NameCensus.

UK surname

Testa

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who manufactured clay pots or jars, derived from the Italian word "testa" meaning "head."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Testa surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, North West Leicestershire and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Testa is 313 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2870.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

2013

313 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Testa had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Testa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Testa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Testa 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 4 #33,628
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 28 #30,296
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 223 #16,936
1999 modern 228 #16,790
2000 modern 231 #16,610
2001 modern 227 #16,573
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 250 #15,605
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 293 #14,669
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 304 #14,475
2012 modern 298 #14,565
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 298 #14,832
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Testas 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 Rossendale, North West Leicestershire, Bedford and Bury. 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 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
2 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
3 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
4 Bedford 008 Bedford
5 Bury 011 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Testa

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Testa

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

Testa 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

Testa falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Testa 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Testa

The surname Testa has its roots in Italy, originating from the Italian word "testa" which means "head." This surname likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when it was common for people to be identified by personal characteristics, occupations, or nicknames.

One possible explanation for the origin of this surname is that it was given to individuals who had a distinctive head shape or haircut. Alternatively, it could have been derived from an occupation related to the head, such as a helmet maker or a wig maker.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Testa can be found in the Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia Medievale, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. This document, dated to the 12th century, mentions a certain "Petrus Testa" from the town of Bergamo.

In the 13th century, the surname Testa appeared in the Libro degli Anniversari, a record of anniversaries and deaths in the city of Bologna. This record mentions a "Guidottus Testa" who passed away in 1265.

One notable bearer of the surname Testa was Niccolo Testa, a 14th-century Italian painter from the city of Pisa. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.

Another prominent figure with this surname was Girolamo Testa, a 17th-century Italian engraver and painter. Born in 1619 in Rome, he is renowned for his etchings and paintings depicting historical and mythological scenes.

In the 18th century, a man named Giuseppe Testa was a influential architect and engineer from the city of Genoa. He is credited with designing several notable buildings and structures in Genoa, including the Palazzo Doria Tursi and the Ponte Monumentale.

The surname Testa also has ties to the town of Testa, located in the province of Potenza in southern Italy. This place name likely contributed to the spread of the surname in that region.

Over the centuries, variations of the surname Testa have emerged, such as Testai, Testali, and Testini. These variations often indicate regional or dialectal differences in pronunciation or spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Testa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Testa 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. Kent leads with 7 Testas recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.09x.

County Total Index
Kent 7 21.09x
Nottinghamshire 2 15.26x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 7 Testas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1147.54x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 7 1147.54x
Basford 2 333.33x
Doncaster 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 2
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Guiseppe 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 Testa households.

FAQ

Testa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Testa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Testa surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Testa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Testa a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Testa surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who manufactured clay pots or jars, derived from the Italian word "testa" meaning "head."

What does the Testa map show?

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