NameCensus.

UK surname

Rego

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who lived near a stream or irrigation channel.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Rego surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rego is 255 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2014

255 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rego had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rego surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rego surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rego 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 255 #16,682
2015 modern 248 #16,905
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

Back to top

Where Regos 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, Hounslow, Haringey, Brent and Bournemouth. 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 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
3 Haringey 034 Haringey
4 Brent 021 Brent
5 Bournemouth 017 Bournemouth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rego

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rego

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

Rego 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rego

The surname Rego originates from Portugal and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "rego," which means a stream or a ditch. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a stream or a ditch.

The earliest known record of the name Rego can be found in the 13th-century Portuguese manuscript, "Livro das Linhagens," which chronicles the genealogies of noble families. The name appears in reference to a family from the region of Beira Alta, in central Portugal.

In the 14th century, the name Rego was associated with the town of Rego, located in the municipality of Celorico da Beira, in the district of Guarda. This town's name is believed to have originated from the same root word as the surname, indicating its connection to a stream or a ditch.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rego was João Rego, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499. Another notable figure was Pedro Rego, a 16th-century Portuguese soldier and administrator who served in Portuguese India.

In the 17th century, the name Rego gained prominence with the birth of Manuel Teixeira de Rego (1623-1697), a Portuguese lawyer and judge who served as the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Portugal. His son, António Teixeira de Rego (1661-1731), was a prominent jurist and legal scholar.

Another notable figure was José da Silva Rego (1870-1931), a Portuguese historian and archivist who made significant contributions to the study of Portuguese colonial history, particularly in Brazil and India.

Throughout its history, the surname Rego has been associated with various noble and influential families in Portugal, reflecting its long-standing presence in the country's cultural and political landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rego families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rego 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 1 Regos recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1 Regos recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.93x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1 144.93x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joaqum 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 Rego households.

Occupation Count
Commercial Clerk Shipping 1

FAQ

Rego surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rego surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Rego surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rego surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Rego a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Rego surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who lived near a stream or irrigation channel.

What does the Rego map show?

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