NameCensus.

UK surname

Stella

An Italian surname derived from the Latin word "stella," meaning "star," likely referring to a bright or illustrious person.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Stella surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, up from #33,288 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stella is 125 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3025.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

2014

125 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stella had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Stella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stella 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 56 #32,004
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 60 #32,078
2000 modern 65 #31,641
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 72 #31,488
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 82 #32,048
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Stellas 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 Bracknell Forest, Lambeth, Hertsmere, Wrexham and Torridge. 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 Bracknell Forest 015 Bracknell Forest
2 Lambeth 021 Lambeth
3 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
4 Wrexham 004 Wrexham
5 Torridge 003 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stella

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stella is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Stella 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

Stella 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 Stella 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Stella

The surname STELLA has its origins in Italy, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "stella," meaning "star." The name likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was associated with a star-shaped symbol, a celestial body, or who possessed a bright, shining personality.

During the medieval period, surnames were often based on occupations, physical traits, or places of origin. The surname STELLA may have been given to individuals who worked as astrologers, astronomers, or navigators, professions that required knowledge of the stars and celestial bodies.

Historical records indicate that the surname STELLA appeared in various Italian regions, including Tuscany, Lombardy, and Sicily, as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Longobardo," a collection of legal documents from the Lombard period, where a certain "Guido Stella" is mentioned in a document dated 1227.

In the 14th century, the STELLA surname gained prominence in the city of Bologna, where a noble family bearing this name played a significant role in the city's political and cultural life. Notable members of this family include Giovanni Battista Stella (1552-1619), a renowned painter and engraver, and Gian Girolamo Stella (1587-1657), a Baroque painter known for his religious works.

Another notable figure with the surname STELLA was Jacopo Stella (1596-1687), an Italian painter and engraver from the Baroque period, known for his landscapes and mythological scenes. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.

The STELLA surname also has a connection to the town of Stella, located in the province of Savona, Liguria, Italy. It is believed that the town's name may have contributed to the origin of the surname, as it was common for individuals to adopt place names as their surnames during the Middle Ages.

Throughout history, there have been several other notable individuals bearing the STELLA surname, including:

1. Antonio Stella (1536-1595), an Italian architect and sculptor from Brescia. 2. Erasmo di Valvasone Stella (1592-1629), an Italian poet and soldier from Friuli. 3. Giulio Camillo Delminio Stella (1564-1624), an Italian philosopher and writer from Padua. 4. Tommaso Stella (1637-1702), an Italian mathematician and astronomer from Naples. 5. Giuseppe Stella (1822-1902), an Italian painter and engraver from Naples.

While the surname STELLA has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other countries through migration and has been adopted by individuals of various ethnicities and nationalities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stella 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. Yorkshire leads with 2 Stellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2 5.19x
Cheshire 1 11.66x
Sussex 1 15.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 1 Stellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.76x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 1 75.76x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 1666.67x
Marton In Whitegate 1 10000.00x
York St Martin Mklgt W 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Christina 1
Emma 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Vicenzo 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 Stella households.

FAQ

Stella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stella surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Stella surname today?

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

What does the Stella surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the Latin word "stella," meaning "star," likely referring to a bright or illustrious person.

What does the Stella map show?

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