NameCensus.

UK surname

Tella

A surname derived from the Latin word 'tella' meaning 'earth' or 'ground'.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Tella surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Suffolk Coastal and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tella is 130 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12800.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2014

130 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tella had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Tella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tella 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 6 #33,230
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 57 #31,917
1998 modern 59 #32,027
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 62 #31,939
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 68 #31,626
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 82 #30,468
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Tellas 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 Leeds, Suffolk Coastal, Greenwich and Hackney. 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 Leeds 070 Leeds
2 Suffolk Coastal 011 Suffolk Coastal
3 Greenwich 017 Greenwich
4 Hackney 004 Hackney
5 Hackney 014 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tella

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Tella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Tella 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Tella 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

Tella 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

Tella falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tella is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Tella

The surname TELLA has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Latin word "tella," which means "tile" or "slab," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the production or trade of tiles or worked as tilers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TELLA surname can be found in the historic documents of the city of Perugia, located in the Umbria region of central Italy. In these documents, dated back to the late 13th century, there are references to a family named TELLA residing in the city. This suggests that the surname had already established itself in the region by that time.

During the Renaissance period, the TELLA surname was particularly prominent in the city of Florence, where several members of this family were notable artists, writers, and scholars. One of the most renowned figures bearing this surname was Andrea TELLA, a painter and architect who lived in the 15th century and was known for his contributions to the development of Renaissance art and architecture.

Another notable individual with the TELLA surname was Giacomo TELLA, a scholar and philosopher who lived in the late 16th century. He was born in the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany and became renowned for his works on philosophy and theology, which were widely studied and discussed in academic circles of the time.

In the 17th century, the TELLA surname was associated with the noble family of the same name in the city of Siena. This family played a significant role in the political and cultural life of the city, with several members holding important positions in the local government and contributing to the arts and literature.

Another notable figure with the TELLA surname was Giovanni Battista TELLA, a renowned architect and engineer who lived in the 18th century. He was born in the town of Caprarola, near Rome, and gained fame for his innovative architectural designs and his contributions to the field of civil engineering.

Throughout its history, the TELLA surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, nobles, and tradespeople. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, owing to migration and the dispersion of Italian communities over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tella 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Tellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Tellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.53x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 1 107.53x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Luziria 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 Tella households.

Occupation Count
Police Officer 1

FAQ

Tella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Tella surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Tella a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Tella surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word 'tella' meaning 'earth' or 'ground'.

What does the Tella map show?

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