NameCensus.

UK surname

Defeo

From the Italian surname "De Feo," meaning "the ugly one" in Italian, likely referring to an unattractive ancestor.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broxbourne, Bedford and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Defeo is 168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

2010

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Defeo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Defeo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Defeo 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 151 #21,818
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 155 #22,438
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Defeos 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 Broxbourne, Bedford, East Hertfordshire and Wiltshire. 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 Broxbourne 012 Broxbourne
2 Bedford 013 Bedford
3 East Hertfordshire 001 East Hertfordshire
4 Bedford 003 Bedford
5 Wiltshire 055 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Defeo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Defeo

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Defeo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Defeo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Defeo 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.

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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

Defeo is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Defeo falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Defeo

The surname DEFEO originated in Italy, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "defaeco," meaning "to purify" or "to cleanse." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who worked in professions related to purification or cleansing, such as tanners or dyers.

One of the earliest known references to the name DEFEO can be found in a document from the city of Naples, dated 1289. This document mentions a certain Giovanni DEFEO, who was a prominent merchant in the city at that time.

In the 14th century, the DEFEO surname began to spread across various regions of Italy, including Tuscany and Lombardy. Historical records from this period often list the name with variations in spelling, such as DEFAIO, DEFAJO, and DEFAGIO.

During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the DEFEO surname. One such person was Antonio DEFEO, a celebrated painter from Florence who lived from 1450 to 1528. His works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

Another prominent figure was Francesca DEFEO, a renowned scholar and poet from Siena, who lived from 1480 to 1554. She was highly regarded for her contributions to literature and was a member of the prestigious Accademia degli Intronati.

In the 17th century, the DEFEO surname gained a foothold in the city of Venice. One of the most famous individuals from this period was Marco DEFEO, a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in Venice, including the church of Santa Maria della Salute. He lived from 1610 to 1678.

As the DEFEO family spread throughout Italy, they often adopted variations of the name based on local dialects and traditions. For example, in the southern regions of Italy, the surname was sometimes spelled as DEFIO or DEFIORE.

Throughout the centuries, the DEFEO surname has been associated with various professions and occupations, including artists, scholars, merchants, and artisans. While the name has evolved over time, its Italian roots and rich cultural heritage remain an integral part of its identity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Defeo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Defeo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Defeo a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Defeo surname mean?

From the Italian surname "De Feo," meaning "the ugly one" in Italian, likely referring to an unattractive ancestor.

What does the Defeo map show?

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