NameCensus.

UK surname

Dahl

From a Norwegian place name, or an occupational surname referring to a person living in a valley.

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Dahl surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 327, ranked #13,868, up from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Putney, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Waltham Forest and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dahl is 330 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 554.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

327

2016, ranked #13,868

Peak year

2014

330 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dahl had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016, ranked #13,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dahl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dahl surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dahl 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 260 #14,880
1998 modern 277 #14,646
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 268 #15,018
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 272 #14,930
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 266 #15,076
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 294 #14,798
2012 modern 306 #14,327
2013 modern 319 #14,141
2014 modern 330 #13,889
2015 modern 328 #13,840
2016 modern 327 #13,868

Geography

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Where Dahls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Putney, London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Waltham Forest, Northumberland, Flintshire 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 Putney London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Waltham Forest 004 Waltham Forest
3 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
4 Flintshire 015 Flintshire
5 Liverpool 007 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dahl

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dahl

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Dahl surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dahl 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Dahl is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dahl 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

Dahl falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dahl

The surname DAHL has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway and Sweden. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "dalr," which means "valley" or "dale." This suggests that the name was initially given to people who lived in or near a valley or a valley-like area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name DAHL can be traced back to the 13th century in medieval Scandinavian records and documents. One notable example is the mention of a person named Thorvald Dahl in the Icelandic Annals from the year 1257.

In the 14th century, the name DAHL appeared in various forms, such as Dael, Daell, and Dael, in Norwegian and Swedish records. This variation in spelling was common during that time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The name DAHL has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest and most famous was Nils Dahl, a Norwegian bishop and scholar who lived from 1508 to 1589. He played a significant role in the reformation of the Church of Norway and was also known for his work in translating the Bible into Norwegian.

Another prominent figure with the surname DAHL was Johan Christian Clausen Dahl, a Norwegian painter born in 1788. He is considered one of the founders of the Norwegian romantic nationalist painting tradition and is renowned for his landscape paintings depicting the Norwegian countryside.

In the literary world, Roald Dahl, the famous British author, was born in 1916 to Norwegian parents. His works, such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Matilda," and "The BFG," have captivated generations of readers worldwide.

Moving to the 20th century, Ingrid Dahl, a Swedish actress born in 1912, gained international recognition for her roles in several Hollywood films, including "Casablanca" and "Gaslight." She was also known for her philanthropic work and her advocacy for various causes.

Additionally, the surname DAHL has been associated with several historical places and locations. For instance, the Dahl Township in Minnesota, United States, was named after a Norwegian settler named Hans Dahl, who was one of the first pioneers in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dahl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dahl 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. Surrey leads with 15 Dahls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.31x.

County Total Index
Surrey 15 6.31x
Middlesex 12 2.46x
Lancashire 8 1.38x
Durham 5 3.45x
Aberdeenshire 1 2.21x
Cheshire 1 0.93x
Fife 1 3.47x
Gloucestershire 1 1.05x
Kent 1 0.60x
Midlothian 1 1.53x
Monmouthshire 1 2.84x
Stirlingshire 1 5.56x
Warwickshire 1 0.81x
Yorkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Dahls recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.77x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 8 22.77x
Putney 8 360.36x
St Pancras London 4 10.19x
Weybridge 4 784.31x
Gateshead 3 27.62x
Poplar London 2 21.74x
St Marylebone London 2 7.68x
Westoe 2 24.33x
Birmingham 1 2.44x
Clapham 1 16.39x
Cupar 1 79.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.81x
Gloucester 1 3333.33x
Grangemouth 1 5000.00x
Hackney London 1 3.66x
Hampton London 1 125.00x
Holy Trinity 1 8.61x
Lambeth 1 2.35x
Morden 1 833.33x
Newport 1 59.52x
Peterhead 1 41.84x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 80.65x
St George Hanover Square 1 11.64x
Strood 1 105.26x
Tottenham 1 12.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alethe 2
Ann 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Auguste 1
Camilla 1
Caroline 1
D. 1
Eliza 1
Gertrude 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Roberta 1
Sarah 1
Sine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Asmus 1
Carl 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
G.C. 1
George 1
Hy.Taylor 1
Jesse 1
Johan 1
Loren 1
Maurice 1
Melkor 1
Mentz 1
Ole 1
Oscar 1
Robert 1
Robt.A. 1
Willm. 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 Dahl households.

FAQ

Dahl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dahl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Dahl surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dahl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016. That gives Dahl a modern rank of #13,868.

What does the Dahl surname mean?

From a Norwegian place name, or an occupational surname referring to a person living in a valley.

What does the Dahl map show?

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