NameCensus.

UK surname

Veiga

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin referring to a fertile valley or plain.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Veiga surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Gravesham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Veiga is 172 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16700.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2014

172 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Veiga had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Veiga surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Veiga surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Veiga 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 1 #34,027
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 57 #32,275
2002 modern 59 #32,468
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 78 #30,919
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Veigas 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 Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Gravesham, Kirkcaldy Chapel and Haringey. 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 Westminster 023 Westminster
2 Tower Hamlets 005 Tower Hamlets
3 Gravesham 012 Gravesham
4 Kirkcaldy Chapel Fife
5 Haringey 023 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Veiga

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Veiga

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

Veiga 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

Veiga 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 Veiga is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Veiga

The surname "Veiga" originates from the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Portugal and Galicia in northwestern Spain. It emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Veiga is derived from the Galician-Portuguese word "veiga," which means a fertile lowland, meadow, or valley. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived or worked in such areas.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Veiga can be found in historical documents from Portugal and Galicia. For example, there are references to individuals bearing this surname in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a 14th-century Portuguese genealogical text.

One notable historical figure who bore the surname Veiga was Afonso Eanes da Veiga (c.1285-1349), a Portuguese nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Battle of Rio Salado against the Moors in 1340.

Another prominent individual with the surname Veiga was Pedro Álvares da Veiga (1500-1575), a Portuguese jurist and author who wrote several influential legal treatises during the 16th century.

In Spain, the surname Veiga is particularly prevalent in the region of Galicia, where it has been associated with several notable families throughout history. One such family was the Veigas de Andrade, a noble lineage that traced its roots back to the 12th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Veiga was José Vega y Veiga (1670-1745), a Spanish Baroque painter and engraver who was active in the early 18th century. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

Additionally, the surname Veiga has been recorded in various forms, such as Vega, Vegas, and Veigas, reflecting linguistic variations and regional dialects within the Iberian Peninsula.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in a different spelling is Gonzalo de Vega (c.1370-1437), a Spanish military commander who served under King Juan II of Castile during the Reconquista.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Veiga families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Veiga 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. Renfrewshire leads with 1 Veigas recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.33x.

County Total Index
Renfrewshire 1 133.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbey in Renfrewshire leads with 1 Veigas recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

Place Total Index
Abbey 1 909.09x

FAQ

Veiga surname: questions and answers

How common was the Veiga surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Veiga surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Veiga a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Veiga surname mean?

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin referring to a fertile valley or plain.

What does the Veiga map show?

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