NameCensus.

UK surname

Fortuna

An Italian surname referring to fortune, luck, or chance, often bestowed upon someone with good fortune.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Fortuna surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Broughty Ferry East and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fortuna is 188 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3540.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2014

188 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fortuna had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Fortuna surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fortuna surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fortuna 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 72 #30,415
1998 modern 72 #30,775
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 65 #31,979
2004 modern 70 #31,681
2005 modern 72 #31,730
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

Back to top

Where Fortunas 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 Bexley, Broughty Ferry East, Kensington and Chelsea, Bradford and Newport. 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 Bexley 023 Bexley
2 Broughty Ferry East Dundee City
3 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bradford 015 Bradford
5 Newport 019 Newport

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fortuna

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Fortuna

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fortuna 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

Fortuna 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

Fortuna 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 Fortuna 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 Fortuna, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fortuna

The surname Fortuna is of Italian origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word 'fortuna,' which means luck or fortune. The name is believed to have originated in the regions of Tuscany and Lazio, where it was likely used to describe someone who was considered fortunate or prosperous.

In the 13th century, the name Fortuna appears in several official documents and records in Florence and Rome. One notable early reference is found in the Florentine Libro di Montaperti, which chronicles the events surrounding the Battle of Montaperti in 1260. The document mentions a certain Guido Fortuna, a citizen of Florence who fought in the battle.

The Fortuna name can also be traced back to the 14th century, where it is found in the Catasto, a tax record from the Republic of Florence. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Gabriello Fortuna, a merchant who lived in Florence from around 1350 to 1420.

During the Renaissance period, the Fortuna family gained prominence in Italy, with several members achieving notable positions and accomplishments. Ludovico Fortuna (1455-1520) was a renowned architect and engineer who worked on various projects in Rome, including the construction of the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Capitoline Hill.

Another notable figure was Niccolò Fortuna (1501-1567), a humanist scholar and philosopher from Siena. He authored several works on philosophy and was considered a leading intellectual of his time.

In the 17th century, the Fortuna name appears in the annals of the Duchy of Milan, where a branch of the family had settled. One prominent member was Giovanni Battista Fortuna (1620-1679), a military commander who served under the Spanish rulers of Milan.

The name Fortuna can also be found in various regions of Italy, including Sicily, where it is sometimes spelled as 'Furtuna.' One of the earliest recorded individuals with this spelling was Vincenzo Furtuna (1680-1745), a landowner and businessman from Palermo.

Throughout history, the surname Fortuna has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, and academics. Notable examples include the Italian painter Girolamo Fortuna (1670-1736), the Venetian scholar and linguist Domenico Fortuna (1725-1803), and the 19th-century poet and playwright Giuseppe Fortuna (1825-1892).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fortuna families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fortuna 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. Devon leads with 4 Fortunas recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.64x.

County Total Index
Devon 4 39.64x
Wiltshire 1 23.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 4 Fortunas recorded in 1881 and an index of 512.82x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 4 512.82x
Berwick St John 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Eva 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Lorenzo 1
Wm. 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 Fortuna households.

FAQ

Fortuna surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fortuna surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Fortuna surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fortuna surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Fortuna a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Fortuna surname mean?

An Italian surname referring to fortune, luck, or chance, often bestowed upon someone with good fortune.

What does the Fortuna map show?

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