NameCensus.

UK surname

Lucia

An Italian surname derived from the male given name Lucius, meaning "light" or "illumination."

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Lucia surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Harlow and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lucia is 120 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2016

120 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lucia had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 69 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lucia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lucia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lucia 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 57 #27,846
1911 historical 69 #25,965
1997 modern 75 #30,109
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 80 #30,152
2000 modern 76 #30,578
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 81 #30,294
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Lucias 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, Harlow and Lambeth. 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 005 Bexley
2 Bexley 019 Bexley
3 Harlow 006 Harlow
4 Bexley 010 Bexley
5 Lambeth 035 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lucia

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

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lucia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lucia household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lucia is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lucia 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lucia

The surname Lucia originated in Italy, derived from the Latin name Lucius, which means "light" or "bright." It can be traced back to ancient Roman times and was initially used as a personal name before becoming a family name.

One of the earliest known records of the name Lucia as a surname appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Benedictine monastery of Cava dei Tirreni in Campania, Italy, dating back to the 11th century. This suggests that the surname was already in use in Southern Italy during this period.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Lucia was prevalent in various regions of Italy, particularly in the central and southern parts of the country. It was commonly found in areas such as Rome, Naples, and Sicily. The name's popularity may have been influenced by the veneration of Saint Lucy, a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse, Sicily, whose feast day is celebrated on December 13th.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Lucia da Siena (c. 1270-1348) was a Franciscan tertiary and mystic from Siena, Italy. She is known for her spiritual writings and her devotion to the Catholic faith.

Another historical figure with the surname Lucia was Girolamo Lucia (1624-1679), an Italian painter from Naples who specialized in still-life and genre paintings. His works can be found in various museums and collections across Italy.

In the 16th century, the name Lucia was also associated with the town of Lucca, located in Tuscany, Italy. The town's name is derived from the Latin word "luca," meaning "grove" or "sacred wood." It is possible that some individuals with the surname Lucia may have originated from or been associated with this region.

One of the earliest known instances of the surname Lucia outside of Italy can be found in Spain, where it appeared as "Lucía" or "Lucia." An example is Juan de Lucía (c. 1510-1584), a Spanish composer and organist active in the Renaissance period.

While the surname Lucia has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and intermarriage. However, its historical significance and linguistic origins can be traced back to the Latin name Lucius and the ancient Roman civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lucia families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lucia 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. Kent leads with 16 Lucias recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.35x.

County Total Index
Kent 16 13.35x
Middlesex 9 2.56x
Suffolk 9 21.04x
Angus 1 3.07x
Norfolk 1 1.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crayford in Kent leads with 6 Lucias recorded in 1881 and an index of 1153.85x.

Place Total Index
Crayford 6 1153.85x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 438.60x
Horton Kirby 5 2631.58x
Maidstone 5 140.06x
Norwood 5 625.00x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 500.00x
St Pancras London 4 14.15x
Fakenham 1 370.37x
Liff Benvie 1 20.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 2
Georgiana 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Mary 1
Thamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Thomas 5
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Horace 2
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Joseph 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Lucia surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lucia surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Lucia surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lucia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Lucia a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Lucia surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the male given name Lucius, meaning "light" or "illumination."

What does the Lucia map show?

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