NameCensus.

UK surname

Dakin

A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Deacon".

In the 1881 census there were 2,152 people recorded with the Dakin surname, ranking it #2,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,834, ranked #2,373, down from #2,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sileby, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Derby and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dakin is 2,940 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.7%.

1881 census count

2,152

Ranked #2,065

Modern count

2,834

2016, ranked #2,373

Peak year

2000

2,940 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dakin had 2,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,834 in 2016, ranked #2,373.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,926 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dakin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dakin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dakin 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 1,668 #1,727
1861 historical 1,487 #1,900
1881 historical 2,152 #2,065
1891 historical 2,227 #2,093
1901 historical 2,670 #2,067
1911 historical 2,926 #1,779
1997 modern 2,839 #2,279
1998 modern 2,919 #2,308
1999 modern 2,926 #2,317
2000 modern 2,940 #2,291
2001 modern 2,847 #2,306
2002 modern 2,915 #2,312
2003 modern 2,846 #2,307
2004 modern 2,835 #2,324
2005 modern 2,819 #2,307
2006 modern 2,806 #2,321
2007 modern 2,800 #2,333
2008 modern 2,791 #2,363
2009 modern 2,851 #2,363
2010 modern 2,927 #2,356
2011 modern 2,854 #2,384
2012 modern 2,819 #2,373
2013 modern 2,860 #2,378
2014 modern 2,887 #2,370
2015 modern 2,840 #2,385
2016 modern 2,834 #2,373

Geography

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Where Dakins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sileby, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Loughborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Derby, North West Leicestershire and Shropshire. 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 Sileby Leicestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Loughborough Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
2 Derby 007 Derby
3 Derbyshire Dales 004 Derbyshire Dales
4 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
5 Shropshire 025 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dakin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dakin

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dakin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dakin is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dakin falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dakin

The surname Dakin is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "dæge", meaning a servant or dairy worker. It emerged in the 12th century as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who worked with dairy products or were employed in households as servants or dairymaids.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dachinus" and "Dackinus". This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and was likely brought to England by Anglo-Saxon settlers centuries earlier.

Historically, the name Dakin was most prevalent in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, where dairy farming and cattle rearing were significant industries. The name's concentration in these areas reflects its occupational origins and the importance of dairy production in the local economies.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Daikyn", "Daykin", and "Daikin", reflecting the phonetic variations and regional accents of the time. These variations gradually solidified into the more standardized spelling of "Dakin" by the 16th century.

One notable historical figure bearing the name was Sir Henry Dakin (c. 1480-1552), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1537 and was knighted by King Henry VIII.

Another significant individual was Robert Dakin (1573-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1619 until his death. He was known for his scholarly works and contributions to the University of Cambridge.

In the literary realm, Eleanor Dakin (1879-1952) was a British author and playwright who wrote several novels and plays in the early 20th century. Her most notable work was the novel "The Blossom and the Fruit", published in 1924.

William Dakin (1835-1903) was a British architect and designer who played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts movement. He designed numerous buildings and interiors, including several churches and private residences in the UK.

Lastly, John Dakin (1806-1865) was a notable English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century. He was known for his skill as a right-arm fast bowler and is remembered as one of the early pioneers of the sport.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dakin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dakin 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. Derbyshire leads with 530 Dakins recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.16x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 530 16.16x
Lancashire 310 1.25x
Leicestershire 287 12.35x
Yorkshire 183 0.88x
Staffordshire 144 2.04x
Cheshire 143 3.09x
Middlesex 122 0.58x
Surrey 113 1.11x
Nottinghamshire 85 3.01x
Warwickshire 37 0.70x
Worcestershire 32 1.17x
Essex 21 0.51x
Suffolk 19 0.74x
Durham 17 0.27x
Montgomeryshire 13 2.71x
Lincolnshire 12 0.36x
Kent 10 0.14x
Merionethshire 9 2.35x
Norfolk 7 0.22x
Lanarkshire 6 0.09x
Northamptonshire 6 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.38x
Hampshire 4 0.09x
Sussex 4 0.11x
Wiltshire 4 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.24x
Glamorgan 3 0.08x
Shropshire 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.13x
Gloucestershire 2 0.05x
Hertfordshire 2 0.14x
Midlothian 2 0.07x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sileby in Leicestershire leads with 62 Dakins recorded in 1881 and an index of 423.21x.

