NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrugia

A surname originating from Malta, derived from the Maltese word "ferrug" meaning a small boat.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Farrugia surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 967, ranked #5,950, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, The Vale of Glamorgan and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrugia is 1,015 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

967

2016, ranked #5,950

Peak year

2010

1,015 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrugia had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016, ranked #5,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Farrugia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrugia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farrugia 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 780 #6,675
1998 modern 847 #6,459
1999 modern 864 #6,404
2000 modern 861 #6,385
2001 modern 849 #6,343
2002 modern 873 #6,330
2003 modern 872 #6,223
2004 modern 854 #6,328
2005 modern 863 #6,235
2006 modern 876 #6,164
2007 modern 916 #6,012
2008 modern 928 #5,992
2009 modern 967 #5,921
2010 modern 1,015 #5,816
2011 modern 999 #5,831
2012 modern 944 #6,013
2013 modern 986 #5,886
2014 modern 989 #5,910
2015 modern 962 #6,005
2016 modern 967 #5,950

Geography

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Where Farrugias 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 Stroud, The Vale of Glamorgan, Lambeth, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Gosport. 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 Stroud 005 Stroud
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 007 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Lambeth 029 Lambeth
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 014 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Gosport 001 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farrugia

These lists show first names that appear often with the Farrugia 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 Farrugia

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Farrugia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Farrugia 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Farrugia 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

Farrugia 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

Farrugia falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Farrugia is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Farrugia

The surname Farrugia has its origins in Malta, a small island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea. The name first appeared during the medieval period, likely around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "farraj," which means "person from the town of Farraj" or "person from the relief."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Farrugia surname can be found in the Maltese Militia List of 1419-1420, where several individuals with this name are listed as serving in the local militia. The name was also present in various historical documents and records from the Knights Hospitaller, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Farrugia family held significant influence and power in Malta. Notable figures from this era include Fabrizio Farrugia, a prominent lawyer and jurist who lived in the late 16th century, and Girolamo Farrugia, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Farrugia surname gained further prominence with the birth of Vincenzo Farrugia (1725-1808), a Maltese architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Malta, including the Auberge de Castille, which served as the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller.

Another notable individual with the Farrugia surname was Francesco Farrugia (1819-1893), a Maltese philosopher, theologian, and author who wrote extensively on various topics, including logic, metaphysics, and ethics. He was influential in the intellectual circles of his time and served as a professor at the University of Malta.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the Farrugia surname was Michael A. Farrugia (1939-2021), a Maltese-American professor and author who specialized in the study of Maltese literature and culture. He was a prominent figure in the Maltese diaspora community and played a significant role in preserving and promoting Maltese language and heritage.

The Farrugia surname has also been carried by several other notable individuals throughout history, including artists, politicians, and academics. While the name originated in Malta, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farrugia families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrugia 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. Glamorgan leads with 1 Farrugias recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1 29.76x
Royal Navy 1 434.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardiff St Mary in Glamorgan leads with 1 Farrugias recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

Place Total Index
Cardiff St Mary 1 555.56x
Royal Navy 1 500.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Anto. 1
Carucelo 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 Farrugia households.

FAQ

Farrugia surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrugia surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Farrugia surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrugia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016. That gives Farrugia a modern rank of #5,950.

What does the Farrugia surname mean?

A surname originating from Malta, derived from the Maltese word "ferrug" meaning a small boat.

What does the Farrugia map show?

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