NameCensus.

UK surname

Ursu

A surname referring to a person of bearlike strength or personality.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ursu is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ursu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ursu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ursu 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
1997 modern 3 #38,317
1998 modern 3 #38,304
1999 modern 5 #37,872
2000 modern 4 #38,004
2001 modern 4 #37,862
2002 modern 5 #37,723
2003 modern 5 #37,750
2004 modern 13 #36,742
2005 modern 11 #37,065
2006 modern 15 #36,707
2007 modern 29 #35,725
2008 modern 43 #34,931
2009 modern 47 #34,856
2010 modern 59 #34,273
2011 modern 69 #33,532
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 172 #21,649
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Ursus 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 Brent, Greenwich, Bournemouth and Harrow. 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 Brent 011 Brent
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Bournemouth 013 Bournemouth
4 Harrow 005 Harrow
5 Harrow 012 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ursu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ursu

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ursu, 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 Ursu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ursu 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, Ursu 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

Ursu 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

Ursu falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ursu 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Ursu

The surname URSU has its origins in Romania, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "urs," which means "bear." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who possessed bear-like characteristics or had a connection with bears in some way.

In medieval times, surnames were often adopted from occupations, physical traits, or personal characteristics. It is possible that URSU originated as a descriptive name for someone who worked with bears, such as a bear hunter or trainer, or someone who exhibited traits reminiscent of a bear, like strength or ferocity.

The earliest known record of the URSU surname appears in a 1458 document from Transylvania, a region in central Romania. This document mentions a certain "Ioan Ursu," suggesting that the name was already established by that time.

In the 16th century, there are records of an influential noble family named URSU residing in the region of Moldavia, located in eastern Romania. One notable member of this family was Mihai Ursu, who served as a high-ranking official in the court of the Prince of Moldavia in the late 1500s.

Another famous bearer of the URSU name was Petru Ursu, a renowned scholar and poet from the 17th century. Born in 1587 in the town of Roman, Petru Ursu was a prominent figure in the literary and cultural circles of his time, known for his contributions to Romanian literature and education.

In the 18th century, the URSU surname gained further prominence with the rise of a distinguished military family. Gheorghe Ursu, born in 1732, was a respected general in the Moldavian army, renowned for his bravery and strategic skills during the conflicts with the Ottoman Empire.

Towards the end of the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the URSU name was Ion Ursu, a influential politician and statesman. Born in 1867, he served as a member of the Romanian Parliament and played a crucial role in shaping the country's policies during the turbulent years following World War I.

Throughout its history, the URSU surname has been firmly rooted in Romanian culture and society, with many bearers of this name leaving their mark across various fields, from literature and the arts to military and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ursu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ursu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Ursu a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Ursu surname mean?

A surname referring to a person of bearlike strength or personality.

What does the Ursu map show?

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