NameCensus.

UK surname

Soares

A Portuguese occupational surname referring to a person who made or repaired shoes, derived from the word "soar".

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Soares surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,207, ranked #4,927, up from #25,575 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soares is 1,207 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2017.5%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

1,207

2016, ranked #4,927

Peak year

2016

1,207 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soares had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,207 in 2016, ranked #4,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Soares surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soares surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soares 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
1851 historical 30 #27,891
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 37 #29,263
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 374 #12,026
2000 modern 398 #11,443
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 453 #10,391
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 541 #8,964
2005 modern 634 #7,932
2006 modern 699 #7,356
2007 modern 747 #7,075
2008 modern 795 #6,786
2009 modern 910 #6,205
2010 modern 980 #5,972
2011 modern 963 #6,001
2012 modern 994 #5,764
2013 modern 1,060 #5,551
2014 modern 1,107 #5,370
2015 modern 1,152 #5,149
2016 modern 1,207 #4,927

Geography

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Where Soares' 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 Peterborough, Lambeth, Swindon, Brent and Great Yarmouth. 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 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
2 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
3 Swindon 015 Swindon
4 Brent 031 Brent
5 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soares

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Soares surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Soares 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Soares 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

Soares 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

Soares 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 Soares is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Soares

The surname SOARES originated in Portugal during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "soarus," meaning "hawk" or "falcon." This name was likely given to someone who worked as a falconer or hunter of birds of prey.

The earliest recorded instances of the SOARES surname can be found in Portuguese historical documents dating back to the 12th century. One notable example is a reference to a nobleman named Soeiro Soares, who lived in the region of Galicia in the late 12th century.

During the Age of Discovery, many Portuguese explorers and settlers bearing the SOARES surname helped establish colonies in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. This contributed to the widespread distribution of the name across multiple continents.

One famous individual with the SOARES surname was Tomé Soares, a Portuguese navigator and explorer who lived from around 1470 to 1539. He was a prominent figure in the early voyages of discovery and played a significant role in establishing Portuguese trade routes to India and the Far East.

Another notable SOARES was Luís de Sousa Soares, a 17th-century Portuguese nobleman and military leader. He served as the Governor of Brazil from 1618 to 1622 and played a crucial role in defending the Portuguese colony against the Dutch during the latter part of the Iberian Union.

In the realm of literature, Joaquim Soares de Passos (1826-1890) was a renowned Portuguese poet and playwright. He was a prominent figure in the Romantic movement and made significant contributions to Portuguese literature with his works, such as "O Galego" and "O Velho da Horta."

Moving into the 20th century, Mário Soares (1924-2017) was a prominent Portuguese politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and later as the President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996. Soares played a crucial role in the transition to democracy after the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

Throughout history, the SOARES surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including explorers, military leaders, writers, and politicians. Its enduring presence across multiple regions is a testament to the far-reaching influence of Portuguese culture and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Soares families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soares 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. Middlesex leads with 27 Soares' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 4.77x
Surrey 12 4.35x
Lancashire 11 1.64x
Sussex 3 3.15x
Hampshire 2 1.73x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.92x
Midlothian 1 1.32x
Royal Navy 1 14.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Soares' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.91x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 9 24.91x
Bethnal Green London 7 28.49x
Formby 7 921.05x
Westminster St John 6 87.08x
Hackney London 5 15.77x
Great Crosby 4 218.58x
Islington London 4 7.30x
Hove 3 71.77x
Lambeth 3 6.08x
Paddington London 2 9.62x
Poplar London 2 18.74x
Ventnor 2 181.82x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.28x
Hitcham 1 1250.00x
Royal Navy 1 17.36x
Stoke Newington London 1 22.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Adelina 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Camilla 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Eugenia 1
Evangelina 1
Eveline 1
Georgine 1
Harriet 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Linda 1
Maria 1
Rosa 1
Sylvia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jose 3
Joseph 2
Alberto 1
Alexander 1
Augustos 1
Augusts 1
Chevalier 1
Claudio 1
Dan. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francisco 1
Gustavo 1
Herbert 1
Hernando 1
Infant 1
James 1
Joagium 1
Jules 1
Julia 1
Louis 1
Rosariv 1
Sidney 1
Theodore 1
Victor 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 Soares households.

FAQ

Soares surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soares surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Soares surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Soares surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,207 in 2016. That gives Soares a modern rank of #4,927.

What does the Soares surname mean?

A Portuguese occupational surname referring to a person who made or repaired shoes, derived from the word "soar".

What does the Soares map show?

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