UK surname

Ornelas

A Galician and Portuguese habitational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Ornelas.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Lambeth and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ornelas is 113 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2016

113 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Ornelas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ornelas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Ornelas 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	30	#34,701
1998	modern	37	#34,149
1999	modern	42	#33,778
2000	modern	37	#34,217
2001	modern	36	#34,171
2002	modern	50	#33,282
2003	modern	57	#32,704
2004	modern	57	#32,968
2005	modern	61	#32,814
2006	modern	62	#33,043
2007	modern	67	#32,871
2008	modern	80	#31,833
2009	modern	74	#32,835
2010	modern	77	#32,927
2011	modern	67	#33,704
2012	modern	87	#32,180
2013	modern	102	#30,415
2014	modern	106	#30,030
2015	modern	109	#29,327
2016	modern	113	#28,691

Geography

Where Ornelas' 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 Hounslow, Lambeth, Richmond upon Thames and Westminster. 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	Hounslow 026	Hounslow
2	Lambeth 010	Lambeth
3	Lambeth 018	Lambeth
4	Richmond upon Thames 016	Richmond upon Thames
5	Westminster 023	Westminster

Forenames

First names often paired with Ornelas

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Maria Teresa Lucia Ana Filipa Deborah Marcia Rita Claudia Fatima

Recent male names

Carlos Joao Jose Miguel Ricardo Paulo Richard Bruno Luis Antonio

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Ornelas

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Ornelas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ornelas 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ornelas is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Ornelas 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ornelas 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ornelas 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Ornelas

The surname Ornelas has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "ornatus," which means "ornate" or "adorned." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who worked as a decorative artist or in a profession related to ornamentation.

The earliest recorded instances of the Ornelas surname date back to the late 12th century and early 13th century in various historical documents from the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. One notable mention is in the Libro de las Behetrías, a medieval census document from the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile (1311-1350), where the name appears in reference to landowners and noblemen.

During the Age of Exploration, the Ornelas surname gained prominence as some of its bearers participated in the voyages of discovery and colonization. For instance, Pedro Ornelas was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his famous voyage to India in 1498. Another notable figure was Juan de Ornelas, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Ornelas family established a significant presence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean. One notable individual was Diego de Ornelas, a Spanish soldier and settler who played a role in the conquest of Mexico and later became a prominent landowner in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the Ornelas surname spread across various regions, and its bearers contributed to various fields, including literature, arts, and politics. One notable example is Álvaro de Ornelas Vasconcelos, a Portuguese writer and poet who lived in the 18th century and is known for his works on historical and religious themes.

Another prominent figure with the Ornelas surname was José María Ornelas, a Mexican politician and military leader who played a significant role in the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century. He served as a general in the Mexican Army and later became the governor of the state of Coahuila.

Throughout its long history, the Ornelas surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of the world, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries. Its rich heritage reflects the diverse cultural influences and contributions of its bearers across multiple generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ornelas surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ornelas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Ornelas a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Ornelas surname mean?