NameCensus.

UK surname

Orsi

An Italian surname derived from the Latin term "ursus" meaning "bear".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Arbroath Harbour and Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orsi is 168 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2013

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Orsi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orsi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Orsi 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 4 #32,658
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 21 #31,686
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 166 #22,159
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Orsis 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Arbroath Harbour, Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre, Arbroath Keptie and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Arbroath Harbour Angus
3 Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre South Ayrshire
4 Arbroath Keptie Angus
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 027 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Orsi

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

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Orsi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Orsi 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Orsi is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Orsi 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

Orsi falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Orsi 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Orsi

The surname Orsi originated in Italy, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "ursus," which means "bear." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who possessed bear-like characteristics or lived in an area where bears were prevalent.

The earliest recorded instances of the Orsi surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy. Historical records from this period, such as property deeds and municipal documents, often mention individuals bearing the Orsi name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Orsi surname was Guido Orsi, a prominent Florentine nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was a member of the influential Ghibelline faction and played a significant role in the political affairs of Florence during his time.

Another notable figure was Battista Orsi, a renowned Italian jurist and legal scholar who lived from 1492 to 1560. He authored several influential works on Roman law and served as a professor at the University of Bologna, one of the most prestigious academic institutions of the Renaissance era.

In the 16th century, the Orsi family established themselves as prominent landowners and noblemen in the Marche region of central Italy. One of the most illustrious members of this branch was Giulio Orsi, born in 1537, who served as a military commander and diplomat for the Papal States.

The Orsi surname also gained prominence in the field of arts and culture. One such individual was Lelio Orsi, an Italian painter born in 1511 in Novellara, near Reggio Emilia. He was renowned for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout northern Italy.

Another notable figure was Giovanni Gioseffo Orsi, a Bolognese historian and theologian who lived from 1692 to 1761. He authored several influential works on ecclesiastical history and was highly regarded for his scholarly contributions during the Age of Enlightenment.

Over the centuries, the Orsi surname has spread across various regions of Italy and beyond, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval times, it continues to be a prominent surname in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities worldwide.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Orsi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Orsi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Orsi a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Orsi surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the Latin term "ursus" meaning "bear".

What does the Orsi map show?

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