NameCensus.

UK surname

Defelice

An Italian surname derived from the phrase "di Felice," meaning "of happy" or "of fortunate," referring to a joyful ancestor.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Defelice surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Albans, Elmbridge and Malvern Hills.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Defelice is 138 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2660.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2016

138 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Defelice had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Defelice surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Defelice surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Defelice 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 35 #31,540
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 125 #24,011
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Defelices 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 St Albans, Elmbridge, Malvern Hills, Salford and Worcester. 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 St Albans 018 St Albans
2 Elmbridge 012 Elmbridge
3 Malvern Hills 006 Malvern Hills
4 Salford 021 Salford
5 Worcester 005 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Defelice

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Defelice

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Defelice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Defelice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Defelice is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Defelice is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Defelice falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Defelice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Defelice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Defelice

The surname DeFelice originated in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It is derived from the Latin name "Felix," which means "happy" or "lucky." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when surnames began to be adopted in Italy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DeFelice can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Benedictine monastery of Cava dei Tirreni in Campania. This codex, dating back to the 11th century, mentions individuals with the surname DeFelice.

The name DeFelice is also closely associated with the town of Cerreto Sannita in the province of Benevento, Campania. Historical records indicate that a noble family bearing the DeFelice name resided in this town during the 16th and 17th centuries.

A notable figure from the DeFelice family was Vincenzo DeFelice, born in Cerreto Sannita in 1562. He was a renowned jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in Naples and authored several works on jurisprudence.

Another individual of note was Nicola DeFelice, a Catholic priest and theologian from Calabria, who lived in the 18th century. He authored several theological treatises and was known for his erudition and piety.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe DeFelice (1832-1912) was a prominent Italian politician and lawyer from Campania. He served as a member of the Italian parliament and was actively involved in the Risorgimento movement for Italian unification.

The name DeFelice is also found in other parts of Italy, such as Sicily and Piedmont, likely due to migration patterns throughout the centuries. Variations of the spelling include De Felice, De Felici, and Defelici.

While the surname DeFelice has its roots in southern Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through Italian emigration. Families bearing this name can be found in countries like the United States, Argentina, and Australia, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Defelice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Defelice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Defelice surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Defelice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Defelice a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Defelice surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the phrase "di Felice," meaning "of happy" or "of fortunate," referring to a joyful ancestor.

What does the Defelice map show?

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