NameCensus.

UK surname

Spinelli

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who made spindles or worked with spinning wheels.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchinairn, Corby and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spinelli is 125 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

2016

125 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Spinelli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spinelli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spinelli 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 2 #34,436
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 81 #29,436
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Spinellis 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 Auchinairn, Corby, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes and Flintshire. 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 Auchinairn East Dunbartonshire
2 Corby 008 Corby
3 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
4 Milton Keynes 003 Milton Keynes
5 Flintshire 017 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spinelli

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

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Spinelli is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Spinelli 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

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

Meaning and origin of Spinelli

The surname Spinelli originates from Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "spinello," which means "little thorn" or "briar." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone with a prickly personality or appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the Spinelli name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Tuscany. In 1191, a document from the city of Florence mentioned a certain "Ildebrandinus Spinelli," indicating the presence of the surname in that area.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Spinelli family gained prominence and wealth in Florence, with several members holding important positions in the local government and banking industry. One notable figure was Tommaso Spinelli (1324-1369), a wealthy merchant and banker who served as the Gonfalonier of Justice, one of the highest offices in the Florentine Republic.

The Spinelli name also appeared in other parts of Italy, such as Rome and Naples. In the 15th century, a branch of the family settled in the Kingdom of Naples, where they acquired noble titles and landholdings. One of the most famous members from this lineage was Niccolò Spinelli (1456-1535), a renowned humanist scholar and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Naples to the Holy Roman Empire.

Another significant figure in Spinelli history was Urbano Spinelli (1737-1823), an Italian prelate who was appointed as the Archbishop of Genoa in 1793. He played a crucial role in the negotiations between the Papal States and the French Republic during the upheavals of the French Revolution.

In the realm of art and literature, the Spinelli name is associated with the Italian painter Niccolò di Pietro Gerini, also known as Niccolò Spinelli (active in the 14th century), who was renowned for his frescoes in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

Beyond Italy, the Spinelli surname can also be found in other parts of Europe and the Americas, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, the name's origins and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Naples.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Spinelli surname: questions and answers

How common is the Spinelli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Spinelli a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Spinelli surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who made spindles or worked with spinning wheels.

What does the Spinelli map show?

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