NameCensus.

UK surname

Xuereb

A Maltese surname derived from the Arabic word for "easterly" or "easterner".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Xuereb is 189 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

2009

189 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Xuereb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Xuereb surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Xuereb 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
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 176 #19,787
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

Back to top

Where Xuerebs 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 Cardiff, Greenwich and Portsmouth. 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 Cardiff 015 Cardiff
2 Greenwich 009 Greenwich
3 Cardiff 007 Cardiff
4 Cardiff 038 Cardiff
5 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Xuereb

These lists show first names that appear often with the Xuereb 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 Xuereb

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Xuereb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Xuereb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Xuereb 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

Xuereb 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

Xuereb falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Xuereb

The surname Xuereb has its origins in Malta, a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta has a rich history of cross-cultural influences, and its surnames reflect this diverse heritage. Xuereb is an evocative surname that carries a mix of influences from the Italian, Arabic, and possibly even Norman languages, reflecting the complex history of Malta which was a melting pot for various civilizations over time.

One of the earliest references to the name Xuereb can be traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the Sicilian or Italian derivation of the Arabic word 'shurayb,' which means "a little drink" or could also imply "a small canal” or “a small river.” Given Malta's history of Arab rule, it is plausible that the surname has Arabic roots before being adapted and integrated into Maltese culture and lexicon.

Historical manuscripts and records such as church registries from the 16th and 17th centuries contain references to the surname Xuereb. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Mario Xuereb, born in 1575 in Mdina, Malta, then the island's capital. His family were local merchants, indicating that the name had some standing in the community.

Another notable person is Giovanni Xuereb, a painter born in 1643 and died in 1702, who contributed significantly to the Baroque art movement in Malta. His works decorated many of the island’s grand churches and public buildings, establishing the family name within the annals of Maltese art history.

In the 18th century, a figure bearing the surname Xuereb, Alexandro Xuereb, born in 1739 and died in 1791, is noted to have been an influential figure in Maltese politics. He served in local government and was known for his strong advocacy of Maltese autonomy during the waning years of the Knights Hospitaller's rule.

Moving to the 19th century, Emilio Xuereb, an academic born in 1821 and died in 1892, made significant contributions to the study of Maltese philology and history. His extensive works on the Maltese language and culture were pioneering at the time, further cementing the surname as one associated with intellectual and cultural prominence.

Lastly, the name is carried into the modern era by figures such as Francesca Xuereb, a prominent Maltese writer born in 1903 and died in 1977. Her novels often reflected the social and cultural shifts occurring in Malta during the early 20th century and brought widespread recognition to Maltese literature.

The surname Xuereb, therefore, is a deeply rooted Maltese name with a multifaceted history, intertwined with the island's cultural, political, and artistic development. The surname's bearers have played significant roles in shaping Maltese identity through centuries, ensuring that the name is well-remembered within the rich tapestry of Malta's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Xuereb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Xuereb 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 1 Xuerebs recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

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 1 Xuerebs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Guiseppe 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 Xuereb households.

Occupation Count
Ordinary 1

FAQ

Xuereb surname: questions and answers

How common is the Xuereb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Xuereb a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Xuereb surname mean?

A Maltese surname derived from the Arabic word for "easterly" or "easterner".

What does the Xuereb map show?

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