UK surname

Ferreira

A Portuguese occupational surname referring to someone who worked with iron, such as a blacksmith or ironworker.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Ferreira surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,414, ranked #1,997, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Lambeth and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferreira is 3,414 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34040.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

3,414

2016, ranked #1,997

Peak year

2016

3,414 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• Ferreira had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 3,414 in 2016, ranked #1,997.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 32 in 1901.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Ferreira surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferreira surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Ferreira 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	1	#33,412
1861	historical	5	#33,418
1881	historical	10	#32,243
1891	historical	14	#33,037
1901	historical	32	#30,501
1911	historical	24	#30,800
1997	modern	800	#6,538
1998	modern	941	#5,952
1999	modern	1,018	#5,633
2000	modern	1,047	#5,480
2001	modern	1,056	#5,345
2002	modern	1,272	#4,672
2003	modern	1,313	#4,446
2004	modern	1,547	#3,890
2005	modern	1,709	#3,525
2006	modern	1,938	#3,182
2007	modern	2,070	#3,024
2008	modern	2,289	#2,779
2009	modern	2,513	#2,633
2010	modern	2,765	#2,471
2011	modern	2,730	#2,471
2012	modern	2,958	#2,261
2013	modern	3,141	#2,169
2014	modern	3,272	#2,109
2015	modern	3,345	#2,040
2016	modern	3,414	#1,997

Geography

Where Ferreiras 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 Brent, Lambeth, Breckland and Three Rivers. 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	Brent 031	Brent
2	Lambeth 008	Lambeth
3	Breckland 015	Breckland
4	Breckland 016	Breckland
5	Three Rivers 008	Three Rivers

Forenames

First names often paired with Ferreira

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Maria Ana Sandra Carla Paula Sonia Andreia Teresa Sara Claudia

Recent male names

Jose Joao Carlos Pedro Paulo Antonio Ricardo Luis Jorge Nuno

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Ferreira

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Ferreira surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ferreira 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ferreira 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

Ferreira 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ferreira falls in decile 3 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferreira 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Ferreira

The surname FERREIRA originated in Portugal and Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "ferrarius", which means "blacksmith" or "worker of iron". The name was initially used as an occupational surname for those who worked as blacksmiths or in the iron industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FERREIRA surname can be found in the Livro Velho de Linhagens (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals with the FERREIRA surname, suggesting that the name was already well-established in Portugal by that time.

In Spain, the FERREIRA surname can be traced back to the 14th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions, including Galicia, Asturias, and Castile. The name was sometimes spelled as "Ferreiro" or "Herrero" in Spanish documents.

Historically, the FERREIRA surname has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest was Gil Ferreira, a 13th-century Portuguese knight who participated in the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim Iberian territories from Moorish rule. Another prominent individual was João Ferreira, a 15th-century Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1498.

In the 16th century, the FERREIRA surname gained further prominence with the birth of António Ferreira (1528-1569), a renowned Portuguese poet and playwright often referred to as the "Portuguese Horace". His works, which included tragedies and comedies, were influential in the development of Portuguese Renaissance literature.

During the 17th century, the FERREIRA surname was carried to various parts of the world by Portuguese and Spanish explorers, settlers, and missionaries. Notably, Cristóvão Ferreira (1580-1650), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, played a significant role in the early evangelization efforts in Japan.

Another notable figure was Manuel Ferreira de Eça (1675-1743), a Portuguese architect and military engineer who designed several fortifications and buildings in Brazil during the colonial period, including the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz in Niterói.

As the FERREIRA surname spread across the globe, it became associated with various place names and geographical locations. For example, in Brazil, there is a city called Ferreira Gomes in the state of Amapá, and a municipality called Ferreiros in the state of Pernambuco, both likely named after individuals with the FERREIRA surname.

Throughout its history, the FERREIRA surname has maintained its connection to the iron industry and metalworking professions. However, it has also been embraced by individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life, reflecting the diverse tapestry of cultures and societies in which it has taken root.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Ferreira families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferreira 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Ferreiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.17x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Middlesex	6	0.00%	6.17x
Lancashire	3	0.00%	2.60x
Midlothian	1	0.00%	7.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 5 Ferreiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 354.61x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Fulham London	5	0.01%	354.61x
Toxteth Park	2	0.00%	51.15x
Edinburgh St Georges	1	0.01%	370.37x
Everton	1	0.00%	27.17x
Kensington London	1	0.00%	18.48x

Top female names

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

Name	Count
Marian	2
Caroline	1
Clarinda	1

Top male names

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

Name	Count
Jose	2
Manuel	1
Maurel	1
Yoaquim	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 Ferreira households.

Occupation	Count
Scholar	2
Portuguese Consul	1
Proprietor Of Houses	1
Pupil Teacher	1
Tobacconist	1

FAQ

Ferreira surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferreira surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Ferreira surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferreira surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,414 in 2016. That gives Ferreira a modern rank of #1,997.

What does the Ferreira surname mean?