UK surname
A French surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a nickname.
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Daby surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Clee and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daby is 239 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.0%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1911
239 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Daby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Daby surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 239 | #13,321 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 54 | #32,990 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 75 | #33,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Clee, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Daby surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Daby, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Daby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Daby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Daby is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Daby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Daby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Daby has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "deaw" or "dew," which could indicate that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a dewy area or a location known for its dew.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Daby can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is listed as "John de Dewe." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been connected to a place name containing the word "dew" or a similar-sounding word.
In the 14th century, the Daby surname appeared in various manorial records across counties like Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire. For example, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327, a certain "Richard Dewy" is mentioned as residing in Warwickshire.
The name Daby also has ties to the village of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. It is possible that some individuals bearing this surname may have originated from or had connections to this location, which was once known as "Dewesbury" or "Deuusbury" in ancient records.
Notable individuals with the surname Daby throughout history include:
1. Sir John Daby (c. 1420 - 1489), an English knight and landowner from Warwickshire. He served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire in 1476.
2. William Daby (c. 1500 - 1568), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Thomas Daby (1558 - 1628), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.
4. Elizabeth Daby (c. 1670 - 1745), a notable philanthropist and benefactor from Staffordshire, known for her charitable contributions to local schools and churches.
5. Robert Daby (1725 - 1792), a successful farmer and landowner from Leicestershire, whose estate played a significant role in the local agricultural economy.
While the surname Daby may have evolved over time and undergone spelling variations, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely derived from a geographic location or descriptive term related to dew or moisture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 8 Dabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 8 | 7.75x |
| Surrey | 8 | 5.43x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 11.40x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.99x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 4.45x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 6.39x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.68x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.45x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 27.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woolwich in Kent leads with 8 Dabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 209.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Woolwich | 8 | 209.97x |
| Bermondsey | 7 | 77.78x |
| Roath | 6 | 251.05x |
| Byker | 2 | 90.09x |
| Harlington | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 68.49x |
| Richmond | 1 | 48.54x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 32.47x |
| Shadwell London | 1 | 117.65x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 18.76x |
| St George Martyr London | 1 | 163.93x |
| West Ham | 1 | 7.59x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Daby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Daby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Daby households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| French Governess | 1 |
| General Servant Dom | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Leather Japanner | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Militia | 1 |
| Ordinary Seaman | 1 |
| Paper Hanger | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
| Servant At Home | 1 |
| Ship Repairer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Daby surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Daby a modern rank of #34,163.
A French surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a nickname.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Daby bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.