NameCensus.

UK surname

Dacre

A surname derived from a place name referring to settlements near Penrith and Ripon in England.

In the 1881 census there were 386 people recorded with the Dacre surname, ranking it #8,165 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 607, ranked #8,637, down from #8,165 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Batley, Dalton-in-Furness and Upham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dacre is 696 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.3%.

1881 census count

386

Ranked #8,165

Modern count

607

2016, ranked #8,637

Peak year

1911

696 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dacre had 386 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,165 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016, ranked #8,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 696 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dacre surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dacre surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dacre 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 183 #11,166
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 386 #8,165
1891 historical 455 #8,009
1901 historical 607 #7,011
1911 historical 696 #6,106
1997 modern 612 #8,033
1998 modern 657 #7,842
1999 modern 651 #7,931
2000 modern 633 #8,101
2001 modern 630 #7,972
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 657 #7,773
2005 modern 625 #8,018
2006 modern 612 #8,161
2007 modern 614 #8,218
2008 modern 626 #8,140
2009 modern 641 #8,158
2010 modern 654 #8,199
2011 modern 630 #8,364
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 608 #8,651
2014 modern 608 #8,709
2015 modern 601 #8,723
2016 modern 607 #8,637

Geography

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Where Dacres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Batley, Dalton-in-Furness, Upham, Bishops Waltham and Rothwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
3 Upham Hampshire
4 Bishops Waltham Hampshire
5 Rothwell Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
2 Barrow-in-Furness 010 Barrow-in-Furness
3 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 006 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Barrow-in-Furness 006 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dacre

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dacre

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dacre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dacre household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dacre 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

Dacre is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dacre 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 Dacre 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 Dacre, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dacre

The surname Dacre originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Dacre in Cumberland, now part of Cumbria. The name is believed to come from the Old Norse words 'deyr' meaning 'deer' and 'kru' meaning 'nook' or 'corner', referring to a remote area where deer were found.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Dacre can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Dacre'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Dacre was William de Dacre, who lived in the late 12th century. He was a prominent landowner in Cumberland and held the manor of Dacre.

In the 13th century, the Dacre family became one of the most powerful and influential families in the north of England. They held the title of Baron Dacre of Gilsland, and their seat was at Naworth Castle in Cumberland.

One notable member of the Dacre family was Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre of Gilsland (c.1468-1525). He was a renowned military commander who fought in the Wars of the Roses and served as Warden of the West Marches, responsible for defending the English border with Scotland.

Another prominent figure was Leonard Dacre (c.1519-1573), who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the Rising of the North, a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I in 1569.

In the 17th century, the Dacre family's fortunes declined, and their estates passed to other families. However, the name continued to be used by various individuals throughout the centuries.

One notable bearer of the name was Reverend Thomas Dacre (1572-1618), an English clergyman and playwright who wrote several comedies and tragedies.

In the 18th century, Sir Thomas Dacre (1711-1786) was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

The surname Dacre has also been found in various spellings over time, such as Daker, Daker, and Dayker, reflecting regional variations and the evolution of the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dacre families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dacre 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. Yorkshire leads with 196 Dacres recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 196 5.25x
Lancashire 83 1.86x
Hampshire 41 5.31x
Middlesex 20 0.53x
Westmorland 9 10.88x
Northamptonshire 8 2.26x
Cheshire 7 0.84x
Cumberland 6 1.85x
Surrey 5 0.27x
Hertfordshire 2 0.77x
Worcestershire 2 0.41x
Angus 1 0.29x
Dorset 1 0.40x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.20x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.83x
Northumberland 1 0.18x
Sussex 1 0.16x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 39 Dacres recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.51x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 39 18.51x
Rothwell 32 424.40x
Toxteth Park 15 9.91x
Seacroft 12 677.97x
Ellel 10 434.78x
Farnley In Bramley 10 214.59x
Bishops Waltham 9 280.37x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 9 604.03x
Dalton In Furness 9 52.17x
Wortley In Bramley 9 30.46x
Barrow In Furness 8 13.16x
Otley 8 88.30x
Ulverston 8 61.49x
Upham 8 941.18x
Great Oakley 7 2500.00x
Kensington London 7 3.34x
Lower Holker 7 813.95x
West Derby 7 5.36x
Altrincham 6 41.32x
Fulham London 6 10.99x
Giggleswick 6 476.19x
Morley 6 30.93x
South Stoneham 6 35.84x
Wetherby 6 246.91x
Aldingham 5 335.57x
Dewsbury 5 13.07x
Droxford 5 169.49x
Holbeck 5 20.23x
Ilkley 5 81.97x
Old Hutton Holmescales 5 1020.41x
York St Mary 5 32.36x
Clapham 4 8.50x
Heptonstall 4 76.34x
Skipton 4 34.07x
St Bartholomew Hyde 4 216.22x
Templenewsam 4 148.15x
Arthuret 3 88.76x
Clitheroe 3 22.81x
Colton 3 128.76x
Esholt 3 600.00x
Hunslet 3 5.16x
Irthington 3 389.61x
Kendal 3 19.80x
Scarborough 3 8.85x
Thorner 3 247.93x
Bolton Le Sands 2 198.02x
Everton 2 1.40x
Fareham 2 21.58x
Holdenhurst 2 9.88x
Manningham 2 4.35x
Sedgeberrow 2 512.82x
St Pancras London 2 0.66x
St Paul Walden 2 152.67x
Stockton On Forest 2 350.88x
York St Maurice 2 28.45x
Armley 1 6.08x
Battersea 1 0.72x
Bedlington 1 5.34x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.13x
Clifford Cum Boston 1 29.76x
Crofton 1 108.70x
Dumfries 1 12.18x
Haselor 1 227.27x
Helsington 1 222.22x
Hursley 1 55.87x
Littlehampton 1 19.72x
Manchester 1 0.50x
Shadwell 1 70.42x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.06x
St Andrew Holborn 1 7.83x
St George Martyr London 1 13.11x
St Marylebone London 1 0.50x
Stretford 1 4.07x
Thorp Arch 1 196.08x
Thurnham 1 144.93x
Troqueer 1 13.99x
Upton 1 107.53x
Urswick 1 60.24x
Wakefield 1 3.49x
Westminster St James 1 2.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 13
Jane 10
Ann 7
Anne 7
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Margaret 6
Emma 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Maria 4
Clara 3
Hannah 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Ruth 2
Sara 2
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florrie 1
Frances 1
Georgianna 1
Jean 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilly 1
Lois 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 22
James 14
George 11
Henry 10
Thomas 10
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Alfred 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Tobias 4
Arthur 3
Christopher 3
Thos. 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Walter 2
Aylott 1
Chas.H. 1
Clara 1
Dan 1
Danial 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Herb. 1
Heseltine 1
J. 1
Jim 1
Jno 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Joe 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Matthias 1
Peter 1
Ranulph 1
Richd. 1
Susan 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Dacre surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dacre surname in 1881?

In 1881, 386 people were recorded with the Dacre surname. That placed it at #8,165 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dacre surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016. That gives Dacre a modern rank of #8,637.

What does the Dacre surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to settlements near Penrith and Ripon in England.

What does the Dacre map show?

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