NameCensus.

UK surname

Viegas

A Portuguese surname denoting someone coming from a farmhouse or small rural community.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Viegas surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Hounslow and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Viegas is 286 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14200.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2016

286 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Viegas had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Viegas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Viegas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Viegas 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 211 #18,377
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 256 #16,506
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

Back to top

Where Viegas' 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 Swindon, Hounslow and Reading. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Hounslow 016 Hounslow
3 Reading 014 Reading
4 Hounslow 013 Hounslow
5 Reading 017 Reading

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Viegas

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Viegas

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

Viegas 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

Viegas 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 Viegas 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 Viegas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Viegas

The surname Viegas has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Portuguese word "vega," which means a fertile plain or meadow. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived or worked on a fertile plain or meadow.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Viegas can be found in Portuguese historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the mention of a Vasco Viegas in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record from the 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name Viegas gained prominence with the birth of Gaspar Viegas (c. 1450-1498), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the early Portuguese expeditions to India and the East Indies. He was one of the first Europeans to establish trade relations with the Malacca Sultanate in modern-day Malaysia.

Another historically significant figure bearing the surname Viegas was Braz Viegas (c. 1495-1570), a Portuguese Catholic priest and missionary who traveled to India and worked extensively in the region of Goa. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in India and played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Viegas surname was also associated with several noble families in Portugal, such as the Viegas de Sousa and Viegas da Silva families. These families held significant land holdings and wielded considerable influence in Portuguese society at the time.

In more recent history, a notable figure with the surname Viegas was José Viegas (1853-1923), a Portuguese politician and journalist who served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1909 to 1911. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Portuguese Republic after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1910.

Another individual of note was António Viegas (1898-1967), a Portuguese architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the design and development of various cities in Portugal, including Lisbon and Porto.

Overall, the surname Viegas has a rich history rooted in Portugal, with connections to exploration, religious missionary work, nobility, politics, and architecture. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been associated with numerous notable figures throughout Portuguese history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Viegas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Viegas 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. Glamorgan leads with 1 Viegas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1 29.76x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardiff St Mary in Glamorgan leads with 1 Viegas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

Place Total Index
Cardiff St Mary 1 555.56x
St George In East 1 769.23x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Gose 1
Guilieta 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 Viegas households.

Occupation Count
Fireman 1
Sailor 1

FAQ

Viegas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Viegas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Viegas surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Viegas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Viegas a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Viegas surname mean?

A Portuguese surname denoting someone coming from a farmhouse or small rural community.

What does the Viegas map show?

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