NameCensus.

UK surname

Padilla

A Spanish habitational surname indicating someone from any of the various places named Padilla in Spain.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Padilla is 197 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

197

2016, ranked #19,777

Peak year

2016

197 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016, ranked #19,777.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Padilla surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Padilla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Padilla 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 59 #32,027
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 70 #31,016
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 197 #19,777

Geography

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Where Padillas 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 Corby, Brent, Bury, Southend-on-Sea and Bexley. 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 Corby 004 Corby
2 Brent 011 Brent
3 Bury 016 Bury
4 Southend-on-Sea 015 Southend-on-Sea
5 Bexley 025 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Padilla

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Padilla

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Padilla, 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 Padilla surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Padilla 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, Padilla 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

Padilla 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

Padilla 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 Padilla 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 Padilla, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Padilla

The surname Padilla originated in Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "padilla," which means "a small meadow or field." The name has its roots in the Castilian region of Spain, where it first emerged in the 10th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the Padilla surname can be found in medieval Spanish documents, such as the Becerro de Behetrías, a census-like record of landowners and their properties compiled in the late 14th century. The name is believed to have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or owned small meadows or fields.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the Padilla surname was Juan de Padilla (1490-1521), a Spanish nobleman and leader of the Comuneros Revolt against the imperial forces of King Charles V. He was ultimately captured and executed for his role in the uprising.

Another prominent individual with the Padilla surname was Tomás de Padilla (1555-1633), a Spanish Jesuit missionary who worked extensively in South America, particularly in present-day Peru and Bolivia. He is credited with establishing several missions and contributing to the spread of Christianity in the region.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish novelist and playwright Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645) was born with the maternal surname Padilla. He is considered one of the most prominent figures of the Spanish Golden Age and is renowned for his satirical works and poetry.

Moving to the 19th century, José María Padilla (1889-1959) was a renowned Spanish composer and conductor, best known for his zarzuelas (Spanish operettas) and other works that celebrated the musical traditions of Spain.

In more recent times, the Mexican-American singer and actress Lila Downs (born Ana Gabriela Guadalupe Orozco Padilla in 1968) has gained international recognition for her fusion of traditional Mexican music with various other genres, earning multiple Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards.

While the Padilla surname has its origins in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America and the United States, where it continues to be a prominent surname among individuals of Hispanic descent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Padilla surname: questions and answers

How common is the Padilla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016. That gives Padilla a modern rank of #19,777.

What does the Padilla surname mean?

A Spanish habitational surname indicating someone from any of the various places named Padilla in Spain.

What does the Padilla map show?

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