NameCensus.

UK surname

Pia

A surname of Italian origin, derived from a location.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Joppa, Mid Argyll and Paisley Ralston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pia is 179 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

2014

179 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Pia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pia 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 1 #33,412
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 111 #25,767
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 131 #23,756
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 173 #21,486
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Pias 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 Joppa, Mid Argyll, Paisley Ralston, Muirend and Old Cathcart and Craigentinny. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Joppa City of Edinburgh
2 Mid Argyll Argyll and Bute
3 Paisley Ralston Renfrewshire
4 Muirend and Old Cathcart Glasgow City
5 Craigentinny City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pia

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Pia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Pia household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pia is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pia is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pia falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pia is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pia

The surname Pia has its origins in Italy, specifically in the northern region of Lombardy. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

One theory suggests that the name Pia is derived from the Italian word "pio," which means "pious" or "devout." This could indicate that the original bearers of the surname were individuals known for their religious devotion or were perhaps associated with the clergy or monastic orders of the time.

Another possibility is that the name Pia is a shortened form of the Italian place name "Piadena," a municipality located in the province of Cremona, Lombardy. It is not uncommon for surnames to originate from place names, as people would often adopt the name of their place of origin or residence.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Pia can be found in historical documents and records from the medieval period in northern Italy. For example, a certain Guglielmo Pia is mentioned in a legal document dated 1284 in the city of Pavia.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Pia. One of the earliest was Tolomeo Pia, an Italian artist and painter who lived in the 15th century (c. 1455-1528). He was known for his contributions to the Renaissance art movement in northern Italy.

Another prominent figure was Filippo Pia (1530-1616), an Italian Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Faenza from 1593 until his death. He was known for his efforts in promoting religious education and reforms within his diocese.

In the field of literature, Pietro Pia (1672-1738) was an Italian poet and playwright from Genoa. His works, which included tragedies and comedies, were influential in the literary circles of his time.

Jumping forward to the 19th century, Giuseppe Pia (1834-1913) was an Italian researcher and scientist who is best known for his work in the field of photographic studies. He conducted experiments and research on the Shroud of Turin, an important Catholic relic, using early photographic techniques.

More recently, Secondo Pia (1932-2013) was an Italian artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his abstract and geometric works. He was particularly known for his public art installations and sculptures in various cities across Italy.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Pia has a rich history spanning centuries, with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions leaving their mark in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Pia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Pia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Pia a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Pia surname mean?

A surname of Italian origin, derived from a location.

What does the Pia map show?

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