NameCensus.

UK surname

Dadds

A surname potentially derived from an affectionate or diminutive form of "dad" or "father".

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Dadds surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 309, ranked #14,442, up from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Ilfracombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Lambeth and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dadds is 351 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.9%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

309

2016, ranked #14,442

Peak year

2000

351 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dadds had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016, ranked #14,442.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 282 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Dadds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dadds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dadds 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 167 #11,936
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 282 #11,597
1901 historical 236 #13,616
1911 historical 272 #12,205
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 342 #12,829
2000 modern 351 #12,534
2001 modern 344 #12,526
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 329 #13,027
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 316 #13,566
2008 modern 320 #13,550
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 332 #13,745
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 304 #14,614
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 309 #14,442

Geography

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Where Dadds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Ilfracombe, St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Lambeth, Colchester and Babergh. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ilfracombe Devon
4 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 012 Southend-on-Sea
2 Lambeth 012 Lambeth
3 Colchester 008 Colchester
4 Babergh 010 Babergh
5 Southend-on-Sea 010 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dadds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dadds

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Dadds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Dadds household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dadds 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

Dadds 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

Dadds 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 Dadds is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dadds

The surname DADDS is of English origin, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dadde," which means "father" or "papa." This nickname was likely given to a man who was affectionate towards his children or someone who took on a paternal role.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DADDS surname can be found in the parish records of Stoke Damerel, Devon, in 1598, where a John Dadds was listed. The name also appeared in the nearby parish of Plympton St Mary in 1604, with the christening of a child named William Dadds.

In the 17th century, the DADDS surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in the southwest of England. This is evident from the Parish Register records of that time, which list several individuals with this surname, such as Robert Dadds, who was baptized in Treneglos, Cornwall, in 1614, and Thomazine Dadds, who was buried in Tavistock, Devon, in 1635.

One notable individual with the DADDS surname was William Dadds, a merchant from Plymouth, Devon, who was born around 1670. He was involved in the wool trade and played a significant role in the local community, serving as a church warden and overseer of the poor.

Another historical figure was John Dadds, a farmer from Taunton, Somerset, who was born in 1745. He is mentioned in local records for his involvement in agricultural affairs and his role as a parish official.

In the 19th century, the DADDS surname spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing this name in places like London and the industrial cities of the Midlands. One notable person from this era was George Dadds, a successful businessman from Birmingham, who was born in 1820 and made his fortune in the manufacturing industry.

Throughout history, the DADDS surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Dadds Hill in Devon and Dadds Lane in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from early DADDS settlers or landowners in those areas.

Overall, the surname DADDS has a rich history that can be traced back to its Old English origins and its early prevalence in the southwestern counties of England. While not a particularly common name, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, farmers, and industrialists, over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dadds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dadds 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 58 Dadds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.89x.

County Total Index
Kent 58 10.89x
Devon 43 13.24x
Middlesex 14 0.90x
Essex 7 2.27x
Glamorgan 7 2.58x
Gloucestershire 7 2.29x
Surrey 7 0.92x
Lancashire 5 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.94x
Monmouthshire 3 2.66x
Yorkshire 3 0.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.38x
Somerset 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilfracombe in Devon leads with 32 Dadds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 958.08x.

Place Total Index
Ilfracombe 32 958.08x
Stourmouth 10 5882.35x
Wingham 8 1290.32x
Paddington London 6 10.46x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 19.11x
West Ham 6 8.82x
Bristol St Paul In 5 61.35x
Woodnesborough 5 1020.41x
Canterbury St Paul 4 416.67x
Edmonton 4 31.82x
Oldham 4 6.69x
Grange Gillingham 3 1250.00x
Llandaff 3 33.19x
Margate St John Baptist 3 30.77x
St John Near Swansea 3 89.29x
St Pancras London 3 2.39x
Westerham 3 243.90x
Canterbury St Mary 2 56.02x
East Buckland 2 2222.22x
Exeter Holy Trinity 2 157.48x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 102.04x
Filleigh 2 1111.11x
Folkestone 2 19.36x
Handsworth 2 15.41x
Lapford 2 625.00x
Leeds 2 2.29x
Millbrook 2 24.81x
Milton In Gravesend 2 25.06x
Monmouth 2 66.89x
Newington In Elham 2 666.67x
Northleach 2 444.44x
Preston Next Wingham 2 833.33x
St Nicholas At Wade 2 645.16x
Wickhambreux 2 769.23x
Canterbury St George 1 156.25x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 18.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.40x
Croydon 1 2.37x
Dulverton 1 135.14x
Eastry 1 135.14x
Eggesford 1 1000.00x
Elham 1 156.25x
Hackney London 1 1.14x
Hornsea 1 102.04x
Lenham 1 94.34x
Littlebourne 1 250.00x
Neath 1 18.08x
Portsea 1 1.60x
Ramsgate 1 11.51x
Sandwich St Mary 1 208.33x
Upper Llanvrechva 1 57.14x
Wanstead 1 18.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Sarah 7
Jane 6
Frances 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Besty 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebth. 1
Elizth. 1
Ena 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Minnie 1
Rebbecca 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
James 8
William 8
George 7
Thomas 7
Richard 6
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Isaac 2
Arthur 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Moses 1
Philip 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dadds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dadds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Dadds surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dadds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016. That gives Dadds a modern rank of #14,442.

What does the Dadds surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from an affectionate or diminutive form of "dad" or "father".

What does the Dadds map show?

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