NameCensus.

UK surname

Desousa

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating someone from the town of Sousa or the Sousa River valley.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Desousa surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,114, ranked #5,279, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Islington and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Desousa is 1,114 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37033.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

1,114

2016, ranked #5,279

Peak year

2016

1,114 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Desousa had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,114 in 2016, ranked #5,279.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Desousa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Desousa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Desousa 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 3 #33,498
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 415 #10,709
1998 modern 477 #9,955
1999 modern 506 #9,574
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 529 #9,071
2002 modern 614 #8,316
2003 modern 616 #8,159
2004 modern 644 #7,893
2005 modern 722 #7,151
2006 modern 759 #6,920
2007 modern 825 #6,530
2008 modern 857 #6,381
2009 modern 929 #6,096
2010 modern 988 #5,929
2011 modern 1,012 #5,762
2012 modern 1,012 #5,688
2013 modern 1,090 #5,416
2014 modern 1,106 #5,373
2015 modern 1,096 #5,364
2016 modern 1,114 #5,279

Geography

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Where Desousas 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 Swindon, Islington, Peterborough and Epsom and Ewell. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Islington 011 Islington
3 Swindon 012 Swindon
4 Peterborough 021 Peterborough
5 Epsom and Ewell 005 Epsom and Ewell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Desousa

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Desousa

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Desousa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Desousa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Desousa 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

Desousa 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

Desousa falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Desousa

The surname DeSousa originated in Portugal and is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word "sousa," which refers to a small river or stream. It is believed to have first appeared in the northern region of Portugal during the 12th or 13th century.

The name may have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who lived near a small river or stream called Sousa. It is also possible that the name was derived from a specific place name or village named Sousa, though the exact origin is uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DeSousa can be found in a Portuguese manuscript from the 14th century, which mentions a nobleman named João de Sousa. This suggests that the name was already established among the Portuguese nobility by that time.

In the 15th century, a prominent Portuguese explorer named Pero de Sousa played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of Brazil. He was among the first Europeans to establish settlements along the Brazilian coast in the early 1500s.

Another notable figure with the surname DeSousa was Martim Afonso de Sousa, a Portuguese colonial administrator and explorer who served as the third Governor-General of Portuguese India from 1542 to 1545. He was instrumental in consolidating Portuguese control over the western coast of India.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name DeSousa began to spread beyond Portugal as Portuguese explorers, traders, and colonists established settlements in various parts of the world. The name can be found in historical records from regions such as Brazil, Goa (India), and parts of Africa that were under Portuguese influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Brazil dates back to the late 16th century, when Francisco de Sousa Coutinho was appointed as the Governor-General of Brazil from 1590 to 1602. He played a significant role in the development of the Brazilian colony during its early years.

In the 18th century, Luís de Sousa Botelho Mourão, a Portuguese military officer and colonial administrator, served as the Governor of Portuguese Timor from 1786 to 1789. He is notable for his efforts to improve the administration and defense of the colony during his tenure.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Desousa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Desousa 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. Dunbartonshire leads with 3 Desousas recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.75x.

County Total Index
Dunbartonshire 3 379.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkintilloch in Dunbartonshire leads with 3 Desousas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2727.27x.

Place Total Index
Kirkintilloch 3 2727.27x

FAQ

Desousa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Desousa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Desousa surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Desousa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,114 in 2016. That gives Desousa a modern rank of #5,279.

What does the Desousa surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating someone from the town of Sousa or the Sousa River valley.

What does the Desousa map show?

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