NameCensus.

UK surname

Fortunato

Derived from the Italian word meaning "fortunate" or "lucky," often bestowed as a nickname for a lucky person.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Fortunato surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Montrose North and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fortunato is 111 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2675.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2016

111 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fortunato had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fortunato surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fortunato surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fortunato 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 39 #33,759
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 54 #32,660
2000 modern 59 #32,217
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 58 #32,619
2004 modern 59 #32,787
2005 modern 62 #32,708
2006 modern 69 #32,343
2007 modern 72 #32,397
2008 modern 81 #31,713
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 87 #31,905
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Fortunatos 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 Hackney, Montrose North, Birmingham, Montrose South and Westminster. 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 Hackney 019 Hackney
2 Montrose North Angus
3 Birmingham 125 Birmingham
4 Montrose South Angus
5 Westminster 013 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fortunato

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fortunato

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fortunato surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fortunato 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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, Fortunato 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

Fortunato 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fortunato

The surname Fortunato is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin adjective "fortunatus" meaning "lucky" or "blessed." It is believed to have originated as a nickname or a descriptive surname during the Middle Ages in Italy.

The earliest known records of the Fortunato surname can be found in various Italian historical documents and records, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval charters from the Campania region, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the regions of Campania, Lazio, and Calabria.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Fortunato surname was Fortunato Guidi, a Florentine nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the political and military affairs of the time and played a crucial role in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Florence.

Another notable individual with the Fortunato surname was Giovanni Fortunato, a 15th-century Italian humanist and scholar from Naples. He was widely respected for his contributions to the study of classical literature and his translation of various ancient Greek and Latin texts.

During the Renaissance period, the Fortunato family gained prominence in the city of Naples. One of its members, Girolamo Fortunato, was a renowned architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings and structures in the city, including the Palazzo Reale di Napoli.

In the 17th century, Francesco Fortunato was a celebrated painter from Calabria, known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout southern Italy. His masterpiece, "The Assumption of the Virgin," can be found in the Cathedral of Reggio Calabria.

Another figure of note was Giuseppe Fortunato, an Italian politician and historian from Basilicata who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a prominent advocate for the rights of peasants and played a significant role in the discussion of the "Southern Question" in Italy.

The Fortunato surname has also been found in various other regions of Italy, including Sardinia and Sicily, as well as in other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with significant Italian immigration, such as Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fortunato families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fortunato 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. Midlothian leads with 2 Fortunatos recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.39x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 2 38.39x
Glamorgan 1 14.77x
Middlesex 1 2.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leith North in Midlothian leads with 2 Fortunatos recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.

Place Total Index
Leith North 2 20000.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 270.27x
St Pancras London 1 31.95x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Caddeo 1
Vielati 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 Fortunato households.

Occupation Count
Jeweller 1
Marinaro 1

FAQ

Fortunato surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fortunato surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Fortunato surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fortunato surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Fortunato a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Fortunato surname mean?

Derived from the Italian word meaning "fortunate" or "lucky," often bestowed as a nickname for a lucky person.

What does the Fortunato map show?

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