NameCensus.

UK surname

Dabbs

Derived from a nickname for someone with a knack for striking or jabbing, likely in reference to fighting skills.

In the 1881 census there were 643 people recorded with the Dabbs surname, ranking it #5,543 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 903, ranked #6,289, down from #5,543 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Dudley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Rotherham and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dabbs is 973 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.4%.

1881 census count

643

Ranked #5,543

Modern count

903

2016, ranked #6,289

Peak year

1998

973 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dabbs had 643 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,543 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 903 in 2016, ranked #6,289.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 891 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Dabbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dabbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dabbs 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 452 #5,452
1861 historical 417 #6,163
1881 historical 643 #5,543
1891 historical 743 #5,358
1901 historical 868 #5,281
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 925 #5,838
1998 modern 973 #5,806
1999 modern 957 #5,917
2000 modern 931 #6,027
2001 modern 927 #5,944
2002 modern 949 #5,931
2003 modern 923 #5,961
2004 modern 915 #6,006
2005 modern 869 #6,192
2006 modern 873 #6,183
2007 modern 893 #6,125
2008 modern 882 #6,230
2009 modern 901 #6,262
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 916 #6,244
2012 modern 920 #6,141
2013 modern 930 #6,195
2014 modern 953 #6,112
2015 modern 928 #6,188
2016 modern 903 #6,289

Geography

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Where Dabbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Dudley, London parishes, St John Hackney and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Rotherham and Stafford. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 006 Telford and Wrekin
2 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
3 Stafford 003 Stafford
4 Telford and Wrekin 013 Telford and Wrekin
5 Telford and Wrekin 014 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dabbs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dabbs

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dabbs, 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 Dabbs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Dabbs 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dabbs is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dabbs 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

Dabbs falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dabbs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dabbs

The surname DABBS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "dæbba," meaning a small pool or shallow basin of water. This name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked with such bodies of water.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Dabbis, Dabyns, and Dabyn, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common in those times. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Dabyns."

The DABBS surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Dabyn's Ford in Gloucestershire and Dabyn's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names likely arose from individuals bearing the surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the DABBS surname include John Dabbs (c. 1470-1547), a merchant and alderman from Bristol, England, who served as the city's mayor in 1516. Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Dabbs (1565-1636), a member of Parliament and landowner from Worcestershire.

In the 17th century, William Dabbs (1610-1678) was a prominent Puritan minister who served as the rector of St. Bride's Church in London. His sermons and writings were widely circulated during his lifetime.

During the 18th century, the DABBS surname gained recognition through the work of Robert Dabbs (1725-1795), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes and country estates.

Another notable individual was Mary Ann DABBS (1792-1868), a British author and poet who published several volumes of poetry and children's stories during the early 19th century.

While the surname DABBS originated in England, it eventually spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement, with populations bearing this name found in various countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dabbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dabbs 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. Middlesex leads with 160 Dabbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.55x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 160 2.55x
Shropshire 105 19.35x
Staffordshire 100 4.72x
Warwickshire 58 3.66x
Sussex 38 3.59x
Yorkshire 37 0.59x
Worcestershire 32 3.90x
Surrey 31 1.01x
Cheshire 12 0.87x
Lancashire 12 0.16x
Kent 11 0.51x
Lincolnshire 8 0.80x
Hampshire 7 0.54x
Essex 5 0.40x
Norfolk 5 0.52x
Renfrewshire 4 0.82x
Rutland 4 8.67x
Cardiganshire 2 1.31x
Cornwall 2 0.28x
Derbyshire 2 0.20x
Devon 2 0.15x
Leicestershire 2 0.29x
Durham 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.34x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 64 Dabbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.45x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 64 23.45x
Wellington 55 180.33x
Dudley 32 32.09x
Birmingham 28 5.30x
Wombwell 24 132.23x
West Bromwich 22 18.12x
Hackney London 20 5.68x
Shoreditch London 20 7.34x
Dawley 15 75.95x
Coleshill 14 275.59x
Aston 13 2.98x
Eastbourne 12 24.62x
Wrockwardine 12 100.59x
Wombridge 10 149.25x
Putney 9 31.44x
Islington London 8 1.31x
Maer 8 941.18x
Sedgley 8 10.16x
St Marylebone London 8 2.39x
Bilston 7 17.03x
Darlaston 7 23.88x
Handsworth 7 13.39x
Mile End New Town London 7 56.41x
St Pancras London 7 1.38x
Bow London 6 7.50x
Fulham London 6 6.59x
Ercall Magna 5 128.53x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 17.24x
Leyburn 5 239.23x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.74x
Monks Coppenhall 5 9.55x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 13.33x
South Ambersham 5 1851.85x
Southcoates 5 14.47x
Walsall Borough 5 30.38x
Walsall Foreign 5 4.56x
Walthamstow 5 11.20x
Wolverhampton 5 3.07x
Abbey 4 5.39x
Ashwell 4 754.72x
Caverswall 4 36.30x
Chichester St Pancras 4 126.18x
Croydon 4 2.35x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.42x
Folkestone 4 9.62x
Gorton 4 5.71x
Layton With Warbreck 4 14.62x
Midhurst 4 115.27x
Newington 4 1.72x
North Chapel 4 233.92x
Shifnal 4 27.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.78x
Wandsworth 4 6.61x
West Lavington 4 1250.00x
Wymering 4 188.68x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.02x
Eccleshall 3 37.31x
Gillingham 3 6.79x
Liverpool 3 0.66x
Longdon On Tern 3 1034.48x
Shanklin 3 78.13x
Southwark Christchurch 3 10.19x
Stamford St Mary 3 147.78x
Willaston In Nantwich 3 70.09x
Wimbledon 3 8.73x
Aberystwith 2 15.16x
Burton Upon Trent 2 4.03x
Enfield 2 4.85x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.18x
Merton 2 37.31x
Nether Whitacre 2 158.73x
Poynton 2 42.92x
Rugeley 2 13.14x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 14.15x
Tipton 2 3.08x
Barton St Mary 1 19.84x
Codsall 1 33.22x
Hennock 1 60.24x
Tormoham 1 1.81x
Tottenham 1 1.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Sarah 29
Eliza 18
Elizabeth 15
Jane 14
Ellen 13
Alice 11
Ann 10
Emma 10
Hannah 10
Harriet 6
Harriett 6
Minnie 6
Rose 6
Emily 5
Florence 5
Matilda 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Martha 4
Phoebe 4
Rebecca 4
Esther 3
Frances 3
Henrietta 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Marian 2
Millie 2
Rosanna 2
Rosey 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Catharine 1
Cecilia 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizbth. 1
Jemima 1
Josephine 1
Treace 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 33
James 28
Thomas 17
George 16
Charles 15
Samuel 14
Henry 13
Joseph 12
Frederick 11
Richard 11
Robert 11
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Albert 6
Walter 5
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Thos. 3
David 2
Enoch 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaiah 2
Michael 2
Stephen 2
Theophilus 2
Ch. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Hubert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Marius 1
Moses 1
Mosey 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
R. 1
S. 1
Sidney 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Dabbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dabbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 643 people were recorded with the Dabbs surname. That placed it at #5,543 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dabbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 903 in 2016. That gives Dabbs a modern rank of #6,289.

What does the Dabbs surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for someone with a knack for striking or jabbing, likely in reference to fighting skills.

What does the Dabbs map show?

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