NameCensus.

UK surname

Sia

An Italian surname derived from the Italian city of Siena.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, County Durham and City Centre East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sia is 107 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2012

107 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Sia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sia 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 29 #34,795
1998 modern 31 #34,740
1999 modern 31 #34,821
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 29 #34,839
2002 modern 27 #35,243
2003 modern 24 #35,552
2004 modern 27 #35,444
2005 modern 39 #34,652
2006 modern 37 #35,074
2007 modern 41 #34,974
2008 modern 57 #34,015
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 81 #32,582
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Sias 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 Derby, County Durham, City Centre East, Barnet and Sefton. 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 Derby 011 Derby
2 County Durham 012 County Durham
3 City Centre East Glasgow City
4 Barnet 011 Barnet
5 Sefton 017 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sia

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

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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Sia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sia household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sia is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sia 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

Sia falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sia 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Sia

The surname Sia has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "sia," meaning "may it be" or "let it be." This suggests that the name may have originally been a phrase or statement of affirmation.

In the early days, the surname Sia was predominantly found in the regions of Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the city of Florence, where it appears in tax records and municipal documents from the late 1400s.

One notable historical reference to the name Sia can be found in the "Libro d'Oro della Nobilità Italiana," a compendium of Italian noble families compiled in the 17th century. This work mentions a branch of the Sia family that had been granted noble status in the city of Verona.

The earliest recorded bearer of the surname Sia was Giovanni Sia, a merchant and landowner who lived in Siena between 1430 and 1502. Another early example is Bartolomeo Sia, a renowned painter and fresco artist from Ferrara, who was active in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

As the name spread across Italy, it evolved into various spellings, such as Sias, Siati, and Siai. In some regions, the name was also associated with specific place names, like the town of Siamaggiore in the province of Oristano, Sardinia.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Sia. One such figure was Antonio Sia (1560-1635), a Venetian architect and engineer who designed several significant buildings in Venice, including the Church of San Giobbe.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Girolamo Sia (1670-1743), a renowned jurist and legal scholar from Bologna, who authored several influential treatises on civil and canon law.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe Sia (1810-1888) was a celebrated Italian poet and playwright, known for his works that celebrated the beauty of his native Piedmont region.

The surname Sia also found its way into the world of music, with Pietro Sia (1845-1918), a composer and conductor from Naples who wrote several operas and orchestral works.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Carlo Sia (1892-1973), a renowned Italian engineer and inventor who pioneered several advancements in the field of telecommunications and radio technology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Sia a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Sia surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the Italian city of Siena.

What does the Sia map show?

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