NameCensus.

UK surname

Mascarenhas

A surname of Portuguese origin referring to someone from the Mascarene Islands.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Ealing and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mascarenhas is 613 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

613

2016, ranked #8,566

Peak year

2016

613 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016, ranked #8,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Mascarenhas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mascarenhas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mascarenhas 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 3 #33,861
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 355 #12,418
1999 modern 357 #12,433
2000 modern 371 #12,052
2001 modern 357 #12,205
2002 modern 365 #12,246
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 408 #11,062
2007 modern 425 #10,837
2008 modern 426 #10,911
2009 modern 460 #10,481
2010 modern 484 #10,288
2011 modern 475 #10,346
2012 modern 511 #9,708
2013 modern 535 #9,549
2014 modern 568 #9,147
2015 modern 589 #8,850
2016 modern 613 #8,566

Geography

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Where Mascarenhas' 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 Swindon, Ealing, Cheshire East, Brent and Hounslow. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Ealing 026 Ealing
3 Cheshire East 050 Cheshire East
4 Brent 020 Brent
5 Hounslow 004 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mascarenhas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mascarenhas

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Mascarenhas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mascarenhas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mascarenhas is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mascarenhas 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

Mascarenhas falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mascarenhas

The surname Mascarenhas originates from Portugal and dates back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese words "mascarar" (to mask) and "enhas" (small vineyards), suggesting a possible association with the region's wine-producing areas or perhaps a connection to a family involved in the production of wines or vineyards.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the island of Madeira, where it was commonly found among the Portuguese nobility and landowners. In the 16th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including land deeds and church records, indicating its presence in the region during that time period.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Mascarenhas was João Fernandes Mascarenhas, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is credited with discovering the islands of Réunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, which were initially known as the Mascarene Islands, likely named after him.

Another notable figure was Pedro Mascarenhas, a 16th-century Portuguese military commander and explorer who served as the Captain of Malacca (present-day Malaysia) and later as the Governor of Portuguese India. His expeditions and conquests played a significant role in expanding Portuguese influence in the Indian Ocean region.

In the 17th century, the name Mascarenhas gained prominence in Brazil, where members of the family were among the early Portuguese settlers and landowners. Notable individuals from this period include Brás Mascarenhas, a wealthy landowner and cattle rancher in the state of Bahia, and Antônio Mascarenhas, a Jesuit priest and missionary who worked among the indigenous populations of Brazil.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Mascarenhas was associated with several notable figures in Portuguese and Brazilian history. For example, José Mascarenhas Pacheco Coelho was a prominent Portuguese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the early 19th century.

In Brazil, Joaquim Mascarenhas Borges was a prominent lawyer, journalist, and politician who played a significant role in the abolitionist movement and the abolition of slavery in the country in the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Mascarenhas has been associated with nobility, landowners, military leaders, explorers, and influential figures in various fields, reflecting its strong Portuguese roots and widespread presence in Portugal, Brazil, and other regions influenced by Portuguese colonization and migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mascarenhas surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mascarenhas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016. That gives Mascarenhas a modern rank of #8,566.

What does the Mascarenhas surname mean?

A surname of Portuguese origin referring to someone from the Mascarene Islands.

What does the Mascarenhas map show?

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