NameCensus.

UK surname

Sola

A Spanish and Italian surname derived from the word "sola," meaning "alone" or "single."

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Sola surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Bromsgrove and Preston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sola is 140 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3400.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2016

140 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sola had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sola surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sola surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sola 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 4 #33,628
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 25 #32,259
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 81 #29,436
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 82 #29,933
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 76 #30,366
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 76 #30,883
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

Back to top

Where Solas 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 Arun, Bromsgrove, Preston and Hertsmere. 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 Arun 017 Arun
2 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
3 Preston 016 Preston
4 Bromsgrove 011 Bromsgrove
5 Hertsmere 003 Hertsmere

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sola

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sola

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sola 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

Sola 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sola

The surname SOLA originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "solus," which means "alone" or "single." This name likely referred to someone who lived in a solitary or isolated place or who was an only child.

SOLA is believed to have first appeared in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia in the 12th and 13th centuries. Early variations of the spelling included Sola, Sole, and Soles. The name is also related to the Spanish word "sol," meaning "sun," suggesting a possible connection to someone who lived in a sunny or exposed location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SOLA can be found in the "Llibre del Repartiment," a 13th-century document that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Christian conquest of the region from the Moors.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Ferran Sola was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Barcelona. He played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs during that time.

During the 15th century, the SOLA name was associated with several notable figures, including Juan Sola, a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of the famous Cathedral of Seville in Spain.

In the 16th century, a famous explorer named Hernando de Sola accompanied the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto on his expeditions to Florida and the southeastern regions of what is now the United States.

Another prominent individual with the SOLA surname was José Sola, a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the last Spanish governor of California from 1815 to 1822, before the region became part of Mexico.

Throughout history, the SOLA name has been associated with various notable individuals, including artists, writers, politicians, and scholars, both in Spain and in other parts of the world where Spanish influence and migration have taken place.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sola families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sola 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. Hertfordshire leads with 2 Solas recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.63x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 2 74.63x
Hampshire 1 12.56x
Surrey 1 5.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Watford in Hertfordshire leads with 2 Solas recorded in 1881 and an index of 952.38x.

Place Total Index
Watford 2 952.38x
Clapham 1 204.08x
Holdenhurst 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Attelaide 1
Catharine 1
Florence 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ignazio 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 Sola households.

FAQ

Sola surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sola surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Sola surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sola surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Sola a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Sola surname mean?

A Spanish and Italian surname derived from the word "sola," meaning "alone" or "single."

What does the Sola map show?

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