NameCensus.

UK surname

Eva

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "life bringer" or "source of life".

In the 1881 census there were 624 people recorded with the Eva surname, ranking it #5,666 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 726, ranked #7,493, down from #5,666 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walkhampton, St Pancras and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eva is 749 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.3%.

1881 census count

624

Ranked #5,666

Modern count

726

2016, ranked #7,493

Peak year

2014

749 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eva had 624 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,666 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016, ranked #7,493.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 674 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Eva surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eva surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eva 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 524 #4,784
1881 historical 624 #5,666
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 674 #6,467
1997 modern 637 #7,788
1998 modern 673 #7,713
1999 modern 689 #7,612
2000 modern 676 #7,695
2001 modern 667 #7,644
2002 modern 677 #7,711
2003 modern 681 #7,558
2004 modern 698 #7,421
2005 modern 674 #7,569
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 680 #7,614
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 707 #7,585
2010 modern 733 #7,504
2011 modern 738 #7,405
2012 modern 735 #7,344
2013 modern 736 #7,451
2014 modern 749 #7,392
2015 modern 730 #7,482
2016 modern 726 #7,493

Geography

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Where Evas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walkhampton, St Pancras, Wendron, Madron and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Walkhampton Devon
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Madron Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 045 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
4 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Cornwall 064 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eva

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eva

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Eva surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Eva household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Eva is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eva 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

Eva 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 Eva is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Eva

The surname Eva is of Spanish origin, derived from the Hebrew name "Chavah" which means "life" or "life-giver". It is believed to have emerged in the region of Catalonia in the early medieval period, likely as a result of the influence of Jewish communities in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eva as a surname can be found in the "Libre de Repartiment de Valencia", a 13th-century document that documented the distribution of lands and properties following the Christian conquest of Valencia. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Eva was also found in various records and manuscripts from the Kingdom of Aragon, indicating its spread across the region. During this period, the name may have been influenced by the Catalan spelling "Eva" and the Castilian Spanish spelling "Eva".

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Eva include:

1. Juan Eva (c. 1400 - c. 1480), a Spanish painter and illuminator active in the Kingdom of Aragon during the Renaissance period. 2. Pedro Eva (1556 - 1624), a Spanish composer and organist who served at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in El Escorial. 3. Gaspar Eva (1570 - 1640), a Spanish military engineer and architect who designed fortifications in various cities across Spain and Italy. 4. Mariano Eva (1770 - 1828), a Spanish politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Cortes de Cádiz, the first national legislative body in Spain. 5. Claudio Eva (1915 - 1988), an Argentine writer and journalist known for his novels depicting life in rural Argentina.

While the surname Eva has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries, due to Spanish colonization and migration. However, it is important to note that the surname's prominence and distribution may have evolved over time, and its usage may vary across different regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eva families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eva 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. Cornwall leads with 360 Evas recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.91x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 360 51.91x
Devon 76 5.96x
Middlesex 57 0.93x
Lancashire 45 0.62x
Surrey 17 0.57x
Gloucestershire 16 1.33x
Glamorgan 11 1.03x
Yorkshire 11 0.18x
Shropshire 7 1.32x
Wiltshire 6 1.11x
Durham 5 0.27x
Hampshire 5 0.40x
Royal Navy 4 5.48x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 63 Evas recorded in 1881 and an index of 220.43x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 63 220.43x
Falmouth 48 195.52x
Gwinear 42 1276.60x
Walkhampton 34 2786.89x
Helston 32 443.83x
Kenwyn 21 115.77x
Madron Penzance 20 79.30x
Islington London 18 3.03x
Wendron 18 186.92x
St Pancras London 16 3.24x
St Stithians 16 418.85x
Camberwell 14 3.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 14 14.25x
Perranuthnoe 12 634.92x
Hopwood 11 115.79x
Crowan 10 182.15x
Tavistock 10 68.82x
Calstock 9 66.18x
Halliwell 9 34.03x
Linkinhorne 8 165.63x
Habergham Eaves 7 10.54x
Madeley 7 36.08x
Mawnan 7 642.20x
Oystermouth 7 84.85x
Stapleton 7 30.72x
Stonehouse East 7 108.19x
Turton 7 58.82x
Bristol St Paul In 6 18.74x
Dalton In Furness 6 21.38x
Holy Trinity 6 4.11x
St Hilary 6 297.03x
Swindon 6 14.28x
Talland 6 368.10x
Truro St Mary 6 102.92x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.88x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.46x
Gwithian 5 387.60x
Shoreditch London 5 1.88x
St Ive 5 112.36x
Stranton 5 8.15x
Breage 4 63.19x
Lidford 4 69.81x
Phillack 4 44.69x
Royal Navy 4 6.41x
South Stoneham 4 14.68x
St George Bloomsbury 4 11.38x
Swansea Town 4 4.57x
Keighley 3 4.64x
Ludgvan 3 54.25x
Budock 2 38.31x
East Molesey 2 28.90x
Liskeard 2 17.24x
St Neot 2 73.26x
Westbury On Trym 2 4.91x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.63x
Bitton Oldland 1 8.14x
Bodmin 1 8.72x
Bovey Tracey 1 22.42x
Bowdon 1 18.62x
Broughton In Salford 1 1.50x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 7.14x
East Stonehouse 1 3.98x
Exeter Heavitree 1 10.52x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 13.00x
Hackney London 1 0.29x
Haslingden 1 3.32x
Illogan 1 5.45x
Isleworth 1 3.67x
Moreton Hampstead 1 30.30x
Newington 1 0.44x
Oldham 1 0.43x
Paddington London 1 0.44x
Portsea 1 0.41x
Redruth 1 5.10x
Shebbear 1 52.36x
St Clement 1 13.81x
St Erth 1 23.81x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 17.99x
Stoke Climsland 1 22.57x
Winmarleigh 1 125.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 38
Thomas 31
James 18
Samuel 14
Charles 12
Henry 10
Joseph 10
Richard 10
Frederick 9
George 7
Stephen 6
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Francis 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Wm.J. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Josiah 2
Paul 2
Philemon 2
Philip 2
Rich.Jas. 2
Benj. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Emanuel 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Erwin 1
Fr. 1
Fredrick 1
Jack 1
Jas. 1
Michal 1
Moses 1
Odger 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Eva surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eva surname in 1881?

In 1881, 624 people were recorded with the Eva surname. That placed it at #5,666 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eva surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016. That gives Eva a modern rank of #7,493.

What does the Eva surname mean?

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "life bringer" or "source of life".

What does the Eva map show?

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