NameCensus.

UK surname

Stefan

A surname derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath," often bestowed upon early Christians.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Stefan surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 524, ranked #9,666, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stefan is 524 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26100.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

524

2016, ranked #9,666

Peak year

2016

524 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stefan had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 524 in 2016, ranked #9,666.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Stefan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stefan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stefan 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 49 #32,776
1998 modern 51 #32,816
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 63 #32,380
2005 modern 70 #31,912
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 343 #13,158
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 430 #11,323
2015 modern 460 #10,652
2016 modern 524 #9,666

Geography

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Where Stefans 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 Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames and Barnet. 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 Harrow 010 Harrow
2 Harrow 023 Harrow
3 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Kingston upon Thames 003 Kingston upon Thames
5 Barnet 018 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stefan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stefan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Stefan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Stefan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Stefan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stefan 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

Stefan 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 Stefan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Stefan

The surname Stefan has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria. It is derived from the Greek word "stephanos," meaning "crown" or "wreath." The name gained popularity in the medieval period and was often given to individuals born on St. Stephen's Day or associated with the feast day.

In the 11th century, the name Stefan appeared in various historical records and documents across the Balkan region. One notable example is the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, which mentions Stefan Vojislav, the ruler of the medieval Serbian state of Duklja, in the early 11th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Stefan can be traced back to the 13th century in regions like Serbia and Croatia. During this time, the name was often associated with places or villages, such as Stefan Selo (Stefan's Village) or Stefan Voda (Stefan's River).

In the 14th century, the Serbian ruler Stefan Dušan (1308-1355) took the surname Stefan and established the Serbian Empire, which stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Aegean Sea. His reign marked a significant period in Serbian history, and the name Stefan became closely associated with the Serbian royal dynasty.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Stefan was Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), the Prince of Moldavia (1457-1504), who is celebrated as a national hero in Moldova and Romania for his military victories against the Ottoman Empire.

In the 16th century, the name Stefan gained prominence in Russia, where it was adopted by the Romanov dynasty. Tsar Stefan Fyodorovich Romanov (1557-1605) was the last Tsar of the Rurik dynasty, and his daughter, Tsarevna Ksenya Borisovna, married into the Romanov family, paving the way for their ascension to the throne.

Other famous individuals with the surname Stefan include Stefan Dimitrov (1935-2008), a Bulgarian actor renowned for his roles in numerous films and theater productions, and Stefan Stambolov (1854-1895), a prominent Bulgarian statesman and revolutionary who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the late 19th century.

The surname Stefan has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Stefanov, Stefanovic, Stefanovski, and Stefanescu, reflecting the diverse regional influences and linguistic variations across Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stefan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stefan 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. Cheshire leads with 1 Stefans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.47x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 1 23.47x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over in Cheshire leads with 1 Stefans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Over 1 2500.00x
St George Hanover 1 400.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Gnal 1
John 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 Stefan households.

Occupation Count
Salt Boiler 1
Tutor (Teacher) 1

FAQ

Stefan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stefan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Stefan surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stefan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 524 in 2016. That gives Stefan a modern rank of #9,666.

What does the Stefan surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath," often bestowed upon early Christians.

What does the Stefan map show?

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