NameCensus.

UK surname

Negru

A Romanian surname meaning "black" or "dark-complexioned".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Negru surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Waltham Forest and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Negru is 112 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2016

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Negru had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Negru surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Negru surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Negru 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 1 #34,027
1998 modern 1 #38,814
2004 modern 1 #38,771
2005 modern 4 #38,078
2006 modern 4 #38,130
2007 modern 13 #36,990
2008 modern 23 #36,211
2009 modern 30 #35,871
2010 modern 41 #35,358
2011 modern 39 #35,444
2012 modern 76 #33,191
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Negrus 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 South Oxfordshire, Waltham Forest, Harrow, Milton Keynes and Craven. 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 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
2 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
3 Harrow 024 Harrow
4 Milton Keynes 006 Milton Keynes
5 Craven 003 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Negru

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

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Negru is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Negru 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

Negru 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 Negru is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Negru

The surname Negru has its origins in Romania, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "negru," meaning "black" or "dark," and was likely originally used to describe a person with dark hair or complexion.

The earliest known record of the name Negru dates back to 1456, when a man named Stanciu Negru was mentioned in a document from the city of Brasov. Over the next few centuries, the name appeared in various historical records across Romania, including property deeds, tax registers, and court documents.

One notable bearer of the Negru surname was Gheorghe Negru, a Romanian nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He owned vast tracts of land in the region of Oltenia and played a significant role in the political affairs of the time.

In the 18th century, the name Negru was also found in the records of the Principality of Wallachia, where a family with this surname held significant influence and wealth. One member of this family, Mihai Negru, born in 1735, served as a high-ranking official in the court of Prince Constantin Brancoveanu.

As the name spread across Romania, variations in spelling arose, such as Negru, Negru, and Negru. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects or the adoption of the name by different ethnic groups within Romania.

Notable bearers of the Negru surname throughout history include:

1. Ion Negru (1819-1891), a Romanian politician and writer who played a crucial role in the development of the Romanian language and literature.

2. Octavian Negru (1892-1950), a Romanian poet and translator, known for his contributions to modernist poetry in Romania.

3. Gheorghe Negru (1910-1988), a Romanian military officer and politician who served as the Minister of Defense between 1965 and 1976.

4. Andrei Negru (1921-1998), a Romanian actor and theater director who was a prominent figure in the Romanian cultural scene of the 20th century.

5. Mihai Negru (born 1952), a Romanian engineer and aerospace scientist who played a significant role in the development of Romania's space program.

While the Negru surname is most prevalent in Romania, it has also spread to other regions through migration and cultural exchange, carrying with it the rich history and significance of its Romanian origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Negru families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Negru 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. Yorkshire leads with 1 Negrus recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1 10.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarborough in Yorkshire leads with 1 Negrus recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Scarborough 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Morusi 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 Negru households.

Occupation Count
Nurse Maid Domestic 1

FAQ

Negru surname: questions and answers

How common was the Negru surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Negru surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Negru surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Negru a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Negru surname mean?

A Romanian surname meaning "black" or "dark-complexioned".

What does the Negru map show?

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