spain and Portugal, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin term "castrum," which means "fortified place" or "castle." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with families who lived near or owned castles or fortified towns.

In Spain, the DeCastro surname can be traced back to the 11th century, with references found in historical records from the kingdoms of León and Castile. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census conducted in the 14th century during the reign of King Pedro I of Castile.

The DeCastro family was influential in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Notable figures include Doña Inés de Castro, a Galician noblewoman who became the mistress of King Pedro I of Portugal in the 14th century. Their tragic love story has been celebrated in literature and folklore.

In the 15th century, Fernando de Castro y Andrade, also known as El Conde de Lemos, was a prominent military leader and diplomat who served under the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. He played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.

Another notable figure is Lope de Castro, a Spanish conquistador born in 1516, who participated in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro. He later became the governor of Florida and established the first European settlement in the region, the short-lived Santa María del Punta.

In the realm of literature, Guillem de Castro y Bellvis was a 17th-century Spanish playwright renowned for his works, including "Las Mocedades del Cid" and "Las Hazañas del Cid," which dramatized the life of the legendary Castilian hero El Cid Campeador.

As the DeCastro family expanded and migrated, the name spread to other parts of the world, particularly to the Americas during the Spanish colonization. Despite its widespread presence, the surname maintains its connection to its Spanish and Portuguese origins, reflecting the historical significance of castles and fortified settlements in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Decastro families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Decastro 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 12 Decastros recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 5.35x
Surrey 7 6.40x
Gloucestershire 1 2.27x
Kent 1 1.31x
Lancashire 1 0.38x
Sussex 1 2.64x

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 8 Decastros recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.15x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 8 64.15x
Mortlake 4 816.33x
St Marylebone London 3 25.04x
Putney 2 196.08x
Brighton 1 13.11x
Cheltenham 1 29.50x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 135.14x
Liverpool 1 6.18x
Westminster St James 1 43.29x
Weybridge 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jessie 3
Mary 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Janet 1
Leonora 1
Mabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Daniel 1
H.Borges 1
H.E.G. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
John 1
Moses 1
Thorne 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 Decastro households.

FAQ

Decastro surname: questions and answers

How common was the Decastro surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Decastro surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Decastro surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Decastro a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Decastro surname mean?

Of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "of the castle," referring to someone who lived or worked at a castle.

What does the Decastro map show?

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