NameCensus.

UK surname

Portelli

Surname referring to someone from a small town or village.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Barking and Dagenham and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Portelli is 270 in 2007. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

245

2016, ranked #17,049

Peak year

2007

270 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016, ranked #17,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Portelli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Portelli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Portelli 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
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 239 #16,179
1999 modern 254 #15,638
2000 modern 241 #16,146
2001 modern 226 #16,620
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 217 #17,176
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 235 #16,335
2006 modern 248 #15,820
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 258 #16,165
2013 modern 257 #16,466
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 245 #17,049

Geography

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Where Portellis 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 Cardiff, Barking and Dagenham, Lambeth and Bromley. 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 Cardiff 039 Cardiff
2 Barking and Dagenham 017 Barking and Dagenham
3 Lambeth 012 Lambeth
4 Cardiff 043 Cardiff
5 Bromley 023 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Portelli

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Portelli

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Portelli surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Portelli 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Portelli 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.

Read profile summary

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

Portelli 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

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

Meaning and origin of Portelli

The surname Portelli is of Italian origin, deriving from the word "portello," which means a small gate or entrance. It is believed to have originated in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna, during the medieval period.

The name's earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions in historical documents and records from cities like Florence, Milan, and Bologna. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near or worked at a small gate or entrance, either as gatekeepers or as residents in the vicinity.

One notable historical reference to the name Portelli can be found in the Florentine Priorista, a record of the city's governing council members from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Several individuals with the surname Portelli are listed as serving on the council during this period.

In the 14th century, a man named Giovanni Portelli was a prominent merchant and banker in the city of Florence. He is mentioned in various financial records and business transactions of the time.

During the Renaissance period, the Portelli family produced several notable artists and intellectuals. Cosimo Portelli (1520-1592) was a renowned painter from Florence, known for his religious works and frescoes adorning various churches in the city.

Another notable figure with the surname Portelli was Antonio Portelli (1701-1778), an Italian architect and engineer who designed several important buildings and structures in Rome during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, Vincenzo Portelli (1813-1887) was a prominent Italian politician and statesman who served as a member of the Italian parliament and held various ministerial positions during the unification of Italy.

Other notable individuals with the surname Portelli include Giuseppe Portelli (1875-1942), an Italian opera singer and tenor who performed in various opera houses throughout Europe, and Adriana Portelli (1924-2012), an Italian actress and television personality known for her roles in Italian cinema during the mid-20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Portelli families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Portelli 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 8 Portellis recorded in 1881 and an index of 860.22x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 8 860.22x

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 8 Portellis recorded in 1881 and an index of 1012.66x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 8 1012.66x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Paolo 2
Antonio 1
Emanuel 1
Guiseppe 1
Pado 1
Rosario 1
Rosatie 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 Portelli households.

FAQ

Portelli surname: questions and answers

How common is the Portelli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016. That gives Portelli a modern rank of #17,049.

What does the Portelli surname mean?

Surname referring to someone from a small town or village.

What does the Portelli map show?

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