NameCensus.

UK surname

Soave

A surname meaning "sweet" or "pleasant" from the Italian word "soave".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Forfar West and Logie and Blackness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soave is 219 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

2010

219 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Soave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soave surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soave 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 9 #31,675
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 25 #31,259
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 214 #17,545
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 211 #17,662
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 214 #17,854
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 197 #19,774
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Soaves 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 Gateshead, Forfar West, Logie and Blackness, Balgay and West Oxfordshire. 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 Gateshead 008 Gateshead
2 Forfar West Angus
3 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
4 Balgay Dundee City
5 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Soave

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Soave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Soave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Soave is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Soave is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Soave falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Soave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Soave

The surname "SOAVE" is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the town of Soave, located in the province of Verona, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The name is derived from the Italian word "soave," meaning "sweet" or "gentle," indicating that the first bearers of this name may have come from this town or had some connection to it.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Soave appears in the historic "Codice Diplomatico Veronese," a collection of documents from the ancient city of Verona, dating back to the 12th century. In these records, the name is spelled "Suave," which is a close variant of the modern spelling.

During the 14th century, the Soave surname is mentioned in several historical documents from the region of Veneto, including tax records and property deeds. One notable individual from this era was Matteo Soave, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Verona between 1330 and 1395.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Soave family migrated to the nearby city of Vicenza, where they became prominent members of the local aristocracy. One of the most illustrious members of this branch was Francesco Soave (1516-1592), a renowned architect who designed several churches and palaces in the Venetian style.

Another significant figure bearing the Soave surname was Giulio Soave (1601-1677), a Jesuit scholar and educator who authored several influential works on pedagogy and moral philosophy. He was born in the town of Soave and spent much of his life teaching and writing in various cities across northern Italy.

In the 18th century, the Soave family established itself in the city of Milan, where they played an active role in the cultural and intellectual life of the city. One notable member from this period was Carlo Soave (1732-1808), a philosopher and writer who was a prominent figure in the Italian Enlightenment movement.

Throughout its history, the surname Soave has been associated with various place names and localities within the Veneto region, such as Soave, Verona, Vicenza, and Milan. While the name has been spelled differently in historical records, including "Suave," "Soavi," and "Suavi," the modern spelling of "Soave" has become the predominant form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Soave surname: questions and answers

How common is the Soave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Soave a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Soave surname mean?

A surname meaning "sweet" or "pleasant" from the Italian word "soave".

What does the Soave map show?

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