NameCensus.

UK surname

Tortolano

An Italian surname derived from the word "tortora" meaning "turtledove" or "pigeon".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cambusbarron, Craigend and Ruchazie and Bannockburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tortolano is 133 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2008

133 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Tortolano surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tortolano surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tortolano 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 4 #34,098
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 126 #24,393
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Tortolanos 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 Cambusbarron, Craigend and Ruchazie, Bannockburn, Broomridge and Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cambusbarron Stirling
2 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
3 Bannockburn Stirling
4 Broomridge Stirling
5 Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tortolano

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tortolano

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Tortolano surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Tortolano household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Tortolano is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Tortolano is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tortolano falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tortolano is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Tortolano

The surname Tortolano is of Italian origin, specifically from the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "tortola," which means "turtle dove." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who bred or traded in turtle doves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tortolano can be found in a document from the city of Salerno, dating back to the late 13th century. The document mentions a certain Matteo Tortolano, who was a landowner in the region. Another early reference to the name appears in a tax record from the town of Cosenza in Calabria, from the year 1387, listing a Giovanni Tortolano among the taxpayers.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Tortolano gained some prominence in the city of Naples. In the 16th century, there was a notable painter named Girolamo Tortolano, who was born in Naples in 1520 and died there in 1598. His works included religious paintings and frescoes for churches in the city.

Another historical figure with the surname Tortolano was Cesare Tortolano, a scholar and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. He was born in the town of Amalfi in 1623 and published several works on philosophy and theology before his death in 1691.

In the 19th century, a prominent Neapolitan lawyer and politician named Giuseppe Tortolano gained recognition. Born in Naples in 1812, he played an active role in the Italian unification movement and served as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy after its formation in 1861. He died in 1885.

The surname Tortolano has also been associated with certain place names in southern Italy. For example, there is a village called Tortolano in the province of Salerno, which may have derived its name from an early settler with the same surname. Additionally, there is a locality known as Tortolani in the province of Catanzaro, Calabria, which could have a similar origin.

Over the centuries, the surname Tortolano has undergone various spelling variations, such as Tortolani, Tortorano, and Turturano, but the core meaning and derivation from the word "tortola" (turtle dove) remain consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tortolano surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tortolano surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Tortolano a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Tortolano surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the word "tortora" meaning "turtledove" or "pigeon".

What does the Tortolano map show?

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