NameCensus.

UK surname

Saldanha

A Portuguese surname derived from the town of Saldanha in southwestern Portugal.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saldanha is 256 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

256

2016, ranked #16,534

Peak year

2016

256 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016, ranked #16,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Saldanha surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saldanha surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saldanha 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 172 #19,883
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 186 #18,928
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 208 #18,551
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 240 #17,387
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 256 #16,534

Geography

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Where Saldanhas 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Brent and Cambridge. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Lambeth 034 Lambeth
3 Brent 026 Brent
4 Lambeth 027 Lambeth
5 Cambridge 007 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saldanha

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Saldanha, 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 Saldanha surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Saldanha 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Saldanha 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

Saldanha 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

Saldanha falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saldanha 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Saldanha

The surname Saldanha originated in Portugal, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "salda," meaning a thin, flat cake made of flour and water. This surname likely referred to someone who made or sold these cakes.

The name is also associated with the town of Saldanha in Portugal, which may have been named after a person with the surname Saldanha. The earliest known record of the name appears in a Portuguese manuscript from 1352, where a nobleman named Joao Saldanha is mentioned.

In the 15th century, the Saldanha family became prominent in Portugal, with several members holding high positions in the royal court. One notable figure was Vasco de Gama Saldanha, a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea in 1498.

Another famous bearer of the name was Antonio de Saldanha, a 16th-century Portuguese nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Portuguese conquest of India. He was born in 1503 and died in 1575.

During the colonial era, the Saldanha surname spread to various parts of the Portuguese Empire, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. In Brazil, the name is particularly common in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

In the late 18th century, a prominent member of the Saldanha family was João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun, a Portuguese military officer and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1808 to 1810.

Another noteworthy figure was Duarte Nuno Saldanha da Gama, a 19th-century Portuguese nobleman, politician, and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Council of Ministers.

The Saldanha surname has also been found in other European countries, such as Spain and Italy, likely due to migration and intermarriage between noble families.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Saldanha surname: questions and answers

How common is the Saldanha surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016. That gives Saldanha a modern rank of #16,534.

What does the Saldanha surname mean?

A Portuguese surname derived from the town of Saldanha in southwestern Portugal.

What does the Saldanha map show?

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