NameCensus.

UK surname

Massarella

A surname of Italian origins meaning someone from the town of Massarella or Massareli.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Massarella surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 244, ranked #17,096, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, North West Leicestershire and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Massarella is 252 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3385.7%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

244

2016, ranked #17,096

Peak year

2014

252 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Massarella had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 244 in 2016, ranked #17,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Massarella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Massarella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Massarella 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 13 #33,099
1901 historical 33 #30,384
1911 historical 39 #29,025
1997 modern 173 #19,295
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 190 #18,753
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 222 #17,999
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 252 #16,822
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 244 #17,096

Geography

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Where Massarellas 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 Rotherham, North West Leicestershire, Doncaster and Leeds. 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 Rotherham 028 Rotherham
2 North West Leicestershire 011 North West Leicestershire
3 North West Leicestershire 009 North West Leicestershire
4 Doncaster 025 Doncaster
5 Leeds 004 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Massarella

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

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Massarella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Massarella 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Massarella 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

Massarella is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Massarella falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Massarella

The surname Massarella originated in Italy, with its earliest records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "massaro," which referred to a steward or overseer of an estate or farm. This suggests that the name's origins may be linked to those who held such positions in rural areas of Italy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Massarella can be found in the historic archives of the city of Naples, where a certain Nicola Massarella is mentioned in a document from the year 1376. This provides evidence that the name was present in the region of Campania during the late Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Italy, as evidenced by records from the city of Palermo in Sicily. Here, a Giovanni Massarella is listed as a landowner in a cadastral register from 1548, indicating that the name had gained prominence among the landowning class.

As the centuries progressed, the Massarella name continued to be associated with notable individuals. In the 18th century, Domenico Massarella (1718-1792) was a prominent Italian architect and engineer who contributed to the design of several churches and public buildings in Naples.

Another notable figure was Vincenzo Massarella (1829-1901), a Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, representing the city of Bari in the late 19th century.

Moving into the 20th century, the Massarella name gained international recognition through the work of Mario Massarella (1914-1998), an Italian-American artist renowned for his vibrant figurative paintings and murals.

It is worth noting that variations of the name, such as Massarelli and Massarello, can be found throughout Italy, particularly in regions like Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. These spelling differences likely emerged as the name spread across different dialects and regions over the centuries.

Overall, the surname Massarella has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in Italy's rural and urban landscapes. Its earliest associations with stewardship and land management have given way to a diverse array of individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from architecture and politics to the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Massarella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Massarella 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. Dorset leads with 5 Massarellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.86x.

County Total Index
Dorset 5 111.86x
Yorkshire 2 2.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melcombe Regis in Dorset leads with 5 Massarellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2631.58x.

Place Total Index
Melcombe Regis 5 2631.58x
Sheffield 2 93.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Edith 1
Mary 1
Rosina 1
Serephina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ernest 1
Oragio 1
William 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 Massarella households.

Occupation Count
Organ Grinder 2
Scholar 2

FAQ

Massarella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Massarella surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Massarella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 244 in 2016. That gives Massarella a modern rank of #17,096.

What does the Massarella surname mean?

A surname of Italian origins meaning someone from the town of Massarella or Massareli.

What does the Massarella map show?

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