UK surname
A surname possibly derived from an Old French place name "Daine" or "Dayne".
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Dains surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bocking, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dains is 182 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.7%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
182 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dains surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dains surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 161 | #12,288 |
| 1861 | historical | 182 | #12,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 157 | #17,778 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bocking, London parishes, Lambeth, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Ridgwell, Stamborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bocking | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John | Norfolk |
| 5 | Ridgwell, Stamborne | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dains surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dains, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dains surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dains household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dains is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dains is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dains, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dains has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dene," which means a valley or a hollow. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in or near a valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dains can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. The Hundred Rolls mention a John de la Dene, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name Dains.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records and documents, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1386, which mentions a William Dene. The Feet of Fines were records of land transactions and property disputes, indicating that people with this surname were landowners or involved in legal matters related to land.
The surname Dains has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Deans and Deane, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time. For example, in the 16th century, there was a notable individual named Sir James Deane (c. 1510-1607), who was a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament.
Another notable figure with the surname Dains was Richard Deane (1610-1653), an English colonial administrator and military officer who served as a major general during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was involved in the government of the colony.
In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the surname Dains was Silas Deane (1737-1789), an American merchant and politician who served as a diplomat and played a crucial role in securing French support during the American Revolutionary War.
Another notable figure from the 19th century was Charles Deane (1813-1888), an American historian and bibliographer who was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and contributed significantly to the preservation of historical records and documents.
It is worth noting that while the surname Dains has been recorded in various historical documents and associated with notable individuals, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to some other English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dains surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 32 Dains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 32 | 16.79x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.87x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 6.74x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.05x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 4.61x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 5.10x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.28x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.52x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 4.91x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.04x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.91x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.82x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.70x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Foulness in Essex leads with 11 Dains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4782.61x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Foulness | 11 | 4782.61x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 10 | 116.01x |
| Leeds | 9 | 16.66x |
| Stambourne | 9 | 6428.57x |
| Heigham | 6 | 75.28x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 6 | 17.83x |
| Denston | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 4 | 20.59x |
| Widford | 4 | 4000.00x |
| Bocking | 3 | 260.87x |
| Cheveley | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Gateshead | 3 | 13.95x |
| Lakenham | 3 | 142.18x |
| Aston | 2 | 2.98x |
| Birdbrook | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.24x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 20.39x |
| Toppesfield | 2 | 714.29x |
| Bawdsey | 1 | 714.29x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.44x |
| Ellesmere Trench | 1 | 909.09x |
| Great Massingham | 1 | 344.83x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.07x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 5.69x |
| Little Wakering | 1 | 909.09x |
| Nantwich | 1 | 40.32x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.39x |
| Soothill | 1 | 28.90x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.94x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 6.50x |
| Trimley St Mary | 1 | 714.29x |
| Westgate | 1 | 11.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dains surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dains surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dains households.
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Dains surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Dains a modern rank of #36,189.
A surname possibly derived from an Old French place name "Daine" or "Dayne".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dains bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.