NameCensus.

UK surname

Joao

A Portuguese surname derived from the given name João, meaning "God is gracious".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Hounslow and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joao is 187 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

2014

187 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Joao surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Joao surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joao 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
1997 modern 38 #33,872
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 187 #20,570
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

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Where Joaos 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 Kingston upon Thames, Hounslow, Ealing and Hackney. 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 Kingston upon Thames 006 Kingston upon Thames
2 Hounslow 022 Hounslow
3 Ealing 033 Ealing
4 Hackney 020 Hackney
5 Hounslow 028 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joao

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

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

Joao 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

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

Meaning and origin of Joao

The surname JOAO originated in Portugal, deriving from the Portuguese equivalent of the given name John. Its roots can be traced back to the late 12th century, when it first appeared as a surname among the noble families of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the JOAO surname can be found in the Livro Velho de Linhagens, a Portuguese genealogical record compiled in the 13th century. This document mentions several members of the JOAO family, indicating their prominence among the landed gentry of the time.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the JOAO name was closely associated with the various regions of Portugal, particularly the northern provinces. It was also found in some areas of Galicia, a neighboring region of Spain with close cultural ties to Portugal.

The name's popularity grew during the Age of Discovery, when many Portuguese explorers and navigators bearing the JOAO surname embarked on voyages of exploration and colonization. This included João Gonçalves Zarco, born in 1390, who is credited with the discovery of the Madeira Islands in 1419.

In the 16th century, the JOAO name gained further prominence with the reign of King João III of Portugal, who ruled from 1521 to 1557. His patronage of the arts and sciences attracted many scholars and artists, some of whom bore the JOAO surname.

Another notable figure in Portuguese history was João de Barros, born in 1496, who served as a prominent historian and author. His work, Décadas da Ásia, chronicled the Portuguese expansion in Asia and remains a valuable historical source.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the JOAO surname spread throughout the Portuguese colonial empire, with many JOAO families settling in Brazil, Africa, and Asia. One such figure was João Fernandes Vieira, born in 1613, who played a pivotal role in the insurrection against Dutch rule in Brazil.

In the 19th century, the JOAO name continued to be associated with notable figures in Portuguese literature and politics. This included João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett, born in 1799, a celebrated poet and playwright who helped revive the interest in Portuguese literary traditions.

Throughout its long history, the JOAO surname has been a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Portugal, reflecting the nation's exploration, conquest, and intellectual achievements across centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Joao surname: questions and answers

How common is the Joao surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Joao a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Joao surname mean?

A Portuguese surname derived from the given name João, meaning "God is gracious".

What does the Joao map show?

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