NameCensus.

UK surname

Vella

A Maltese habitational surname derived from the word "vella," meaning "lookout post" or "watch-tower."

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Vella surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,178, ranked #5,047, up from #32,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stafford, North Kesteven and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vella is 1,203 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10609.1%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

1,178

2016, ranked #5,047

Peak year

2014

1,203 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vella had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,178 in 2016, ranked #5,047.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Vella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vella surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vella 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 13 #32,208
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 916 #5,893
1998 modern 985 #5,742
1999 modern 989 #5,763
2000 modern 973 #5,821
2001 modern 954 #5,798
2002 modern 976 #5,806
2003 modern 965 #5,762
2004 modern 984 #5,669
2005 modern 994 #5,583
2006 modern 1,009 #5,522
2007 modern 1,046 #5,412
2008 modern 1,076 #5,312
2009 modern 1,134 #5,191
2010 modern 1,167 #5,160
2011 modern 1,159 #5,145
2012 modern 1,150 #5,088
2013 modern 1,190 #5,023
2014 modern 1,203 #5,007
2015 modern 1,195 #4,989
2016 modern 1,178 #5,047

Geography

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Where Vellas 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 Stafford, North Kesteven, Cardiff and Islington. 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 Stafford 007 Stafford
2 North Kesteven 001 North Kesteven
3 Cardiff 042 Cardiff
4 Stafford 008 Stafford
5 Islington 005 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vella

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Vella surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vella 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Vella is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Vella 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

Vella falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vella 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 Vella, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Vella

The surname Vella is of Italian origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "villa," meaning a country house or farm.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Vella can be found in various historical documents from southern Italy, including property records and municipal registries. In 1382, a certain Giovanni Vella was mentioned in a deed from the town of Palermo, Sicily.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Vella name was Niccolò Vella, a Sicilian nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city of Catania, where he owned several estates and vineyards.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Vella name spread across the Italian peninsula, with families bearing this surname appearing in various regions, including Naples, Rome, and Genoa. Some notable individuals from this period include the poet and playwright Girolamo Vella (1515-1589) and the Neapolitan painter Fabrizio Vella (1620-1692).

As the Vella name spread beyond Italy, it gained a foothold in other parts of Europe and eventually reached the Americas. In the 18th century, a branch of the Vella family settled in Malta, where the name became well-established. One of the most famous Maltese individuals with the surname Vella was the philosopher and theologian Giorgio Vella (1722-1798).

In the 19th century, the Vella name found its way to the Americas, with families immigrating from Italy and Malta to countries like the United States, Canada, and Argentina. Among the notable figures from this period was the Argentine politician and diplomat Carlos Vella (1845-1912), who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his country.

Throughout its history, the surname Vella has been associated with various occupations and professions, including landowners, writers, artists, and politicians. While the name has retained its Italian roots, it has also gained a global presence, with bearers of the Vella surname found in numerous countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vella 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. Royal Navy leads with 9 Vellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 387.93x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 9 387.93x
Durham 3 5.18x
Monmouthshire 3 21.29x
Cornwall 1 4.53x
Glamorgan 1 2.95x
Kent 1 1.50x
Lancashire 1 0.43x
Middlesex 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 9 Vellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 454.55x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 9 454.55x
St Woollos 3 191.08x
South Shields 2 384.62x
Everton 1 13.57x
Gillingham 1 72.99x
Madron Penzance 1 125.00x
Paddington London 1 13.97x
Roath 1 64.94x
Westoe 1 30.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Armmia 1
August... 1
Fanny 1
Kate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 3
Frank 2
Felix 1
Henry 1
John 1
Lauis 1
Michael 1
Paolo 1
Philip 1
Publis 1
Salvatore 1
Salvo 1
Vincent 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 Vella households.

FAQ

Vella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Vella surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,178 in 2016. That gives Vella a modern rank of #5,047.

What does the Vella surname mean?

A Maltese habitational surname derived from the word "vella," meaning "lookout post" or "watch-tower."

What does the Vella map show?

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