NameCensus.

UK surname

Daines

A surname derived from the Old French "dene" meaning a valley or valley dweller.

In the 1881 census there were 707 people recorded with the Daines surname, ranking it #5,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,077, ranked #5,421, down from #5,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Harling, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Pembrokeshire and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daines is 1,238 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.3%.

1881 census count

707

Ranked #5,139

Modern count

1,077

2016, ranked #5,421

Peak year

1998

1,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Daines had 707 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,077 in 2016, ranked #5,421.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,211 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Daines surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Daines surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Daines 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 449 #5,493
1861 historical 564 #4,667
1881 historical 707 #5,139
1891 historical 864 #4,747
1901 historical 1,036 #4,616
1911 historical 1,211 #3,895
1997 modern 1,191 #4,738
1998 modern 1,238 #4,755
1999 modern 1,235 #4,797
2000 modern 1,220 #4,828
2001 modern 1,209 #4,771
2002 modern 1,205 #4,886
2003 modern 1,159 #4,948
2004 modern 1,132 #5,067
2005 modern 1,129 #5,021
2006 modern 1,114 #5,091
2007 modern 1,119 #5,112
2008 modern 1,095 #5,239
2009 modern 1,114 #5,265
2010 modern 1,144 #5,265
2011 modern 1,102 #5,363
2012 modern 1,082 #5,362
2013 modern 1,087 #5,429
2014 modern 1,105 #5,375
2015 modern 1,084 #5,411
2016 modern 1,077 #5,421

Geography

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Where Daines' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Harling, East, Toppesfield and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Pembrokeshire, Waveney and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Harling, East Norfolk
4 Toppesfield Essex
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 001 Braintree
2 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
3 Waveney 003 Waveney
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 013 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Waveney 011 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Daines

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Daines

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Daines, 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 Daines surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Daines 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, Daines 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

Daines is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Daines falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Daines

The surname Daines is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "denu" and "ing," which collectively translate to "dweller in the valley." This suggests that the name's bearers may have originally resided in or near a valley or a secluded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dating back to 1195, where a certain William Daines is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1275 make reference to a John de Denes, with the spelling variation reflecting the regional dialect of the time.

Interestingly, the Daines surname also appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. This historical document records a landowner named Danus, which could potentially be an early variation of the surname.

In the 16th century, records indicate that the Daines family had established a presence in the county of Hertfordshire, where they held lands and properties. One notable figure from this era was Sir William Daines (1504-1579), a prominent member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire.

Later, in the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Sir John Daines (1615-1680), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Parliamentarian cause before later switching allegiances to the Royalists.

Another influential figure bearing the Daines surname was Robert Daines (1710-1767), an English antiquary and topographer. He is best known for his work on the history and antiquities of Gloucestershire, contributing significantly to the preservation of local heritage.

During the 19th century, the name was associated with the famous English novelist and playwright, Dion Daines (1826-1901). He gained recognition for his works, which included novels such as "The Falsehood of Lady Golding" and plays like "The Unfaithful Husband."

Throughout its history, the Daines surname has been linked to various locations and place names, such as Daines Nook in Derbyshire and Daines Close in Gloucestershire. These place names may have originated from the Daines family's presence or ownership of lands in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Daines families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daines 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. Norfolk leads with 185 Daines' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.40x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 185 17.40x
Middlesex 130 1.88x
Essex 129 9.45x
Suffolk 55 6.53x
Cambridgeshire 45 10.27x
Surrey 39 1.16x
Kent 34 1.44x
Yorkshire 22 0.32x
Gloucestershire 7 0.52x
Leicestershire 7 0.91x
Bedfordshire 6 1.68x
Durham 6 0.29x
Lancashire 6 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.64x
Sussex 6 0.51x
Lincolnshire 5 0.45x
Staffordshire 4 0.17x
Wiltshire 4 0.65x
Northamptonshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 2.43x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Denbighshire 1 0.38x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Renfrewshire 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 34 Daines' recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.57x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 34 59.57x
Kirtling 32 1649.48x
Toppesfield 22 1078.43x
Hackney London 17 4.38x
Ratcliffe London 15 39.28x
Grundisburgh 14 717.95x
Mattishall 14 657.28x
Norwich St Lawrence 14 965.52x
Chatham 13 20.02x
St Marylebone London 12 3.25x
Burnham Westgate 11 480.35x
Downham Market 11 150.48x
Milton In Gravesend 11 31.08x
Fulham London 10 9.97x
Sandon 10 909.09x
Bocking 9 109.62x
East Harling 9 357.14x
Great Baddow 9 185.19x
Newington 9 3.52x
Ovington 9 2903.23x
Shoreditch London 9 3.00x
Wethersfield 9 261.63x
Carlton Colville 8 258.90x
Great Yeldham 8 563.38x
Hampstead London 8 7.43x
Tacolnestone 8 761.90x
Islington London 7 1.04x
Lambeth 7 1.16x
Paddington London 7 2.75x
Ranworth 7 985.92x
Tibenham 7 466.67x
Woodbridge 7 65.00x
Besthorpe 6 517.24x
Biggleswade 6 51.15x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.70x
Camberwell 6 1.36x
Dullingham 6 304.57x
Eston 6 40.19x
Newton Cap 6 188.09x
North Cove 6 1090.91x
Tottenham 6 5.45x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.66x
Braintree 5 40.78x
Bunwell 5 245.10x
Canvey Island 5 757.58x
Carlton In Lindrick 5 201.61x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.06x
Folkestone 5 10.92x
Hammersmith London 5 2.93x
Holme Hale 5 515.46x
Norwich St Saviour 5 134.05x
Preston Next Faversham 5 90.09x
South Shoebury 5 91.24x
St Luke London 5 4.51x
Steeple Bumpstead 5 200.00x
Battersea 4 1.57x
Chatteris 4 35.78x
Chigwell 4 31.03x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.14x
Manningham 4 4.74x
Nether Hallam 4 4.31x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 4 61.82x
Rickinghall Inferior 4 459.77x
Shevington 4 106.67x
St Lawrence Newland 4 800.00x
Streatham 4 7.80x
Swaffham 4 46.24x
Swindon 4 8.43x
Threxton 4 2105.26x
Ashby St Mary 3 638.30x
Bowers Gifford 3 638.30x
Burton Upon Trent 3 5.49x
Chedgrave 3 340.91x
Feltham 3 43.42x
Great Yarmouth 3 3.41x
New Sleaford 3 42.31x
Norwich St Julian 3 66.96x
South Weald 3 25.66x
Southchurch 3 238.10x
Thelnetham 3 322.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Daines surname: questions and answers

How common was the Daines surname in 1881?

In 1881, 707 people were recorded with the Daines surname. That placed it at #5,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Daines surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,077 in 2016. That gives Daines a modern rank of #5,421.

What does the Daines surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French "dene" meaning a valley or valley dweller.

What does the Daines map show?

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