NameCensus.

UK surname

Micallef

A surname derived from the Hebrew given name Michael and commonly found in Malta.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Micallef surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 828, ranked #6,712, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Tower Hamlets and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Micallef is 847 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41300.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

828

2016, ranked #6,712

Peak year

2014

847 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Micallef had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016, ranked #6,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Micallef surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Micallef surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Micallef 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 2 #33,721
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 670 #7,495
1998 modern 725 #7,283
1999 modern 704 #7,479
2000 modern 707 #7,436
2001 modern 704 #7,337
2002 modern 727 #7,285
2003 modern 743 #7,071
2004 modern 747 #7,040
2005 modern 724 #7,139
2006 modern 756 #6,942
2007 modern 756 #7,009
2008 modern 768 #6,973
2009 modern 792 #6,950
2010 modern 833 #6,801
2011 modern 803 #6,927
2012 modern 781 #6,993
2013 modern 814 #6,844
2014 modern 847 #6,676
2015 modern 824 #6,769
2016 modern 828 #6,712

Geography

Back to top

Where Micallefs 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 Tonbridge and Malling, Tower Hamlets, Swindon, Newport and Harlow. 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 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Tower Hamlets 031 Tower Hamlets
3 Swindon 013 Swindon
4 Newport 011 Newport
5 Harlow 005 Harlow

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Micallef

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Micallef

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Micallef, 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 Micallef surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Micallef 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Micallef is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Micallef 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

Micallef 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 Micallef 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Micallef

The surname Micallef is of Maltese origin, deriving from the Arabic personal name Miqellef, meaning "the trusted one" or "the honored one." This name has its roots in the Arab conquest and rule of Malta in the 9th century.

Historically, the surname Micallef is associated with the island of Malta, with records indicating its presence dating back to the 15th century. One of the earliest known mentions of the name can be found in a document from 1419, which refers to a certain Frangisk Micallef from the village of Qrendi.

During the period of the Knights Hospitaller's rule over Malta, from the 16th to the 18th century, the Micallef surname became more widespread. Several notable individuals bearing this name emerged, including Girolamo Micallef, a Maltese writer and philosopher who lived from 1639 to 1699.

Another prominent figure was Nicolò Micallef, a 17th-century Maltese architect and engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several fortifications and buildings on the island, including the renowned Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

In the 19th century, a Micallef family from the village of Siġġiewi gained prominence. One member, Salvatore Micallef, born in 1820, was a respected physician and philanthropist who contributed greatly to the local community.

The surname Micallef also has a connection to the island's religious history. In the 18th century, Gian Battista Micallef served as the Bishop of Malta from 1757 to 1786, leaving a lasting impact on the island's religious and cultural landscape.

As the Maltese diaspora spread around the world, the surname Micallef traveled with them. Notable individuals with this last name can be found in various countries, such as Etienne Micallef, a French-Maltese artist and sculptor born in 1934, and Joseph Micallef, an American author and historian born in 1948.

While the name Micallef has its origins in Malta, it has become a global surname, carried by families and individuals across different continents and cultures, yet still retaining its unique Maltese heritage and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Micallef families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Micallef 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. Lanarkshire leads with 2 Micallefs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.16x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 2 21.16x
Royal Navy 1 285.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 2 Micallefs recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.68x.

Place Total Index
Barony 2 83.68x
Royal Navy 1 333.33x

FAQ

Micallef surname: questions and answers

How common was the Micallef surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Micallef surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Micallef surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016. That gives Micallef a modern rank of #6,712.

What does the Micallef surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew given name Michael and commonly found in Malta.

What does the Micallef map show?

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