NameCensus.

UK surname

Messina

A locational surname referring to someone from the city of Messina in Sicily, Italy.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Elmbridge, Woking and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Messina is 221 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

2010

221 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Messina surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Messina surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Messina 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 3 #33,861
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 181 #19,363
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 221 #18,205
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 208 #18,720
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 215 #18,659
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Messinas 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 Elmbridge, Woking, Enfield and Broxbourne. 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 Elmbridge 007 Elmbridge
2 Elmbridge 008 Elmbridge
3 Woking 003 Woking
4 Enfield 035 Enfield
5 Broxbourne 002 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Messina

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Messina

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Messina surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Messina 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Messina is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Messina 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

Messina falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Messina is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Messina, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Messina

The surname Messina is of Italian origin, derived from the name of the city of Messina, which is located on the island of Sicily. The city's name is thought to come from the ancient Greek word "Messene," meaning "in the middle" or "in the center," reflecting its location in the middle of the Strait of Messina.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Messina can be traced back to the 12th century in various Italian documents and records. It is believed that the surname was initially adopted by individuals who either lived in or had some connection to the city of Messina.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Messina was Guido Messina, a Sicilian nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that time period, including a document dated 1256 that references his role in a local dispute.

Another notable figure with the surname Messina was Pietro Messina, a Sicilian painter who lived in the 15th century. He is best known for his religious paintings and altarpieces, which can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.

In the 16th century, the name Messina appears in several chronicles and records related to the Spanish conquest of Sicily. One such record mentions a soldier named Girolamo Messina, who fought against the Spanish forces during the 1516 rebellion in Messina.

During the 17th century, the surname Messina was associated with several members of the Sicilian nobility. One notable example is Giuseppe Messina, who was born in 1632 and served as a high-ranking official in the Sicilian government.

In the 18th century, the name Messina gained prominence with the birth of Filippo Messina (1731-1799), a renowned Sicilian sculptor and architect. He is best known for his work on several churches and palaces in Messina and other parts of Sicily.

Other notable individuals with the surname Messina include Antonio Messina (1845-1920), an Italian painter known for his landscape and genre scenes, and Francesco Messina (1900-1995), a Sicilian-American linguist and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Sicily.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Messina surname: questions and answers

How common is the Messina surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Messina a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Messina surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the city of Messina in Sicily, Italy.

What does the Messina map show?

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