NameCensus.

UK surname

Raposo

A Portuguese and Galician surname meaning "fox," likely referring to someone cunning or with red hair.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Swindon and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raposo is 113 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2016

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Raposo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raposo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raposo 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 1 #34,674
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 23 #35,484
1998 modern 25 #35,365
1999 modern 27 #35,224
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 31 #34,648
2002 modern 35 #34,554
2003 modern 40 #34,215
2004 modern 48 #33,742
2005 modern 52 #33,619
2006 modern 57 #33,513
2007 modern 68 #32,760
2008 modern 71 #32,753
2009 modern 82 #32,048
2010 modern 81 #32,582
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Raposos 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 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Swindon, Ealing and Westminster. 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 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
2 Swindon 015 Swindon
3 Ealing 030 Ealing
4 Ealing 023 Ealing
5 Westminster 019 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raposo

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Raposo, 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 Raposo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Raposo 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, Raposo 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

Raposo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Raposo

The surname Raposo has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese word "raposo," which means "fox." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname or a reference to an individual's physical appearance or personality traits associated with a fox, such as cunning or slyness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Raposo surname can be found in the medieval Portuguese records from the 13th and 14th centuries. These records often list individuals by their first name followed by their surname or a descriptive nickname. The Raposo surname was likely used to distinguish individuals with this particular characteristic or connection to foxes.

Over the centuries, the Raposo surname has been documented in various historical records and manuscripts across Portugal. For example, in the 15th century, a nobleman named João Raposo was mentioned in chronicles as a military commander who participated in the Portuguese conquest of Ceuta in 1415. Another notable figure was Pedro Raposo, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual bearing the Raposo surname was Fernão Raposo, a Portuguese poet and writer who was born in Lisbon around 1500. His works include poetry collections and plays that reflect the cultural and literary trends of the Renaissance era in Portugal.

Fast forward to the 18th century, Manuel Raposo was a renowned Portuguese architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Lisbon, including the Church of Santa Engrácia, which is now part of the National Pantheon.

Another noteworthy figure was Joaquim Raposo Botelho, a military officer and statesman who served as the Governor-General of Portuguese India from 1786 to 1790. He played a significant role in strengthening Portuguese rule in the region during a turbulent period.

Throughout its history, the Raposo surname has been associated with various place names and regions within Portugal. Some examples include the towns of Raposo, located in the municipalities of Boticas and Vila Real, where the surname is believed to have originated or been particularly prevalent.

While the Raposo surname is primarily associated with Portugal, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have evolved slightly in different regions, but its origins can be traced back to the Portuguese word "raposo" and its historical significance within the country's cultural and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Raposo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Raposo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Raposo a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Raposo surname mean?

A Portuguese and Galician surname meaning "fox," likely referring to someone cunning or with red hair.

What does the Raposo map show?

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