NameCensus.

UK surname

Po

An Italian surname potentially meaning "farmer" or "land-worker".

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Po surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Huntingdonshire and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Po is 134 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1240.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2016

134 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Po had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Po surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Po surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Po 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
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 27 #35,016
1998 modern 29 #34,948
1999 modern 27 #35,224
2000 modern 26 #35,295
2001 modern 27 #35,041
2002 modern 30 #34,950
2003 modern 35 #34,609
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 37 #34,815
2006 modern 35 #35,191
2007 modern 37 #35,215
2008 modern 42 #34,994
2009 modern 49 #34,728
2010 modern 58 #34,346
2011 modern 60 #34,202
2012 modern 74 #33,348
2013 modern 78 #33,215
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Pos 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 Enfield, Huntingdonshire, Barnet and Brent. 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 Enfield 032 Enfield
2 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
3 Barnet 013 Barnet
4 Barnet 022 Barnet
5 Brent 019 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Po

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Po surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Po household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Po is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Po 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

Po falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Po 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Po

The surname Po has its origins in the Italian language and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "povo," which means "people" or "populace." The name was likely given to individuals who resided in or near a populous area or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Po can be found in the records of the Republic of Venice, where a nobleman named Marco Po was mentioned in a document dated 1247. This suggests that the name was already in use among the aristocracy of the region during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name Po appeared in the records of the city of Florence, where a family of merchants and bankers bore this surname. Notably, Giovan Battista Po, a prominent financier, was born in Florence in 1374 and played a significant role in the city's economic affairs.

The Po surname also has historical ties to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, specifically in the city of Parma. In the 15th century, a notable figure named Girolamo Po (1452-1524) was a renowned philosopher and scholar who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

During the Renaissance period, the Po surname gained further prominence with the emergence of notable artists and intellectuals. One such individual was Antonio Po (1516-1598), a renowned painter from the city of Modena, whose works adorned many churches and palaces throughout Italy.

In the 17th century, the Po surname made its way to the New World, with several individuals bearing this name settling in various parts of the Americas. One notable figure was Pedro Po (1623-1698), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied expeditions to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Throughout history, the Po surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Povo, a town in the northern Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige, and Pove del Grappa, a municipality in the province of Vicenza, Veneto.

While the surname Po may have evolved and been spelled differently in various regions and time periods, it has maintained its Italian roots and connection to the concept of "people" or "populace," reflecting the historical significance of this name in the cultural and social fabric of Italy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Po families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Po 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. Royal Navy leads with 1 Pos recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 1 Pos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Fernando 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 Po households.

Occupation Count
Kroon 1

FAQ

Po surname: questions and answers

How common was the Po surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Po surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Po surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Po a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Po surname mean?

An Italian surname potentially meaning "farmer" or "land-worker".

What does the Po map show?

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