NameCensus.

UK surname

Podesta

An Italian surname meaning "chief magistrate" or "mayor" in some dialects.

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Podesta surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 219, ranked #18,422, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Tormoham with Torquay and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Liverpool and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Podesta is 230 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

219

2016, ranked #18,422

Peak year

2013

230 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Podesta had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 219 in 2016, ranked #18,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 152 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Podesta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Podesta surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Podesta 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 217 #17,307
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 211 #17,513
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 212 #18,726
2011 modern 225 #17,841
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 219 #18,422

Geography

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Where Podestas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Tormoham with Torquay, Southampton St Mary, Manchester and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Liverpool, Herefordshire, New Forest and Wyre. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 003 St. Helens
2 Liverpool 046 Liverpool
3 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
4 New Forest 023 New Forest
5 Wyre 013 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Podesta

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Podesta

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

Spacious Rural Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Podesta is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Podesta is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Podesta falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Podesta 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Podesta

The surname Podesta is of Italian origin, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Italian word "podestà," which referred to the chief magistrate or governor of a city-state or town in medieval Italy.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Podesta can be found in various historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries in regions such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. The name was particularly prevalent in cities like Florence, Siena, and Bologna, where the office of the podestà held significant importance.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Podesta was Guido Podesta, a prominent Guelph politician from Florence who lived in the late 13th century. He played a crucial role in the political struggles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, serving as the podestà of several cities, including Arezzo and Prato.

Another notable figure bearing the name Podesta was Raniero Podesta, a renowned jurist and legal scholar from Bologna in the 13th century. He authored several influential works on Roman law and canon law, including the "Lectura super Codice" and the "Commentaria in Digestum Vetus."

In the 14th century, the surname Podesta appeared in the historic records of the Republic of Venice. One such individual was Andrea Podesta, a Venetian diplomat and ambassador who served as the podestà of various territories under Venetian control, including Treviso and Verona.

During the Renaissance period, the name Podesta was associated with several prominent artists and intellectuals. One of the most renowned figures was Andrea Podesta, a Florentine painter and sculptor who lived in the 15th century. His works adorned churches and palaces throughout Italy, and he was celebrated for his innovative use of perspective and light.

In the realm of literature, the surname Podesta is linked to Giovanni Battista Podesta, a 16th-century Italian poet and humanist from Verona. He was a member of the prestigious Accademia degli Infiammati and authored several volumes of poetry, including "Rime" and "Egloghe Pastorali."

While the Podesta surname has its origins in medieval Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by generations of immigrants and descendants. However, the name's rich historical significance remains rooted in the influential role of the podestà in the governance and cultural landscape of medieval Italian cities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Podesta families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Podesta 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 28 Podestas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.31x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 28 3.31x
Hampshire 9 6.17x
Devon 8 5.40x
Glamorgan 7 5.65x
Sussex 7 5.83x
Warwickshire 7 3.90x
Carmarthenshire 2 6.66x
Middlesex 2 0.28x
Yorkshire 2 0.28x
Monmouthshire 1 1.94x

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 15 Podestas recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.48x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 15 39.48x
Millbrook 9 244.57x
Brighton 7 28.90x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 130.60x
Liverpool 7 13.64x
Swansea Town 7 68.90x
Bury 6 62.18x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 52.54x
Carmarthen St Peter 2 78.13x
Sheffield 2 8.90x
Tormoham 2 31.90x
Newport 1 40.65x
St George Hanover 1 10.76x
St George In East 1 20.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Therisa 2
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Erminia 1
Filemanha 1
Juliet 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
May 1
Paulina 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Joseph 4
Anthony 2
Antony 2
Dominic 2
Francis 2
Angeloe 1
Antonio 1
Augstin 1
Domenico 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Giovanni 1
Giuseppe 1
Harry 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Lazarus 1
Luigi 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Ricciotte 1
Robert 1
Romeo 1
Uriosto 1
Victor 1
Zuchotte 1

FAQ

Podesta surname: questions and answers

How common was the Podesta surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Podesta surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Podesta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 219 in 2016. That gives Podesta a modern rank of #18,422.

What does the Podesta surname mean?

An Italian surname meaning "chief magistrate" or "mayor" in some dialects.

What does the Podesta map show?

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