NameCensus.

UK surname

Rebelo

Of Portuguese origin, a nickname meaning "rebellious" or "defiant one".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, East Cambridgeshire and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rebelo is 260 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

2016

260 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rebelo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rebelo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rebelo 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
1997 modern 39 #33,759
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 56 #32,461
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 66 #31,821
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 86 #30,019
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 219 #18,523
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

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Where Rebelos 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 Swindon, East Cambridgeshire, Brent, Lambeth and Croydon. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Brent 029 Brent
4 Lambeth 004 Lambeth
5 Croydon 005 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rebelo

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

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rebelo is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rebelo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rebelo

The surname REBELO originated in Portugal during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "rebelo," meaning "rebel" or "insurgent." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was involved in a rebellion or uprising against authority.

The earliest known records of the REBELO surname date back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various documents from the northern regions of Portugal. Some of the earliest recorded individuals with this name include João Rebelo, a knight who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors in the 12th century, and Martim Rebelo, a nobleman who participated in the conquest of Ceuta in 1415.

During the Age of Exploration, several Portuguese explorers and navigators bore the REBELO surname. One notable example is Gaspar Rebelo, who was part of the expedition led by Vasco da Gama that reached India in 1498. Another explorer, Sebastião Rebelo, accompanied Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan) on his famous voyage around the world in the early 16th century.

The REBELO name also appears in historical records related to the Portuguese colonization of Brazil. In the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with this surname were among the early settlers and administrators in Brazil, such as Diogo Rebelo, who served as the captain-general of Pernambuco in the late 16th century.

Over the centuries, the REBELO surname has been associated with various notable figures in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking regions. For instance, António Rebelo de Vasconcelos (1595-1674) was a renowned Portuguese historian and author, while José Rebelo Vaz Pinto (1876-1942) was a prominent politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Portugal in the early 20th century.

Other notable individuals with the REBELO surname include José Rebelo (1891-1965), a Portuguese writer and journalist; Luís Rebelo Gonçalves (1924-2005), a celebrated Portuguese sculptor; and Francisco Rebelo (born 1977), a contemporary Portuguese filmmaker and screenwriter.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rebelo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rebelo 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 Rebelos 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 Rebelos 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 Rebelo surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Catano 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 Rebelo households.

Occupation Count
Wt Offrs Cook & Servant 1

FAQ

Rebelo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rebelo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Rebelo a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Rebelo surname mean?

Of Portuguese origin, a nickname meaning "rebellious" or "defiant one".

What does the Rebelo map show?

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