NameCensus.

UK surname

Dacunha

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from 'da cunha' meaning 'from the wedge' or 'from the boundary'.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Dacunha surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, New Forest and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dacunha is 252 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3050.0%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

2016

252 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dacunha had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dacunha surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dacunha surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dacunha 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 86 #28,876
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Dacunhas 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 Swindon, New Forest, Trafford, Lewisham and Merton. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 New Forest 017 New Forest
3 Trafford 025 Trafford
4 Lewisham 006 Lewisham
5 Merton 013 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dacunha

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dacunha

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dacunha surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dacunha household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dacunha is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dacunha 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

Dacunha 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 Dacunha is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dacunha

The surname DACUNHA originates from Portugal, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "cunha," which means "wedge" or "chisel," possibly referring to an individual's occupation or a physical characteristic.

DACUNHA is a variation of the more common Portuguese surname "Cunha," with the added prefix "da" indicating a place of origin or residence. The name was predominantly found in the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in the areas around Porto and Braga.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname DACUNHA can be found in a document from the Monastery of Lorvão, dated 1189, which mentions a certain "Martim da Cunha" as a witness to a land transaction.

In the 14th century, the DACUNHA family gained prominence when Álvaro da Cunha served as a knight and military commander under King Afonso IV of Portugal. His son, Pedro da Cunha, also held a prominent position as the Lord of Tábua and Escudeiro-Mor (Chief Squire) of King Fernando I.

During the Age of Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries, several members of the DACUNHA family played significant roles in the Portuguese explorations and colonization efforts. One notable figure was Tristão da Cunha, a Portuguese explorer who discovered the remote island group in the South Atlantic Ocean that now bears his name, the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, in 1506.

Another renowned individual with the surname DACUNHA was Nuno da Cunha, who served as the Governor of Portuguese India from 1529 to 1538. He is credited with strengthening the Portuguese presence in the region and establishing a strong naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

In the 17th century, Rodrigo da Cunha served as the Archbishop of Lisbon and was known for his literary works and contributions to the Catholic Church in Portugal.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the DACUNHA surname spread to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia, where descendants of Portuguese settlers and explorers can still be found bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dacunha families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dacunha 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 8 Dacunhas recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 8 8.30x
Middlesex 2 2.06x

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 8 Dacunhas recorded in 1881 and an index of 147.06x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 8 147.06x
Islington London 2 21.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alifico 1
Edwin 1
John 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 Dacunha households.

FAQ

Dacunha surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dacunha surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Dacunha surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dacunha surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Dacunha a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Dacunha surname mean?

A Portuguese and Galician surname derived from 'da cunha' meaning 'from the wedge' or 'from the boundary'.

What does the Dacunha map show?

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