NameCensus.

UK surname

Dagnall

A locational surname derived from a place named Dagnall in Buckinghamshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 648 people recorded with the Dagnall surname, ranking it #5,507 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 831, ranked #6,699, down from #5,507 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Liverpool and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Wirral and Vale of White Horse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dagnall is 940 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

648

Ranked #5,507

Modern count

831

2016, ranked #6,699

Peak year

2000

940 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dagnall had 648 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,507 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 831 in 2016, ranked #6,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 939 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dagnall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dagnall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dagnall 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 648 #5,507
1891 historical 744 #5,353
1901 historical 873 #5,251
1911 historical 939 #4,779
1997 modern 925 #5,838
1998 modern 931 #5,999
1999 modern 936 #6,022
2000 modern 940 #5,980
2001 modern 933 #5,899
2002 modern 923 #6,079
2003 modern 868 #6,239
2004 modern 877 #6,215
2005 modern 866 #6,215
2006 modern 861 #6,255
2007 modern 864 #6,297
2008 modern 867 #6,315
2009 modern 878 #6,392
2010 modern 908 #6,348
2011 modern 878 #6,453
2012 modern 827 #6,666
2013 modern 842 #6,688
2014 modern 840 #6,722
2015 modern 837 #6,684
2016 modern 831 #6,699

Geography

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Where Dagnalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Liverpool, West Derby, Warrington and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Wirral, Vale of White Horse, Bolton and Liverpool. 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 3
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 001 St. Helens
2 Wirral 029 Wirral
3 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
4 Bolton 028 Bolton
5 Liverpool 011 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dagnall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dagnall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dagnall, 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 Dagnall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dagnall 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, Dagnall 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

Dagnall is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dagnall falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dagnall

The surname Dagnall originated in England, specifically in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dene," meaning a valley, and "halh," meaning a nook or corner, thus suggesting the name refers to someone who lived in a secluded valley.

Records indicate that the name has been present in these regions since at least the 13th century. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a William de Denehale residing in Buckinghamshire.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared with various spellings, such as Denehal, Denehall, and Denhale, reflecting the localized pronunciation and spelling variations of the time. The modern spelling of Dagnall seems to have emerged around the 16th century.

The Dagnall surname is also associated with several place names in England, particularly the village of Dagnall in Buckinghamshire and the hamlet of Dagnall End in Hertfordshire. These locations likely served as the original homesteads of families bearing this surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Dagnall throughout history include:

1. John Dagnall (c. 1490-1545), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in the 16th century.

2. William Dagnall (c. 1580-1662), a prominent landowner and local magistrate in Buckinghamshire during the 17th century.

3. Sarah Dagnall (1664-1716), an English Quaker minister and writer who published several religious tracts and sermons.

4. Thomas Dagnall (1775-1855), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent figure in local politics in Hertfordshire.

5. John Dagnall (1878-1941), a British architect known for his work on several notable churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the Dagnall surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the rural landscapes of Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, dating back centuries and continuing to be associated with these regions to this day.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dagnall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dagnall 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. Lancashire leads with 457 Dagnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 457 6.08x
Middlesex 61 0.96x
Surrey 37 1.20x
Cheshire 27 1.93x
Kent 17 0.79x
Yorkshire 13 0.21x
Warwickshire 10 0.63x
Durham 8 0.42x
Essex 6 0.48x
Hampshire 6 0.46x
Staffordshire 3 0.14x
Cumberland 2 0.37x
Devon 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 111 Dagnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.64x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 111 124.64x
Prescot 30 220.75x
Eccleston In Prescot 29 76.90x
Bickerstaffe 20 406.50x
Windle 19 44.95x
Liverpool 18 3.95x
Rainford 18 221.67x
Kensington London 17 4.83x
Great Bolton 15 15.08x
Oldham 15 6.19x
Farnworth 14 31.10x
West Derby 14 6.37x
Everton 13 5.43x
Pilkington 13 45.55x
Sutton 13 51.61x
Widnes 13 23.99x
Battersea 12 5.15x
Much Woolton 11 107.95x
Aston 10 2.27x
Harrow 10 103.31x
Little Bolton 9 9.32x
Walton On Hill 9 22.11x
Wandsworth 9 14.77x
Denaby 8 225.35x
Islington London 8 1.30x
Paddington London 8 3.44x
Plumstead 8 11.11x
Toxteth Park 8 3.14x
Woolwich 8 10.03x
Birkenhead 7 6.28x
Bromley London 7 5.03x
Camberwell 7 1.73x
Parr 7 26.04x
Wavertree 7 29.11x
Tranmere 6 11.68x
West Ham 6 2.17x
Harpurhey 5 47.94x
Latchford 5 53.88x
North Meols 5 6.80x
Reigate Foreign 5 14.97x
Ryde 5 17.93x
Sharples 5 61.35x
Broughton In Salford 4 5.82x
Cowley 4 370.37x
Flixton 4 103.90x
Fulham London 4 4.36x
Huyton With Roby 4 45.45x
Manchester 4 1.18x
Westoe 4 3.75x
Croydon 3 1.75x
Gateshead 3 2.13x
Hulme 3 1.91x
Kirkdale 3 2.37x
Mayfield 3 112.36x
Oxton 3 37.97x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.35x
Stockport 3 4.17x
Ashton In Makerfield 2 9.35x
Bury 2 2.33x
Egremont 2 15.38x
Gorton 2 2.83x
Runcorn 2 6.21x
Salford 2 0.91x
Ecclesfield 1 2.17x
Epsom 1 6.65x
Hammersmith London 1 0.64x
High Bickington 1 67.11x
Kearsley 1 6.33x
Liscard 1 3.97x
Middleton In Oldham 1 4.44x
Radcliffe 1 2.76x
Royal Navy 1 1.55x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 7.67x
St Mary Woolnoth London 1 333.33x
Stranton 1 1.58x
Wakefield 1 2.08x
Walmer 1 10.65x
York Holy Trinity 1 18.45x
York St Mary Castlegate 1 54.35x
York St Maurice 1 8.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 58
Elizabeth 33
Margaret 25
Sarah 22
Ann 19
Jane 17
Ellen 15
Emma 12
Eliza 10
Alice 9
Annie 8
Catherine 8
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Ada 4
Anne 4
Maud 4
Caroline 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Isabella 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Fleetwood 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2
Mildred 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Constance 1
Deborah 1
Eliz. 1
Ellenor 1
Elsie 1
Henrietta 1
J.M.I.E. 1
K. 1
Lavinia 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
James 34
John 27
Thomas 24
George 21
Henry 20
Joseph 14
Richard 13
Daniel 12
Charles 9
Alfred 7
Frederick 5
Frank 4
Michael 4
Patrick 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Josiah 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
J. 2
David 1
Denis 1
Dominic 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Elizabeth 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Johesph 1
Joshua 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
W. 1
W.B. 1

FAQ

Dagnall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dagnall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 648 people were recorded with the Dagnall surname. That placed it at #5,507 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dagnall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 831 in 2016. That gives Dagnall a modern rank of #6,699.

What does the Dagnall surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Dagnall in Buckinghamshire, England.

What does the Dagnall map show?

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