NameCensus.

UK surname

Daft

A surname derived from the Middle English word meaning foolish or idiotic.

In the 1881 census there were 733 people recorded with the Daft surname, ranking it #4,990 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, down from #4,990 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wilne, Sawley and Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rushcliffe, Erewash and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daft is 980 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.4%.

1881 census count

733

Ranked #4,990

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1911

980 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Daft had 733 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,990 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 980 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Daft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Daft surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Daft 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 523 #4,797
1861 historical 512 #5,112
1881 historical 733 #4,990
1891 historical 775 #5,176
1901 historical 934 #4,998
1911 historical 980 #4,616
1997 modern 364 #11,827
1998 modern 363 #12,228
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 331 #13,115
2003 modern 320 #13,239
2004 modern 318 #13,374
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 315 #13,960
2010 modern 317 #14,166
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Dafts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wilne, Sawley, Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rushcliffe, Erewash, East Lindsey and Mansfield. 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 Wilne Derbyshire
2 Sawley Derbyshire
3 Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter Nottinghamshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rushcliffe 013 Rushcliffe
2 Erewash 015 Erewash
3 Erewash 008 Erewash
4 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
5 Mansfield 012 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Daft

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Daft

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Daft surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Daft household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Daft 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

Daft 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

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

Meaning and origin of Daft

The surname DAFT is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word "gedæfte" which means "gentle" or "mild-mannered." It is believed to have originated in the north of England during the medieval period, likely as a descriptive nickname for someone with a calm and placid demeanor.

The earliest known record of the DAFT surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1297, there is an entry for a certain "Richard Daft" who was a landholder in the village of Thorne, near Doncaster.

During the 14th century, the DAFT name appeared in various official documents and records across the north of England, such as the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which listed a "John Daft" in the village of Heptonstall, West Yorkshire.

One notable early bearer of the DAFT surname was William Daft (c. 1480-1556), a English Catholic priest and theologian who served as a canon of Lincoln Cathedral during the reign of Henry VIII. He was known for his scholarly work on biblical commentaries and his opposition to the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, the DAFT name spread to other parts of England, including the Midlands and the South East. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Daft (1635-1688), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who was involved in the cloth trade and owned several mills in the region.

Another significant figure bearing the DAFT surname was Sir Robert Daft (1692-1763), a British military officer who served in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his service.

In the 19th century, the DAFT name gained prominence in the literary world with the English poet and novelist, Mary Daft (1815-1891). She was known for her romantic verse and her novel "The Cottage by the Stream," which was widely popular during the Victorian era.

Throughout history, variations of the DAFT surname have included Dafft, Dafte, and Dafty, often reflecting local dialects and spelling conventions. Additionally, some historical records mention the surname in conjunction with place names like "Dafton" or "Daftville," suggesting potential origins as locational surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Daft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daft 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 257 Dafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.78x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 257 26.78x
Leicestershire 96 12.16x
Lincolnshire 84 7.38x
Warwickshire 52 2.90x
Lancashire 50 0.59x
Staffordshire 49 2.04x
Derbyshire 48 4.31x
Yorkshire 38 0.54x
Gloucestershire 21 1.50x
Middlesex 14 0.20x
Cheshire 8 0.51x
Surrey 4 0.12x
Essex 2 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.30x
Ayrshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.21x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 1.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 109 Dafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.91x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 109 43.91x
Leicester St Margaret 36 18.70x
Coningsby 23 703.36x
Cheltenham 20 18.56x
Sawley 19 565.48x
Nottingham St Peter 16 149.53x
Basford 14 31.65x
Granby Sutton 13 1340.21x
Radford 13 26.66x
Bulwell 12 57.50x
Longdon 12 360.36x
Snenton 12 31.82x
Ruddington 11 170.81x
Halloughton 10 6250.00x
Little Bolton 10 9.20x
Toxteth Park 10 3.50x
Bedworth 9 68.70x
East Bridgford 9 410.96x
Leicester St Mary 9 14.11x
Liverpool 9 1.75x
Nuneaton 9 43.27x
Sheffield 9 4.01x
Chilvers Coton 8 108.25x
Melton Mowbray 8 56.34x
Quorndon 8 180.59x
Rowley Regis 8 11.94x
Thurlstone 8 114.94x
Walsall Foreign 8 6.44x
Windle 8 16.83x
Hose 7 648.15x
Norton Canes 7 79.91x
Walton On The Wolds 7 1272.73x
Ansley 6 295.57x
Bingham 6 147.06x
Birkenhead 6 4.79x
Breaston 6 304.57x
Leeds 6 1.51x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 6 248.96x
Ruskington 6 206.90x
Westville 6 1935.48x
Wildmore 6 402.68x
Derby St Werburgh 5 7.77x
Leake 5 95.79x
Salford 5 2.01x
Wolverhampton 5 2.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 2.17x
Aston 4 0.81x
Binbrooke 4 140.85x
Birmingham 4 0.67x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.93x
Dronfield 4 27.99x
East Retford 4 48.02x
Garforth 4 74.07x
Kingsbury 4 104.17x
Leicester All Sts 4 25.81x
Sheepshed 4 36.97x
Sotby 4 851.06x
Tattershall 4 341.88x
Thurmaston 4 287.77x
Tuxford 4 169.49x
Wednesbury 4 6.66x
Wilne 4 156.86x
Wymeswold 4 175.44x
Asterby 3 576.92x
Bromley London 3 1.92x
Burntwood Edial 3 19.54x
Carlton 3 27.40x
Haven Bank 3 4285.71x
Lambeth 3 0.48x
Leicester St Martin 3 56.60x
Lenton 3 13.27x
Long Eaton 3 20.38x
North Wingfield 3 60.24x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 22.95x
Tottenham 3 2.65x
Westminster St John 3 3.46x
Arnold 2 14.28x
Bridlington 2 12.38x
Kensington London 2 0.51x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 10.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 51
John 43
George 34
Thomas 28
Joseph 21
Henry 18
Arthur 17
Charles 16
Samuel 12
James 10
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Richard 7
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Edward 4
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Thos. 3
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Chas. 1
Cook 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Emily 1
Enoc 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Holdershaw 1
Horace 1
Jesse 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Zadick 1

FAQ

Daft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Daft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 733 people were recorded with the Daft surname. That placed it at #4,990 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Daft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Daft a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Daft surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word meaning foolish or idiotic.

What does the Daft map show?

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