NameCensus.

UK surname

Voce

A surname of Italian origin meaning "voice".

In the 1881 census there were 402 people recorded with the Voce surname, ranking it #7,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 588, ranked #8,855, down from #7,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Blaby and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Voce is 590 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

402

Ranked #7,949

Modern count

588

2016, ranked #8,855

Peak year

2014

590 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Voce had 402 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016, ranked #8,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Voce surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Voce surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Voce 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 247 #9,977
1881 historical 402 #7,949
1891 historical 434 #8,290
1901 historical 502 #8,032
1911 historical 532 #7,480
1997 modern 535 #8,852
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 577 #8,662
2000 modern 553 #8,908
2001 modern 535 #8,989
2002 modern 559 #8,861
2003 modern 533 #9,050
2004 modern 562 #8,721
2005 modern 550 #8,784
2006 modern 552 #8,786
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 570 #8,920
2010 modern 587 #8,936
2011 modern 559 #9,139
2012 modern 571 #8,921
2013 modern 585 #8,902
2014 modern 590 #8,922
2015 modern 586 #8,884
2016 modern 588 #8,855

Geography

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Where Voces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Blaby, Nottingham, Wiltshire and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 003 Harborough
2 Blaby 013 Blaby
3 Nottingham 021 Nottingham
4 Wiltshire 048 Wiltshire
5 Newark and Sherwood 003 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Voce

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Voce

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Voce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Voce household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Voce 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

Voce is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Voce 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 Voce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Voce

The surname "VOCE" is of Italian origin, believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, primarily in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. It is a variant of the Italian word "voce," which means "voice" in English. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for individuals with a distinctive or remarkable voice.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname "VOCE" can be found in the historic archives of Florence, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a certain Piero Voce, a prominent merchant and civic leader in the city during that time period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Lorenzo Voce (c. 1420-1489) was a renowned scholar and humanist from Perugia, known for his contributions to the study of classical literature and philosophy.

During the Renaissance, the Voce family of Venice gained prominence as skilled glassmakers and artisans. Among them was Alessandro Voce (1492-1568), whose exceptional craftsmanship in creating intricate Murano glass designs earned him widespread recognition.

The name "VOCE" also appears in historical documents from the 16th century, such as the records of the Venetian Republic, where a certain Giacomo Voce (c. 1510-1582) is mentioned as a respected diplomat and ambassador.

Another notable figure with this surname was Giulia Voce (1598-1668), a celebrated painter from Bologna who gained recognition for her portraits and religious works during the Baroque period.

Throughout the centuries, the "VOCE" surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including scholars, artists, and influential figures in various fields. While the name may have originated as a descriptive term, it has evolved to become a distinguished Italian surname with a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Voce families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Voce 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. Lancashire leads with 126 Voces recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 126 2.71x
Nottinghamshire 121 22.89x
Leicestershire 45 10.35x
Warwickshire 22 2.22x
Yorkshire 18 0.46x
Derbyshire 13 2.12x
Worcestershire 13 2.54x
Wiltshire 12 3.46x
Surrey 9 0.47x
Gloucestershire 8 1.04x
Lincolnshire 3 0.48x
Northamptonshire 3 0.81x
Shropshire 3 0.89x
Somerset 2 0.32x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.12x
Middlesex 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 48 Voces recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.11x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 48 35.11x
Everton 16 10.79x
Annesley 14 703.52x
Liverpool 14 4.95x
Leicester St Margaret 13 12.26x
Toxteth Park 13 8.25x
Aston 12 4.41x
Fisherton Anger 12 186.92x
Snenton 12 57.78x
Countesthorpe 11 743.24x
Birmingham 10 3.03x
Ruddington 10 282.49x
Burton On The Wolds 9 1875.00x
Dudley 9 14.46x
Walton On Hill 9 35.70x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 22.10x
Bermondsey 8 6.85x
West Dean 8 64.05x
West Derby 8 5.88x
Bradmore 7 1891.89x
Halliwell 7 41.35x
Kirkdale 7 8.94x
Nottingham St Peter 7 118.85x
Radford 7 26.07x
Salford 7 5.12x
Whittington 7 82.45x
Bickerstaffe 6 196.72x
Belgrave 5 50.97x
Birkdale 5 42.48x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 13.53x
Goldsborough 5 1724.14x
Manchester 5 2.39x
Preston 5 4.02x
Rusholme 5 40.29x
Tonge With Haulgh 5 55.19x
Litchurch 4 16.19x
Melton Mowbray 4 51.15x
Upperswinford 4 92.38x
Cotgrave 3 272.73x
Lenton 3 24.10x
Peterborough 3 11.24x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 35.80x
Stroxton 3 2000.00x
Upton 3 447.76x
Bedminster 2 3.37x
Bingham 2 88.89x
Castleton 2 4.30x
Derby St Alkmund 2 10.87x
Doncaster 2 7.04x
Edwalton 2 1333.33x
Leicester All Sts 2 23.42x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.61x
Wakefield 2 6.70x
Ancrum 1 54.35x
Broughton In Salford 1 2.35x
Buckfastleigh 1 26.53x
Great Bolton 1 1.62x
Macclesfield 1 2.60x
Melling 1 92.59x
Newington 1 0.69x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 13.89x
Radcliffe On Trent 1 133.33x
Rempstone 1 238.10x
Sheffield 1 0.81x
Sileby 1 36.50x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.26x
Wavertree 1 6.72x
Withington 1 6.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 14
Annie 10
Alice 8
Ann 8
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Clara 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Francis 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Phoebe 3
Zillah 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Lettice 2
Liza 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Miriam 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bridget 1
C.J. 1
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizebeth 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Josephine 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 20
Thomas 14
Edward 12
James 12
George 11
Arthur 8
Henry 8
Isaac 6
Robert 6
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Samuel 4
Ernest 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jonas 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Cecil 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Goodwin 1
Infant 1
J.C.H.D. 1
N.G.O. 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Randall 1
Randel 1
Randle 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Tra. 1
W. 1
W.J. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Voce surname: questions and answers

How common was the Voce surname in 1881?

In 1881, 402 people were recorded with the Voce surname. That placed it at #7,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Voce surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016. That gives Voce a modern rank of #8,855.

What does the Voce surname mean?

A surname of Italian origin meaning "voice".

What does the Voce map show?

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