NameCensus.

UK surname

Gonnella

A surname derived from the Italian word "gonna" meaning "skirt" or "gown."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Gonnella surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromley, Chesterfield and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gonnella is 132 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1671.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

2013

132 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gonnella had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 33 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gonnella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gonnella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gonnella 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
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 33 #30,384
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Gonnellas 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 Bromley, Chesterfield, Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Earnock. 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 Bromley 016 Bromley
2 Chesterfield 011 Chesterfield
3 Lewisham 025 Lewisham
4 Waltham Forest 025 Waltham Forest
5 Earnock South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gonnella

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

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gonnella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gonnella household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gonnella is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Gonnella is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gonnella falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gonnella is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Gonnella

The surname Gonnella originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "gonna," which means "skirt" or "petticoat." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who made or sold skirts or petticoats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gonnella can be found in the historical records of Florence, Italy, dating back to the 13th century. In 1289, a document mentions a certain "Guido di Gonnella," suggesting that the name was already in use at that time.

The name Gonnella also appears in several medieval manuscripts and records from various Italian cities, such as Siena, Bologna, and Pisa. These records often mention individuals with the surname Gonnella working in various professions, including tailors, merchants, and artisans.

In the 16th century, the name Gonnella was associated with a famous Italian playwright and actor known as Niccolò Gonnella (c. 1520-1590). He was renowned for his comedic plays and performances, which were popular among the Italian nobility and aristocracy of that era.

Another notable individual with the surname Gonnella was Pietro Gonnella (1773-1848), an Italian sculptor and painter from Lucca. He was known for his works in marble and his religious paintings, which can still be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

In the late 19th century, the name Gonnella gained some prominence in the United States due to the Italian immigrant community. One such individual was Antonio Gonnella (1874-1958), an Italian-American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Gonnella Baking Company in Chicago, which became a successful bakery and bread-making enterprise.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Gonnella has undergone various spelling variations, including Gonella, Gonneli, and Gonnelli, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic variations within Italy.

While the surname Gonnella may not be as common as some other Italian surnames, it has a rich history and origins that can be traced back to medieval times, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage and occupational traditions of Italy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gonnella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gonnella 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. Angus leads with 4 Gonnellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.39x.

County Total Index
Angus 4 63.39x
Middlesex 2 2.94x
Cheshire 1 6.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 4 Gonnellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.21x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 4 170.21x
St Luke London 2 183.49x
Chester Holy Trinity 1 1428.57x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Antonio 1
Emico 1
Raffaillo 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 Gonnella households.

FAQ

Gonnella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gonnella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Gonnella surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gonnella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Gonnella a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Gonnella surname mean?

A surname derived from the Italian word "gonna" meaning "skirt" or "gown."

What does the Gonnella map show?

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