NameCensus.

UK surname

Dsouza

A surname of Portuguese origin, derived from the phrase "de Souza," meaning "of Souza," referring to a town in Portugal.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dsouza is 2,388 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,388

2016, ranked #2,750

Peak year

2016

2,388 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,388 in 2016, ranked #2,750.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dsouza surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dsouza surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dsouza 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 1,357 #4,239
1998 modern 1,405 #4,260
1999 modern 1,460 #4,171
2000 modern 1,498 #4,070
2001 modern 1,472 #4,054
2002 modern 1,565 #3,936
2003 modern 1,541 #3,904
2004 modern 1,620 #3,731
2005 modern 1,647 #3,643
2006 modern 1,683 #3,576
2007 modern 1,783 #3,439
2008 modern 1,866 #3,316
2009 modern 1,964 #3,266
2010 modern 2,113 #3,135
2011 modern 2,100 #3,102
2012 modern 2,162 #2,958
2013 modern 2,236 #2,922
2014 modern 2,273 #2,898
2015 modern 2,310 #2,827
2016 modern 2,388 #2,750

Geography

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Where Dsouzas 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, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Brent. 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 Hounslow 016 Hounslow
3 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
4 Hillingdon 032 Hillingdon
5 Brent 020 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dsouza

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dsouza

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dsouza, 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 Dsouza surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dsouza 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dsouza is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dsouza 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

Dsouza 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 Dsouza 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Dsouza

The surname DSOUZA has its origins in the Goan region of India, where it traces its roots back to the 16th century. It is a Portuguese-influenced spelling of the name "de Souza," which itself derives from the Portuguese word "sousa," meaning a place of willows or a willow grove. The name's earliest recorded instances can be found in baptismal records from the Catholic Church in Goa, following the Portuguese colonization of the region.

As a surname, DSOUZA is believed to have first emerged among the Portuguese-influenced Catholic community of Goa, many of whom adopted Portuguese surnames during the colonial period. The name likely originated as a reference to a person's place of origin or residence, indicating they hailed from an area known for its willow groves.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the surname DSOUZA was Goncalo de Sousa, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the establishment of Portuguese rule in India during the early 16th century. Born in 1480, he was appointed the first viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505 and oversaw the expansion of Portuguese territories in the region.

Another notable figure associated with the name was Luiz de Sousa, a 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit missionary and writer, born in 1555. He is renowned for his contributions to Portuguese literature, including his widely acclaimed work, "The Life of the Venerable Father Mestre João de Almeida."

In the 18th century, Bernardo de Sousa Rego, born in 1690, was a prominent Portuguese military commander who served as the Governor of Mozambique and later as the Captain-General of the Portuguese Azores Islands. His legacy includes several military campaigns and contributions to the administration of Portuguese colonial territories.

Moving into the 19th century, Manuel de Sousa Coutinho, born in 1805, was a Brazilian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Brazil during the reign of Emperor Pedro II. He played a crucial role in shaping Brazil's foreign policy and diplomatic relations during a pivotal period in the country's history.

Finally, Alfredo de Sousa Mendes, born in 1879, was a Portuguese diplomat who gained recognition for his humanitarian efforts during World War II. As the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, France, he defied orders from his government and issued thousands of visas to Jewish refugees, allowing them to escape Nazi persecution. His actions were later recognized by Israel, which honored him as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dsouza families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dsouza 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. Royal Navy leads with 1 Dsouzas recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

FAQ

Dsouza surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dsouza surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,388 in 2016. That gives Dsouza a modern rank of #2,750.

What does the Dsouza surname mean?

A surname of Portuguese origin, derived from the phrase "de Souza," meaning "of Souza," referring to a town in Portugal.

What does the Dsouza map show?

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