NameCensus.

UK surname

Dadd

A diminutive surname indicating someone who was a respected or beloved father-figure.

In the 1881 census there were 353 people recorded with the Dadd surname, ranking it #8,708 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, down from #8,708 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Rotherhithe, London parishes and St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dadd is 631 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.7%.

1881 census count

353

Ranked #8,708

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

1861

631 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dadd had 353 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,708 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 631 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dadd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dadd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dadd 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 398 #6,057
1861 historical 631 #4,244
1881 historical 353 #8,708
1891 historical 524 #7,145
1901 historical 404 #9,426
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 552 #8,634
1998 modern 554 #8,876
1999 modern 561 #8,842
2000 modern 549 #8,956
2001 modern 537 #8,963
2002 modern 559 #8,861
2003 modern 536 #9,009
2004 modern 540 #8,978
2005 modern 501 #9,436
2006 modern 494 #9,569
2007 modern 523 #9,238
2008 modern 530 #9,219
2009 modern 532 #9,402
2010 modern 556 #9,291
2011 modern 558 #9,152
2012 modern 535 #9,375
2013 modern 550 #9,339
2014 modern 543 #9,497
2015 modern 548 #9,338
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Dadds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Rotherhithe, London parishes, St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Deal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury and Dover. 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 St Mary Rotherhithe London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone Devon
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Deal Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 007 Canterbury
2 Dover 004 Dover
3 Dover 007 Dover
4 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
5 Dover 005 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dadd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dadd

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dadd 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

Dadd 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dadd

The surname Dadd is an English name that originated in the late 16th century. It is derived from an old English nickname meaning "father" or "dad". The name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to a man who was a father figure or had a paternal demeanor.

The earliest known record of the Dadd surname dates back to 1587 in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The record mentions a John Dadd, who was a landowner and farmer in the area. Around the same time, variations of the name such as Dadde and Daddes were also found in nearby counties like Essex and Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the Dadd surname began to appear in various historical documents, including baptismal records and tax rolls. One notable reference is in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1662, which lists a William Dadd as a resident of Bury St. Edmunds.

During the 18th century, the Dadd family established roots in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex. Some of the earliest known individuals with this surname include:

1. Thomas Dadd (1720-1790), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bury St. Edmunds. 2. Mary Dadd (1745-1818), a philanthropist and benefactor of the local parish church in Stowmarket, Suffolk. 3. John Dadd (1766-1828), a renowned clockmaker from Ipswich, Suffolk, whose timepieces were highly sought after.

In the 19th century, the Dadd surname gained more prominence with several notable individuals:

1. Richard Dadd (1817-1886), a renowned English painter and one of the most famous individuals with this surname. He is known for his exceptional talent but also for his mental illness, which led to him spending much of his life in a psychiatric hospital. 2. Frank Dadd (1864-1937), a celebrated English cricketer who played for Essex County Cricket Club and was considered one of the best wicket-keepers of his era.

As the Dadd family spread across England, variations of the name emerged, such as Dadde, Dadds, and Dade. Some of these variations were also found in place names like Daddington in Buckinghamshire and Dadlington in Leicestershire, further highlighting the surname's deep roots in English history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dadd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dadd 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. Kent leads with 128 Dadds recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.12x.

County Total Index
Kent 128 11.12x
Middlesex 61 1.81x
Surrey 34 2.07x
Devon 29 4.13x
Essex 25 3.75x
Yorkshire 16 0.48x
Hampshire 8 1.16x
Lancashire 8 0.20x
Lincolnshire 7 1.30x
Norfolk 6 1.16x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.96x
Glamorgan 4 0.68x
Gloucestershire 4 0.60x
Northumberland 3 0.60x
Berkshire 2 0.79x
Dorset 2 0.90x
Sussex 2 0.35x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 2.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 20 Dadds recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.60x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 20 13.60x
Camberwell 19 8.81x
Hackney London 15 7.93x
Burham 13 817.61x
Deal 13 132.38x
Deptford St Paul 12 13.51x
Seasalter 12 827.59x
Exeter St Thomas The 11 153.63x
Rotherhithe 10 23.98x
St Pancras London 10 3.68x
Minster In Sheppey 9 47.17x
Rochester St Margaret 9 74.14x
Crediton 8 120.12x
Poplar London 8 12.56x
St Lawrence 8 101.01x
Limehouse London 7 18.89x
Lofthouse 7 140.28x
Margate St John Baptist 7 33.19x
Rainham 7 221.52x
Clee With Weelsby 6 50.80x
Great Yarmouth 6 13.96x
Lewisham 6 9.77x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.41x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 55.25x
Spitalfields London 5 19.69x
Whitstable 5 88.50x
Witham 5 145.77x
St George Hanover Square 4 6.73x
Withycombe Rawleigh 4 109.29x
Ystradyfodwg 4 7.76x
Canterbury St Mildred 3 109.89x
Chatham 3 9.47x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 4.72x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 3 193.55x
Iver 3 114.07x
Maidstone 3 8.75x
Stanghow 3 222.22x
Toxteth Park 3 2.21x
Bridport 2 43.86x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 21.88x
Gravesend 2 20.51x
Hambledon 2 85.84x
Hordle 2 166.67x
Milton In Gravesend 2 11.58x
Paddington London 2 1.61x
Portsea 2 1.48x
Preston 2 1.87x
Ramsgate 2 10.64x
Sevenoaks 2 21.41x
St George Martyr London 2 29.24x
West Tarset 2 1818.18x
Ashford 1 8.92x
Battersea 1 0.81x
Bovey Tracey 1 40.65x
Bridge 1 101.01x
Brighton 1 0.87x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 204.08x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 8.33x
Chester St Oswald 1 7.41x
Draycot Moor 1 384.62x
East Woodhay 1 56.50x
Great Grimsby 1 2.92x
Hurstpierpoint 1 31.55x
Islington London 1 0.31x
Kingskerswell 1 85.47x
Lambeth 1 0.34x
Langley Marish 1 40.00x
Lee 1 5.98x
Littleham 1 19.46x
Moreton Hampstead 1 54.95x
Newington 1 0.80x
Newton St Cyres 1 101.01x
Portsmouth 1 6.28x
Royal Navy 1 2.91x
Sandhurst 1 20.37x
Shoreditch London 1 0.68x
St Peters 1 18.76x
Tortworth 1 434.78x
Tynemouth 1 3.72x
Watford 1 5.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 11
Emma 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Ann 4
Emily 4
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Alma 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Polly 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Ethel 1
Frances.R. 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mable 1
Margaret 1
Marjory 1
Marva 1
Matilda 1
Minie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
George 15
John 14
Charles 13
James 13
Thomas 10
Frederick 8
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Richd. 2
Walter 2
Barton 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Charley 1
Chas.Fredk. 1
David 1
Denis 1
Edward.M. 1
Edward.W. 1
Edwd.W. 1
Filmer 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk.R. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Benjn. 1
Geo.F. 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Herbt. 1
Isaac 1
Murdock 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip.J.S. 1
Rupert 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Wilfred.K. 1
Wm.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Dadd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dadd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 353 people were recorded with the Dadd surname. That placed it at #8,708 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dadd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Dadd a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Dadd surname mean?

A diminutive surname indicating someone who was a respected or beloved father-figure.

What does the Dadd map show?

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