NameCensus.

UK surname

Dagley

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "valley where people dwelled".

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Dagley surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 261, ranked #16,309, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Barwell and Foleshill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dagley is 379 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.5%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

1911

379 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dagley had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dagley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dagley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dagley 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 308 #10,886
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 379 #9,672
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 292 #14,120
1999 modern 288 #14,346
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 269 #14,952
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 261 #15,597
2009 modern 277 #15,260
2010 modern 269 #15,935
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 258 #16,165
2013 modern 259 #16,392
2014 modern 259 #16,509
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Dagleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Barwell, Foleshill and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth, Cotswold, Wandsworth and Bolsover. 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 Barwell Leicestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Foleshill Warwickshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaby 004 Blaby
2 Hinckley and Bosworth 014 Hinckley and Bosworth
3 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
4 Wandsworth 012 Wandsworth
5 Bolsover 001 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dagley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dagley

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dagley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dagley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dagley 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

Dagley 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

Dagley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dagley

The surname Dagley has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dæg" meaning day and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a clearing where the daytime sun shone brightly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dagelei" in the county of Gloucestershire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames in England during the Norman era.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Dagley, Dagly, Daggley, and Daggly. These variations often reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language.

Interestingly, the surname Dagley shares similarities with the place name Daglingworth, a village in Gloucestershire. It is possible that the name originated from this location or a similar place, reflecting the strong connection between surnames and geographic features in medieval times.

Notable individuals with the surname Dagley include John Dagley (1568-1634), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Watford, Hertfordshire. Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Robert Dagley (1622-1689), a wealthy merchant and influential figure in the city of London during the 17th century.

In the literary realm, Susanna Dagley (1768-1844) was an English novelist and playwright whose works, though not widely acclaimed during her lifetime, shed light on the social and cultural climate of the Regency era in Britain.

The name also found its way across the Atlantic, with notable American figures such as William Dagley (1798-1878), a wealthy landowner and businessman from Virginia, and Mary Dagley (1826-1901), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in the state of Ohio.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning John Dagley (1891-1968), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the remote regions of South America during the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dagley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dagley 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. Middlesex leads with 59 Dagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 59 2.29x
Leicestershire 35 12.26x
Warwickshire 34 5.24x
Staffordshire 28 3.22x
Oxfordshire 19 11.95x
Surrey 18 1.43x
Hertfordshire 17 9.58x
Derbyshire 9 2.23x
Buckinghamshire 7 4.50x
Gloucestershire 7 1.39x
Northamptonshire 7 2.89x
Somerset 7 1.69x
Rutland 5 26.44x
Essex 4 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.86x
Lincolnshire 2 0.49x
Monmouthshire 1 0.54x
Worcestershire 1 0.30x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 15 Dagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.33x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 15 19.33x
Foleshill 12 175.70x
Islington London 11 4.41x
Hinckley 9 132.94x
Kensington London 9 6.29x
Chesterfield 8 52.95x
Birmingham 7 3.23x
Cheltenham 7 17.96x
Hemel Hempstead 7 87.50x
Leicester St Margaret 7 10.05x
Steeple Claydon 7 933.33x
Barwell 6 397.35x
Clerkenwell London 6 9.87x
South Mimms 6 169.97x
Weston Super Mare 6 57.31x
Battersea 5 5.28x
Bicester Market End 5 171.23x
Earl Shilton 5 806.45x
Hartshill 5 1041.67x
Hethe 5 1515.15x
Lambeth 5 2.23x
Newington 5 5.26x
Oakham Deanshold 5 595.24x
Shenley 5 427.35x
Yoxall 5 434.78x
Alrewas 4 476.19x
Brentwood 4 129.03x
Burton Upon Trent 4 19.67x
Bushey 4 94.56x
Edingale 4 2500.00x
Fringford 4 1111.11x
Kings Sutton 4 370.37x
Leicester St Nicholas 4 246.91x
Nuneaton 4 53.19x
St Luke London 4 9.68x
Stratton Audley 4 1250.00x
Wolverhampton 4 5.98x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 15.47x
Edmonton 3 14.46x
Leicester All Sts 3 53.48x
Nottingham St Mary 3 3.34x
Drayton Bassett 2 512.82x
Hornsey 2 6.14x
Mancetter 2 106.95x
Newbottle 2 444.44x
Shoreditch London 2 1.79x
Southwark St Saviour 2 15.12x
Walsall Foreign 2 4.45x
Alvaston 1 86.96x
Ansley 1 136.99x
Banbury 1 31.45x
Barton St Mary St Peter 1 131.58x
Bishops Hull 1 74.63x
Branstone 1 114.94x
Burton Extra 1 20.08x
Camberwell 1 0.61x
Glen Parva 1 149.25x
Great Gaddesden 1 120.48x
Green Hammerton 1 384.62x
Horninglow 1 24.45x
Paddington London 1 1.06x
Portskewett 1 232.56x
Spalding 1 12.24x
Warkworth 1 45.87x
Yardley 1 11.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 15
Mary 12
Sarah 11
Emma 10
Ann 6
Louisa 6
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Lily 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlt. 1
Dorothy 1
Elisa 1
Elizebth 1
Emeline 1
Emily 1
Hester 1
Jessie 1
Magie 1
Margeret 1
Marianne 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
S.A. 1
Sabina 1
Selina 1
Sofia 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 12
James 9
Joseph 9
George 7
Thomas 6
Edward 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
David 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Luke 3
Walter 3
Alfd. 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Jim 2
Jno. 2
Oswald 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Barret 1
Ernest 1
Fredk.W. 1
Hiram 1
Howard 1
Hurbet 1
Jerimiah 1
Job 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Solomon 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Dagley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dagley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Dagley surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dagley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Dagley a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Dagley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "valley where people dwelled".

What does the Dagley map show?

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