NameCensus.

UK surname

Nessa

A surname of Italian origin meaning "unmarried woman" or "young girl."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nessa is 3,601 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

2,873

2016, ranked #2,344

Peak year

2008

3,601 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,873 in 2016, ranked #2,344.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Nessa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nessa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nessa 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
1997 modern 3,121 #2,053
1998 modern 3,310 #2,021
1999 modern 3,349 #2,022
2000 modern 3,476 #1,948
2001 modern 3,330 #1,981
2002 modern 3,448 #1,962
2003 modern 3,436 #1,926
2004 modern 3,512 #1,886
2005 modern 3,455 #1,886
2006 modern 3,522 #1,855
2007 modern 3,578 #1,843
2008 modern 3,601 #1,843
2009 modern 3,464 #1,966
2010 modern 3,365 #2,073
2011 modern 3,323 #2,064
2012 modern 2,988 #2,233
2013 modern 2,997 #2,274
2014 modern 2,976 #2,302
2015 modern 2,922 #2,312
2016 modern 2,873 #2,344

Geography

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Where Nessas 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 Tower Hamlets and Oldham. 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 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
2 Oldham 016 Oldham
3 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
4 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
5 Tower Hamlets 014 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nessa

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

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Nessa is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nessa 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

Nessa 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 Nessa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
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 Nessa, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nessa

The surname Nessa is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Sicily. It is thought to be derived from the ancient Greek word "nesos," which means "island." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived on an island or who came from an island.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nessa can be found in a document from the 13th century, which mentions a nobleman named Giovanni Nessa from the town of Messina in Sicily. This town's name is also derived from the Greek word "nesos," further supporting the connection between the surname and its island origins.

In the 14th century, there are records of a family with the surname Nessa residing in the city of Palermo, which was a major center of trade and commerce during that time. It is possible that this family's ancestors may have been involved in maritime activities or trade routes that connected Sicily to other islands or coastal regions.

The name Nessa also appears in several historical manuscripts from the Renaissance period, including a text written by the renowned Italian scholar and humanist Giovanni Boccaccio, who lived from 1313 to 1375. In his work, he mentions a character with the surname Nessa, suggesting that the name was well-established in Italian society by that point.

One notable figure with the surname Nessa was Giacomo Nessa, a influential Italian painter and sculptor who lived from 1556 to 1628. He was born in the city of Messina and gained recognition for his religious works, which can still be found in churches throughout Sicily.

Another significant individual with this surname was Maria Nessa, a 17th-century poet and writer from the city of Catania in Sicily. She was renowned for her lyrical poetry and her contributions to the literary culture of the time.

In the 18th century, there was a prominent Sicilian architect named Francesco Nessa, who was responsible for designing several notable buildings and structures in his native city of Palermo.

Additionally, the name Nessa can be found in historical records from the 19th century, such as those of a family of merchants and traders based in the city of Messina, who were known for their successful business ventures throughout the Mediterranean region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nessa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nessa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,873 in 2016. That gives Nessa a modern rank of #2,344.

What does the Nessa surname mean?

A surname of Italian origin meaning "unmarried woman" or "young girl."

What does the Nessa map show?

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