NameCensus.

UK surname

Dag

A Scandinavian surname derived from the Old Norse word "dagr" meaning "day".

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Dag surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 208, ranked #19,062, up from #32,416 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dag is 208 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2211.1%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

208

2016, ranked #19,062

Peak year

2016

208 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dag had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016, ranked #19,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 53 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dag surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dag surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dag 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 53 #23,739
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 26 #35,135
1998 modern 22 #35,687
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 35 #34,420
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 46 #33,631
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 62 #32,478
2005 modern 69 #32,007
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 198 #19,841
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 208 #19,062

Geography

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Where Dags 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 Enfield and Waltham Forest. 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 Enfield 001 Enfield
2 Waltham Forest 026 Waltham Forest
3 Enfield 023 Enfield
4 Waltham Forest 017 Waltham Forest
5 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dag

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dag 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 Dag

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Dag surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dag household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dag is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dag 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

Dag falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dag 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 Dag, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dag

The surname Dag has its origins in the Old Norse language, where it was derived from the word daga, meaning day. Norse influence was prominent in areas such as Scandinavia and Iceland during the Viking Age, which spanned approximately from the late 8th century to the early 11th century. Over time, the use of this surname spread to other regions influenced by Norse settlers and conquerors.

In medieval Scandinavia, surnames were often patronymic, so the use of Dag as a surname might have initially indicated the descendant of a person named Dag. The name itself is prominent in the mythological and heroic tales of Norse culture. One of the earliest recorded references can be found in the 13th century Icelandic manuscripts known as the Sagas, where various characters named Dag appear.

Historical references to the surname include appearances in Swedish and Norwegian records. For instance, a notable person by the name of Jarl Dag Eilivsson, born around 1060 and died in 1190, is recorded in Norwegian history. Another early example can be found in Danish royal court documents from the 12th century, indicating the use of Dag as a family name among the nobility.

In medieval England, a similar surname, Dagg, can be traced to Norman influences following the Conquest of 1066. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, contains no direct mention of the surname Dag, but variations of it might be found under occupational or descriptive names derived from Old Norse roots.

In the late medieval period, the use of Dag as a surname can be evidenced in various other documents. Johan Dag, born 1480 and known to have been a merchant in Bergen, Norway, is a notable figure. Another prominent person is Sten Dag, born around 1525, a Swedish military leader recognized for his role during the Northern Seven Years' War.

The surname also spread to other parts of Europe, including the eastern regions. For example, in Poland, the surname appears in 16th-century tax records, possibly as a result of Norse trade influences. In France, however, the surname is much less common and typically appears in coastal regions like Normandy, potential sites of Scandinavian settlement.

Interestingly, the surname can be found in variations over the centuries. For instance, Dagge and Dax in medieval records indicate the fluidity of surname spelling typical of the period. Another notable historical figure is Astrid Dag, born in 1600, a writer and chronicler from Stavanger, Norway.

As surnames became increasingly hereditary and structured in certain regions, the use of Dag became more solidified. Many bearers of the name remained in Scandinavian territories, contributing to the culture and society of those regions. Recognizable figures in more recent centuries include Henrik Dag, born 1720, who was an influential scholar in Danish history and literature.

The surname Dag, though not exceedingly common, carries with it a rich historical and cultural heritage rooted in Norse mythology and the Scandinavian middle ages. The surname's endurance over the centuries speaks to the enduring influence of Norse culture across Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dag families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dag 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. Staffordshire leads with 6 Dags recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.21x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 6 15.21x
Orkney 2 155.04x
Royal Navy 2 143.88x
Durham 1 2.88x
Surrey 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walsall Foreign in Staffordshire leads with 6 Dags recorded in 1881 and an index of 294.12x.

Place Total Index
Walsall Foreign 6 294.12x
Royal Navy 2 168.07x
Sandwick 2 4000.00x
Bishop Auckland 1 212.77x
Richmond 1 125.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Walter 1
William 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 Dag households.

FAQ

Dag surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dag surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Dag surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dag surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016. That gives Dag a modern rank of #19,062.

What does the Dag surname mean?

A Scandinavian surname derived from the Old Norse word "dagr" meaning "day".

What does the Dag map show?

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