NameCensus.

UK surname

Festa

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who organized or participated in festivities or celebrations.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Festa surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Festa is 124 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3900.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2011

124 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Festa had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Festa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Festa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Festa 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 2 #34,135
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

Back to top

Where Festas 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 Barnet, Rossendale, Wycombe, Teignbridge and Wolverhampton. 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 Barnet 011 Barnet
2 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
3 Wycombe 015 Wycombe
4 Teignbridge 001 Teignbridge
5 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Festa

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Festa

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Festa 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

Festa 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

Festa 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Festa 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Festa

The surname Festa originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian word "festa," meaning "feast" or "festival." This name was likely given to someone who lived near a church or town where annual feasts or celebrations were held.

The surname can be traced back to various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Lombardy, and Sicily. In some areas, it was also spelled as "Feste" or "Festi." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from 1235, mentioning a "Guglielmo Festa" from Florence.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several historical records. For example, a "Pietro Festa" was mentioned in a Venetian manuscript from 1342, while a "Giovanni Festa" was recorded in a tax register in Genoa in 1379.

During the Renaissance period, the name became more prominent. One notable figure was the Italian sculptor and architect Giacomo Festa (1515-1597), who was responsible for creating the marble decorations in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Another significant individual was the Italian philosopher and poet Costanzo Festa (1495-1545), who was known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various regions of Italy. For instance, a "Domenico Festa" was recorded as a landowner in Naples in 1612, while a "Francesco Festa" was a merchant in Palermo, Sicily, in 1674.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with several notable figures. Vincenzo Festa (1738-1809) was an Italian composer and music teacher, known for his operas and sacred works.

Another individual was the Italian painter Pietro Festa (1700-1768), whose works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

The 19th century saw the surname Festa spread beyond Italy's borders. For example, a "Juan Festa" was recorded as a businessman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1832, suggesting that the name had been carried by Italian immigrants to the Americas.

Throughout history, the surname Festa has been associated with various professions, including artists, scholars, merchants, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse backgrounds of those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Festa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Festa 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 3 Festas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover Square in Middlesex leads with 3 Festas recorded in 1881 and an index of 588.24x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover Square 3 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Giovanni 1
Giulis 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 Festa households.

FAQ

Festa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Festa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Festa surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Festa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Festa a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Festa surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who organized or participated in festivities or celebrations.

What does the Festa map show?

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