NameCensus.

UK surname

Dagg

A surname derived from a topographic name referring to a low-lying area or hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 370 people recorded with the Dagg surname, ranking it #8,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 546, ranked #9,334, down from #8,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Northumberland and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dagg is 600 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.6%.

1881 census count

370

Ranked #8,434

Modern count

546

2016, ranked #9,334

Peak year

1999

600 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dagg had 370 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 546 in 2016, ranked #9,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 471 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dagg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dagg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dagg 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 231 #9,334
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 370 #8,434
1891 historical 391 #9,044
1901 historical 457 #8,610
1911 historical 471 #8,201
1997 modern 570 #8,442
1998 modern 581 #8,566
1999 modern 600 #8,438
2000 modern 588 #8,524
2001 modern 581 #8,469
2002 modern 582 #8,624
2003 modern 587 #8,461
2004 modern 575 #8,584
2005 modern 578 #8,495
2006 modern 569 #8,612
2007 modern 560 #8,782
2008 modern 554 #8,911
2009 modern 554 #9,117
2010 modern 570 #9,106
2011 modern 551 #9,251
2012 modern 551 #9,153
2013 modern 553 #9,299
2014 modern 565 #9,191
2015 modern 548 #9,338
2016 modern 546 #9,334

Geography

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Where Daggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Falstone and Elsdon (Rochester), Ramshope. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Northumberland and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Falstone Northumberland
5 Elsdon (Rochester), Ramshope Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
3 Northumberland 019 Northumberland
4 Sunderland 004 Sunderland
5 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dagg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dagg

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Dagg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dagg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dagg 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

Dagg 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dagg

The surname Dagg is of English origin, first appearing in the late 16th century in the county of Nottinghamshire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "docc", meaning a dog or a badger-like animal. This suggests the name may have originally been a nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with dogs or badgers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dagg surname can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a Thomas Dagg was baptized in 1594. Other early spellings of the name include Dagge, Dogge, and Dogg, reflecting the name's possible connection to the Old English word for a canine.

In the 17th century, the Dagg family was well-established in the village of Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire. The Hearth Tax Returns of 1674 list several Dagg households in the area, including those of William Dagg and Robert Dagg.

Notable individuals with the surname Dagg include Sir Humphrey Dagg (1613-1685), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottingham in the 17th century. Another prominent figure was Richard Dagg (1761-1841), an English engraver and painter known for his landscape and architectural works.

In the 19th century, the Dagg name appeared in various parts of England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer was John Dagg (1794-1884), a Baptist minister and theologian born in Virginia, United States, who authored several influential works on Christian theology and doctrine.

Another individual of note was Thomas Dagg (1835-1901), a Scottish landscape painter and art teacher who exhibited his works at the Royal Scottish Academy and other prestigious institutions. His paintings often depicted rural scenes and landscapes from around Scotland.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Dagg surname also had a presence in Australia, with individuals such as William Dagg (1850-1927), a successful businessman and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dagg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dagg 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. Northumberland leads with 111 Daggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.90x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 111 20.90x
Durham 68 6.40x
Middlesex 35 0.98x
Roxburghshire 31 47.94x
Lancashire 30 0.71x
Somerset 17 2.96x
Glamorgan 16 2.57x
Cheshire 9 1.14x
Surrey 9 0.52x
Kent 7 0.57x
Sussex 7 1.16x
Gloucestershire 5 0.71x
Hertfordshire 5 2.03x
Warwickshire 3 0.33x
Devon 2 0.27x
Leicestershire 2 0.51x
Berwickshire 1 2.31x
Cumberland 1 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.27x
East Lothian 1 2.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.88x
Royal Navy 1 2.35x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 27 Daggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.62x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 27 29.62x
Plashetts Tynehead 18 3333.33x
Castleton 15 539.57x
Blackburn 14 12.42x
Houghton Le Spring 13 177.11x
Llandaff 11 53.19x
Otterburn 11 2682.93x
Rochester 11 2619.05x
Morebattle 8 645.16x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 25.21x
Teddington London 8 98.89x
Brighton 7 5.76x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 7 686.27x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 25.42x
Wellhaugh 7 1842.11x
Bellingham 6 674.16x
Deptford St Paul 6 6.39x
Lower Bebington 6 128.21x
Sunderland 6 31.98x
Biddlestone 5 2631.58x
Clerkenwell London 5 5.93x
Farnworth 5 19.70x
Hatfield 5 100.20x
Hexham West Quarter 5 1851.85x
Islington London 5 1.44x
Longbenton 5 22.22x
Southdean 5 561.80x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 6.96x
Wellow 5 295.86x
Akeld 4 2352.94x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 6.07x
Chiswick 4 20.50x
Clennell 4 13333.33x
Linbridge 4 8000.00x
Shildon 4 46.84x
Walcot 4 13.07x
Wallsend 4 23.74x
Barrow In Furness 3 5.21x
Bath St Peter St Paul 3 118.11x
Birkenhead 3 4.78x
Birmingham 3 1.00x
Bishopwearmouth Panns 3 1304.35x
Kensington London 3 1.51x
Oxnam 3 361.45x
Paddington London 3 2.29x
St Pancras London 3 1.04x
Stockton On Tees 3 5.86x
Thorneyburn 3 2000.00x
Bathwick 2 31.45x
Eglwysilan 2 18.54x
Hanwell 2 31.60x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.35x
Leyland 2 27.14x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 13.29x
St Mary Church 2 1666.67x
Aberdare 1 2.34x
Alton 1 76.92x
Annan 1 14.77x
Bermondsey 1 0.94x
Bootle 1 101.01x
Braunstone 1 400.00x
Corsenside 1 120.48x
Cranshaws 1 769.23x
Elswick 1 2.36x
Elwick 1 1250.00x
Formby 1 20.83x
Great Harwood 1 13.05x
Hayes 1 117.65x
Kingskerswell 1 81.30x
Lanton 1 1250.00x
Lawrenny 1 285.71x
Liverpool 1 0.39x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 14.33x
Newington 1 0.76x
Peels 1 1428.57x
Royal Navy 1 2.75x
South Shields 1 10.57x
St Marylebone London 1 0.52x
Warksburn 1 454.55x
West Derby 1 0.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Jane 16
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 13
Ann 9
Isabella 9
Catherine 5
Margaret 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Charlotte 3
Dorothy 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Helen 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Christiana 2
Harriet 2
Isabell 2
Lucy 2
Marian 2
Matilda 2
Barbra 1
Caroline 1
Christen 1
Christian 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Tryphea 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 18
Thomas 17
George 14
James 9
Anthony 7
Joseph 6
Matthew 5
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Henery 2
Jno. 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Elliott 1
Giles 1
J.R. 1
Mathew 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Sidney 1
Trevor 1
Utrick 1
Willie 1
Willm 1

FAQ

Dagg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dagg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 370 people were recorded with the Dagg surname. That placed it at #8,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dagg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 546 in 2016. That gives Dagg a modern rank of #9,334.

What does the Dagg surname mean?

A surname derived from a topographic name referring to a low-lying area or hollow.

What does the Dagg map show?

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