NameCensus.

UK surname

Dack

An anglicized form of the Scottish surname Dawick or Daiwick, a habitational name from the lands of that name in Stirlingshire.

In the 1881 census there were 915 people recorded with the Dack surname, ranking it #4,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,744, ranked #3,592, up from #4,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shipdham, Bintree and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, East Devon and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dack is 1,842 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.6%.

1881 census count

915

Ranked #4,192

Modern count

1,744

2016, ranked #3,592

Peak year

2010

1,842 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dack had 915 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,744 in 2016, ranked #3,592.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,460 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dack 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 545 #4,633
1861 historical 471 #5,515
1881 historical 915 #4,192
1891 historical 1,025 #4,068
1901 historical 1,224 #4,041
1911 historical 1,460 #3,303
1997 modern 1,764 #3,389
1998 modern 1,826 #3,411
1999 modern 1,831 #3,425
2000 modern 1,804 #3,452
2001 modern 1,790 #3,409
2002 modern 1,835 #3,402
2003 modern 1,782 #3,420
2004 modern 1,790 #3,412
2005 modern 1,735 #3,477
2006 modern 1,724 #3,505
2007 modern 1,715 #3,549
2008 modern 1,744 #3,526
2009 modern 1,781 #3,541
2010 modern 1,842 #3,501
2011 modern 1,793 #3,546
2012 modern 1,757 #3,539
2013 modern 1,794 #3,541
2014 modern 1,784 #3,566
2015 modern 1,763 #3,575
2016 modern 1,744 #3,592

Geography

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Where Dacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shipdham, Bintree, London parishes, Elsing and Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, East Devon, Bolsover and Norwich. 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 Shipdham Norfolk
2 Bintree Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Elsing Norfolk
5 Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 005 Breckland
2 East Devon 010 East Devon
3 Breckland 003 Breckland
4 Bolsover 005 Bolsover
5 Norwich 002 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dack

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dack surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dack household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dack is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dack 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

Dack falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dack

The surname DACK is believed to have originated from the northern regions of England during the medieval period, specifically in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dæcc," which means "a ditch or trench."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DACK can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including "Dac," "Dache," and "Dacke," indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

During the 13th century, the DACK surname was associated with several notable individuals. One such example is Robert Dack, a prominent landowner in the village of Datchworth, Hertfordshire, who was mentioned in historical records dating back to 1272.

In the 16th century, the name DACK gained further recognition when John Dack (1510-1578) became a respected scholar and theologian at the University of Cambridge. His contributions to the field of theology and his writings on religious matters earned him a reputation among his contemporaries.

The 17th century saw the emergence of another notable figure bearing the DACK surname, Sir Thomas Dack (1623-1697). He was a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1685. His achievements in the city's governance and his philanthropic endeavors left a lasting legacy.

Moving into the 18th century, the name DACK was associated with the artistic realm. William Dack (1754-1821) was a renowned landscape painter whose works captured the beauty of the English countryside. His paintings were highly sought after by collectors and can be found in several prestigious art galleries today.

In the 19th century, the DACK surname gained prominence in the field of literature. Emily Dack (1845-1912) was a celebrated novelist and poet, known for her vivid descriptions of rural life and her insightful commentary on social issues of the time.

Throughout its history, the surname DACK has been represented across various professions and walks of life, from scholars and politicians to artists and writers. While its origins can be traced back to the northern regions of England, the name has since spread and established itself in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dack 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. Norfolk leads with 514 Dacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.25x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 514 37.25x
Yorkshire 90 1.01x
Middlesex 51 0.57x
Kent 35 1.14x
Cambridgeshire 33 5.81x
Durham 31 1.16x
Northumberland 28 2.10x
Lancashire 24 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.98x
Surrey 22 0.50x
Suffolk 13 1.19x
Essex 11 0.62x
Cornwall 9 0.89x
Somerset 8 0.55x
Lincolnshire 5 0.35x
Staffordshire 4 0.13x
Bedfordshire 3 0.65x
Isle of Man 3 1.80x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Warwickshire 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.12x
Berwickshire 1 0.92x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bintree in Norfolk leads with 31 Dacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2198.58x.

Place Total Index
Bintree 31 2198.58x
Elsing 22 1833.33x
Billingford In Mitford 20 2061.86x
East Dereham 20 114.74x
Swaffham 17 151.38x
Terrington St Clement 17 272.87x
Skelton In Guisbrough 16 66.50x
Foulsham 15 513.70x
Deptford St Paul 14 5.93x
Doddington 14 335.73x
Felthorpe 14 979.02x
Middlesbrough 14 12.09x
Poplar London 14 8.27x
St Marylebone London 14 2.92x
Barton Upon Irwell 13 16.22x
Wood Norton 13 1494.25x
Downham Market 12 126.58x
Mattishall 12 434.78x
Shipdham 12 256.41x
Wood Dalling 12 805.37x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 11 26.55x
Marske In Guisbrough 11 69.66x
West Ham 11 2.81x
Hevingham 10 425.53x
Heworth 10 19.01x
Longbenton 10 17.68x
Oswaldtwistle 10 26.57x
Stow Bardolph 10 243.90x
Hindolveston 9 445.54x
Martham 9 267.06x
Scilly Islands 9 494.51x
Southcoates 9 18.23x
Wighton 9 573.25x
Brotton 8 68.91x
Burnham Thorpe 8 733.95x
Diss 8 67.62x
Mansfield 8 19.11x
Norwich St Benedict 8 130.08x
Old Park 8 283.69x
Stibbard 8 551.72x
Filby 7 391.06x
Great Bircham 7 492.96x
Scarning 7 341.46x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.88x
Crook Billy Row 6 17.55x
Deopham 6 458.02x
Deptford St Nicholas 6 24.69x
Fakenham 6 88.24x
Gressenhall 6 235.29x
Hellesdon 6 237.15x
Holt 6 127.12x
Horsford 6 280.37x
Lambeth 6 0.77x
Leverington 6 160.43x
Mexborough 6 33.99x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 7.52x
Radford 6 9.76x
Salthouse 6 937.50x
Stody 6 1500.00x
Walsoken 6 72.29x
Wisbech St Peter 6 21.05x
Wraxall 6 217.39x
Blakeney 5 202.43x
Briston 5 190.84x
Docking 5 115.21x
Linthorpe 5 9.42x
Lowestoft 5 9.68x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 30.34x
Pentney 5 304.88x
Snodland 5 57.60x
Sprowston 5 82.10x
Tunstead 5 387.60x
Wallsend 5 11.81x
Wells Next Sea 5 62.11x
Willesden 5 5.91x
Wymondham 5 35.44x
Kingston On Thames 4 3.81x
Leeds 4 0.80x
Little Walsingham 4 128.21x
St Andrewthe Less 4 6.16x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 59
Robert 35
Charles 32
George 27
James 26
Thomas 26
Walter 21
Edward 14
Henry 13
Matthew 10
Alfred 9
Albert 8
Frederick 7
Francis 6
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Arthur 5
David 4
Joseph 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Frances 3
Mathew 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
Jessie 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Philip 2
Burrows 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Elfred 1
Fredrick 1
Gabriel 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Hannibal 1
Hooten 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Knight 1
Knights 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Zephamil 1

FAQ

Dack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 915 people were recorded with the Dack surname. That placed it at #4,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,744 in 2016. That gives Dack a modern rank of #3,592.

What does the Dack surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Scottish surname Dawick or Daiwick, a habitational name from the lands of that name in Stirlingshire.

What does the Dack map show?

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