NameCensus.

UK surname

Nana

An honorific term used as a last name of respect for grandparents and elders.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Nana surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Kirklees and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nana is 300 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3612.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

2015

300 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nana had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Nana surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nana surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nana 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 120 #24,960
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 248 #15,820
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 242 #16,432
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 275 #15,517
2012 modern 276 #15,427
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Nanas 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 Walsall, Kirklees and Leicester. 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 Walsall 034 Walsall
2 Kirklees 013 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 017 Kirklees
5 Leicester 017 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nana

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nana

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Nana 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

Nana 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

Nana falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nana is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Nana

The surname "NANA" is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Italian word "nana," which means "dwarf" or "short person." The name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone of short stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the chronicles of the city of Siena, where a certain Giovanni Nana was mentioned in the 13th century. This suggests that the surname was already in use in parts of Tuscany during that time.

In the 14th century, there are records of a noble family called the Nana di Montepulciano, who hailed from the town of Montepulciano in the province of Siena. This family was known for their involvement in local politics and their support for the Guelph faction during the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.

Another notable individual with the surname Nana was Francesco Nana, a Renaissance painter born in Siena around 1490. He was a student of the renowned artist Sodoma and is known for his religious works, including frescoes in the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Republic of Venice, where a certain Girolamo Nana (1573-1641) served as a diplomat and ambassador for the Venetian Republic. He was involved in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire and played a significant role in maintaining the Republic's diplomatic relations with the Sublime Porte.

Another individual of note was Giacomo Nana (1670-1745), an Italian architect and engineer who worked on various projects in Venice and the surrounding areas. He is particularly known for his work on the construction of the Palazzo Grassi, a prominent Venetian palace.

While the surname Nana has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval and Renaissance periods in Italy, where it was associated with notable figures in various fields, including art, politics, and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nana families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nana 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. Sussex leads with 5 Nanas recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.02x.

County Total Index
Sussex 5 38.02x
Middlesex 3 3.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Seaford in Sussex leads with 5 Nanas recorded in 1881 and an index of 12500.00x.

Place Total Index
Seaford 5 12500.00x
St Anne Soho London 3 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 1
Lydia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
George 1
Herculine 1
Percy 1
Stephen 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 Nana households.

FAQ

Nana surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nana surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Nana surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nana surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Nana a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Nana surname mean?

An honorific term used as a last name of respect for grandparents and elders.

What does the Nana map show?

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