NameCensus.

UK surname

Palma

A Spanish and Italian surname referring to a palm tree or one who bears palm leaves.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Palma surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 291, ranked #15,062, up from #32,765 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Palma is 291 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4057.1%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

291

2016, ranked #15,062

Peak year

2016

291 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Palma had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016, ranked #15,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Palma surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Palma surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Palma 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 41 #31,095
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 161 #20,840
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 204 #18,251
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 243 #17,100
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 235 #17,242
2013 modern 258 #16,421
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 291 #15,062

Geography

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Where Palmas 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 Bournemouth, Brent, Hounslow, Lewisham and Tameside. 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 Bournemouth 024 Bournemouth
2 Brent 033 Brent
3 Hounslow 022 Hounslow
4 Lewisham 005 Lewisham
5 Tameside 020 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Palma

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Palma surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Palma 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Palma 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

Palma 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

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

Meaning and origin of Palma

The surname Palma is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "palma," meaning "palm tree" or "branch of a palm tree." The name likely originated in the regions of Italy where palm trees were prevalent, such as the coastal areas or Mediterranean islands like Sicily.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Palma can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Campania region of Italy, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various forms, including Palma, Palme, and Palmi, suggesting variations in spelling and pronunciation over time.

In the 12th century, the Palma family was mentioned in records from the city of Pisa, where they were involved in maritime trade and commerce. During this period, the surname was also documented in other parts of Italy, such as Genoa and Tuscany.

The surname Palma gained prominence in the 15th century with the birth of Jacopo Palma il Vecchio (c. 1480-1528), a renowned Italian Renaissance painter from Venice. His works, including altarpieces and portraits, can be found in various churches and museums across Italy and Europe.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Palma was Giacomo Palma il Giovane (1548-1628), a Venetian painter and the nephew of Jacopo Palma il Vecchio. He was known for his religious paintings and mythological scenes, which were heavily influenced by the works of Titian and Tintoretto.

In the 16th century, the Palma family established itself in the Spanish city of Valencia, where they played a significant role in the local government and society. One prominent member was Juan Palma y Vinader (1547-1619), a Spanish jurist and politician who served as the regent of the Royal Audiencia of Valencia.

The surname Palma also has connections to the island of Majorca (Mallorca), where it is believed to have originated from the Catalan variant "Palma." The city of Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, was an important trading hub in the Mediterranean, contributing to the spread of the surname across the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Palma include Guido Palma (c. 1420-1460), an Italian painter from Urbino known for his religious works; Federico Palma (1568-1628), an Italian composer and organist from Venice; and Francisco Palma (1876-1952), a Spanish painter and sculptor from Valencia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Palma families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Palma 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Palmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.19x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 6.19x
Middlesex 1 1.47x
Wiltshire 1 16.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 5 Palmas recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.74x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 5 137.74x
Hammersmith London 1 59.52x
West Lavington 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Leiggia 1
Lilian 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Rose 1
Teyisea 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Palma households.

FAQ

Palma surname: questions and answers

How common was the Palma surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Palma surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Palma surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016. That gives Palma a modern rank of #15,062.

What does the Palma surname mean?

A Spanish and Italian surname referring to a palm tree or one who bears palm leaves.

What does the Palma map show?

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