NameCensus.

UK surname

Guerra

An Italian and Spanish surname referring to war or a warrior, likely denoting a soldier or mercenary.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Guerra surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 342, ranked #13,398, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guerra is 342 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11300.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

342

2016, ranked #13,398

Peak year

2016

342 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Guerra had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016, ranked #13,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Guerra surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Guerra surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Guerra 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 182 #19,259
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 302 #14,451
2013 modern 314 #14,273
2014 modern 326 #14,006
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 342 #13,398

Geography

Back to top

Where Guerras 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing 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 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Westminster 022 Westminster
3 Ealing 005 Ealing
4 Kensington and Chelsea 002 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Newport 004 Newport

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Guerra

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Guerra

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Guerra, 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 Guerra surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Guerra 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, Guerra 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

Guerra 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

Guerra falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guerra 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 Guerra, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Guerra

The surname Guerra is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "guerra" meaning "war." It is believed to have originated as a surname in the late 12th century during the Reconquista, the period of Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

The name was likely first adopted by individuals who participated in military campaigns or battles during this period, possibly as a descriptive surname reflecting their occupation or participation in wars. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century in regions of Spain such as Castile and Aragon.

Historical records from the Middle Ages, including tax rolls and municipal records, mention individuals with the surname Guerra, indicating its widespread use in various parts of Spain. For example, the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a document from the 13th century detailing the distribution of lands after the Reconquest of Seville, lists several individuals with the surname Guerra.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Guerra was Rodrigo Guerra, a 13th-century Spanish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Reconquista campaigns under King Alfonso X of Castile. Another notable individual was Juan Guerra, a 14th-century Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

In the 16th century, the surname Guerra was brought to the Americas by Spanish settlers and conquistadors, with many individuals bearing the name settling in areas such as Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. One notable figure from this period was Pedro de Guerra, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Guerra continued to be prominent in Spain and its colonies, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Juan José de Guerra was a Spanish naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Cuba in the late 18th century.

Throughout history, the surname Guerra has been associated with military prowess, bravery, and a warrior spirit, reflecting its origins during the Reconquista era. While the name is primarily found in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Guerra families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guerra 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 2 Guerras recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 6.84x
Lancashire 1 2.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hampstead London in Middlesex leads with 2 Guerras recorded in 1881 and an index of 444.44x.

Place Total Index
Hampstead London 2 444.44x
Lytham 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Lucy 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Fernando 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 Guerra households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Student 1

FAQ

Guerra surname: questions and answers

How common was the Guerra surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Guerra surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016. That gives Guerra a modern rank of #13,398.

What does the Guerra surname mean?

An Italian and Spanish surname referring to war or a warrior, likely denoting a soldier or mercenary.

What does the Guerra map show?

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