NameCensus.

UK surname

Elia

Derived from the Greek name Elias, a cognate of the Hebrew name Eliyyahu, meaning "my God is Yahweh."

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Elia surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 401, ranked #11,857, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elia is 415 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6583.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

2010

415 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elia had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Elia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elia 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 320 #12,966
1998 modern 357 #12,372
1999 modern 369 #12,147
2000 modern 371 #12,052
2001 modern 361 #12,102
2002 modern 382 #11,839
2003 modern 378 #11,741
2004 modern 376 #11,798
2005 modern 383 #11,565
2006 modern 374 #11,822
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 413 #11,436
2010 modern 415 #11,654
2011 modern 408 #11,681
2012 modern 385 #12,061
2013 modern 405 #11,813
2014 modern 407 #11,848
2015 modern 404 #11,814
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

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Where Elias 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 Enfield 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 Enfield 021 Enfield
2 Enfield 007 Enfield
3 Barnet 009 Barnet
4 Enfield 022 Enfield
5 Enfield 035 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elia

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Elia 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.

Read profile summary

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

Elia 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

Elia 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elia

The surname Elia has its origins in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania, where it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. It is derived from the Latin name "Aelia," which was a Roman family name derived from the Greek word "helios," meaning "sun." This suggests that the name may have been originally bestowed upon someone with a sunny disposition or a connection to the sun or its symbolism.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elia can be found in a document from the city of Naples, dated 1186, which mentions a nobleman named Elia di Napoli. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by that time. The name also appears in various other historical records and chronicles from the southern Italian regions, such as Puglia and Calabria, during the subsequent centuries.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Elia da Cortona, an Italian friar and theologian, was born in Cortona, Tuscany (c. 1180 - 1253). He is remembered for his contributions to the Franciscan Order and his teachings on moral philosophy. Another notable figure with this surname was Elia Levita (c. 1469 - 1549), a Jewish grammarian and scholar from Germany, who made significant contributions to the study of Hebrew grammar and the Masorah.

During the Renaissance period, the name Elia gained further recognition through the works of Italian artists and intellectuals. One such figure was Elia Caprili (c. 1505 - 1573), a renowned Florentine painter and sculptor who worked on several notable commissions in churches and palaces throughout Italy. Another notable bearer of the name was Elia Cori (c. 1530 - 1599), a Venetian architect and engineer who was involved in the construction of several important landmarks, including the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

In more recent centuries, the surname Elia has continued to be associated with notable individuals in various fields. For example, Elia Dalla Costa (1872 - 1961) was an Italian mathematician and physicist known for his work in the field of electromagnetism. Additionally, Elia Kazan (1909 - 2003), an American director and writer of Greek descent, gained widespread recognition for his contributions to theatre and film, including directing acclaimed works such as "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elia families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elia 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. Lancashire leads with 2 Elias recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 2.88x
Devon 1 8.22x
Kent 1 5.02x
Sussex 1 10.15x
West Lothian 1 113.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bootle Cum Linacre in Lancashire leads with 1 Elias recorded in 1881 and an index of 181.82x.

Place Total Index
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 181.82x
Brighton 1 50.25x
Kingskerswell 1 5000.00x
Manchester 1 32.05x
Uphall 1 1000.00x
Wouldham 1 3333.33x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Elia surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Elia surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 1
Guiseppi 1
Julius 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Elia households.

FAQ

Elia surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elia surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Elia surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Elia a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Elia surname mean?

Derived from the Greek name Elias, a cognate of the Hebrew name Eliyyahu, meaning "my God is Yahweh."

What does the Elia map show?

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