NameCensus.

UK surname

Neagu

A Romanian surname derived from the personal name Neagu, meaning "black" or "dark."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Brent and Watford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neagu is 305 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

305

2016, ranked #14,576

Peak year

2016

305 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016, ranked #14,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Neagu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neagu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neagu 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 1 #38,839
1998 modern 1 #38,814
1999 modern 1 #38,820
2000 modern 2 #38,472
2001 modern 3 #38,091
2002 modern 2 #38,400
2003 modern 6 #37,586
2004 modern 8 #37,346
2005 modern 14 #36,730
2006 modern 18 #36,412
2007 modern 33 #35,461
2008 modern 46 #34,759
2009 modern 67 #33,450
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 252 #16,822
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 305 #14,576

Geography

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Where Neagus 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 Barnet, Brent, Watford and Enfield. 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 Barnet 018 Barnet
2 Brent 009 Brent
3 Watford 010 Watford
4 Barnet 039 Barnet
5 Enfield 033 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neagu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neagu

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Neagu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Neagu 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Neagu 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

Neagu 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

Neagu falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Neagu

The surname Neagu originates from Romania and dates back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "neag," which means "black" or "dark-haired." The name was likely given to individuals with dark hair or complexions, a common practice in medieval times.

Neagu is considered a patronymic surname, meaning it was initially formed by adding a possessive suffix to a given name, such as "Neag" or "Neagu." This naming convention was widespread in Eastern Europe, particularly in Romania, where many surnames have similar origins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neagu can be found in the "Codex Sturdzanus," a collection of Romanian legal documents from the late 15th century. The codex mentions a landowner named Neagu Basarab, who lived in the region of Wallachia (now part of modern-day Romania) during the reign of Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler.

In the 16th century, the name Neagu appeared in various historical records, including the "Descriptio Moldaviae," a detailed account of the Principality of Moldavia written by the Italian humanist Emanuele Crisolora in 1532. The document mentions a nobleman named Neagu Basarab, who was a prominent figure in the court of Prince Petru Rares.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname Neagu was Neagu Bașotă (c. 1567 - c. 1637), a Romanian prince and ruler of Wallachia from 1632 to 1633. He was known for his efforts to maintain the autonomy of Wallachia against Ottoman rule.

Another historical figure with the surname Neagu was Neagu Carabă (c. 1585 - c. 1660), a Romanian painter and icon-maker who worked in the Brâncoveanu style, a distinctive artistic movement that flourished in Wallachia during the 17th century.

In the 19th century, the name Neagu gained more prominence with individuals such as Gheorghe Neagu (1832 - 1919), a Romanian politician and member of the National Liberal Party, who served as the Mayor of Bucharest from 1888 to 1889.

Another notable figure was Ion Neagu (1886 - 1964), a Romanian writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories depicting the rural life and struggles of peasants in his native region of Oltenia.

The name Neagu has also been associated with various place names in Romania, such as the village of Neagu in the county of Călărași, as well as the Neagu River, a tributary of the Prut River in northeastern Romania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Neagu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Neagu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016. That gives Neagu a modern rank of #14,576.

What does the Neagu surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from the personal name Neagu, meaning "black" or "dark."

What does the Neagu map show?

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