UK surname

Desantis

Of Italian origin, derived from the phrase "de sanctis," meaning "of the saints" or "from the holy ones."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Kettering and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Desantis is 156 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

2014

156 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Map

Desantis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Desantis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Desantis 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
1891	historical	1	#34,674
1901	historical	1	#34,548
1911	historical	1	#34,332
1997	modern	75	#30,109
1998	modern	89	#29,026
1999	modern	84	#29,700
2000	modern	86	#29,484
2001	modern	83	#29,617
2002	modern	92	#29,040
2003	modern	91	#29,121
2004	modern	98	#28,297
2005	modern	109	#26,583
2006	modern	115	#25,969
2007	modern	123	#25,208
2008	modern	131	#24,583
2009	modern	138	#24,276
2010	modern	145	#24,031
2011	modern	143	#24,056
2012	modern	150	#23,264
2013	modern	154	#23,210
2014	modern	156	#23,231
2015	modern	149	#23,817
2016	modern	146	#24,173

Geography

Where Desantis' 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 Lewes, Kettering, Westminster, Nottingham and Barnet. 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	Lewes 011	Lewes
2	Kettering 006	Kettering
3	Westminster 018	Westminster
4	Nottingham 015	Nottingham
5	Barnet 013	Barnet

Forenames

First names often paired with Desantis

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Andrea Maria Elisa Isabella Carly Caroline Kay Alessandra Cinzia Sara

Recent male names

Anthony David Maurizio Gary Paul Giuseppe Marco Gino Mario Daniel

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Desantis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Desantis, 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 Desantis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Desantis 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Desantis is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Desantis 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Desantis 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Desantis 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Desantis

The surname DeSantis has its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged in the 13th or 14th century, derived from the Latin phrase "de Sanctis," which translates to "of the Saints." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who lived near a place dedicated to a saint or saints.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Cava de' Tirreni region in Campania. This manuscript, dating back to the 11th century, contains records mentioning individuals with variations of the DeSantis name, such as "de Sancto" and "de Sanctis."

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Tommaso de Santis was recorded as a notary and scribe in the city of Naples. His name appears in various legal documents and records from that period, indicating the presence of the DeSantis surname in the region at that time.

During the Renaissance era, the DeSantis name gained prominence in the arts and literature. One example is the Italian painter and architect Jacopo de Santis, who lived from 1480 to 1549 and was known for his work in Rome and other Italian cities. Another notable figure was the poet and scholar Giacomo de Santis, born in Naples in 1568, who gained recognition for his contributions to Italian literature.

As the DeSantis family spread throughout Italy and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as DeSanti, DeSanto, and DeSanctis. In the late 18th century, a prominent figure with this surname was Girolamo DeSanctis, an Italian jurist and philosopher who lived from 1770 to 1839 and was known for his works on legal theory and philosophy.

In more recent history, the DeSantis name has gained global recognition through individuals like the American politician and current governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, born in 1978. Other notable figures with this surname include the Italian philosopher and literary critic Francesco De Sanctis (1817-1883) and the Italian-American actor and comedian Joe DeSantis (1909-1989).

While the surname DeSantis has its roots in southern Italy, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Italian immigrants and their descendants. The name continues to be a prominent part of Italian and Italian-American culture, with its origins rooted in the rich history and traditions of the Italian peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Desantis surname: questions and answers

How common is the Desantis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Desantis a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Desantis surname mean?

Of Italian origin, derived from the phrase "de sanctis," meaning "of the saints" or "from the holy ones."

What does the Desantis map show?

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