Place Total Index
Sileby 62 423.21x
Leicester St Margaret 52 9.18x
Loughborough 47 44.58x
Derby St Alkmund 39 39.67x
Castle Donnington 33 171.25x
Camberwell 32 2.39x
Castleton 28 600.86x
Kegworth 27 174.87x
Burton Upon Trent 26 15.71x
Mickleover 26 256.66x
Stanton 26 475.32x
Barnsley 25 11.67x
Hurdsfield 25 87.84x
Derby St Peter 22 21.05x
Gorton 21 8.98x
Derby St Werburgh 20 10.56x
Nether Hallam 20 7.12x
Chelsea London 19 3.01x
Crumpsall 18 30.72x
Little Bolton 18 5.63x
Newington 18 2.33x
Aston 17 1.17x
Heap 17 12.89x
Manchester 17 1.52x
Nottingham St Mary 16 2.19x
Hemington 15 549.45x
Hyde 14 10.26x
Ince In Makerfield 14 12.10x
Leeds 14 1.19x
Mayfield 14 158.19x
St Pancras London 14 0.83x
Wirksworth 14 46.95x
Bermondsey 13 2.08x
Bolsover 13 79.03x
Brassington 13 262.63x
Lambeth 13 0.71x
Hindley 12 11.32x
Islington London 12 0.59x
Lavenham 12 89.89x
Repton 12 96.77x
Rushton Spencer 12 489.80x
Sutton On Trent 12 173.16x
Wormhill 12 174.93x
Blackden 11 1078.43x
Elton 11 297.30x
Fairfield 11 50.14x
Kidderminster Borough 11 6.87x
Kirk Langley 11 225.41x
Lathom 11 36.64x
Low Leyton 11 295.70x
South Normanton 11 47.72x
Westleigh 11 19.48x
Biddulph 10 25.06x
Dukinfield 10 4.68x
Hampstead London 10 3.06x
Leicester Black Friars 10 66.14x
Matlock 10 22.70x
Morley 10 9.26x
Alvaston 9 96.26x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.99x
Bradwell 9 122.62x
Chapel En Le Frith 9 30.05x
Hartington Nether 9 330.88x
Leicester St Mary 9 4.79x
Lichfield St Mary 9 44.12x
Llanidloes 9 25.29x
Llanycil 9 43.67x
Parwich 9 267.06x
Sharlston 9 66.08x
Snenton 9 8.11x
Tibshelf 9 55.90x
Tottenham 9 2.70x
Wollaston 9 51.84x
Wombwell 9 14.87x
Barugh 8 45.61x
Bolton In Bradford 8 60.11x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 5.07x
Newton 8 111.58x
Ollerton 8 386.47x
Poulton With Fearnhead 8 150.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 174
Elizabeth 91
Sarah 88
Ann 60
Eliza 49
Hannah 46
Alice 36
Ellen 34
Martha 33
Annie 28
Jane 28
Emma 27
Emily 24
Harriett 17
Fanny 15
Clara 14
Harriet 13
Maria 13
Louisa 12
Ada 10
Anne 10
Catherine 10
Lucy 10
Caroline 9
Charlotte 9
Edith 9
Elizth. 8
Margaret 8
Ruth 8
Agnes 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Lydia 6
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Julia 5
Matilda 5
Priscilla 5
Rose 5
Susannah 5
Amy 4
Gertrude 4
Jessie 4
Olive 4
Sophia 4
Henrietta 3
Maud 3
Nancy 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 147
William 135
George 95
Thomas 91
Joseph 62
James 59
Samuel 39
Henry 35
Charles 34
Arthur 21
Edward 17
Alfred 16
Robert 16
Walter 14
Albert 13
Herbert 11
Frederick 10
Richard 10
Harry 9
Edwin 8
Francis 7
Frank 7
Isaac 7
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Frederic 6
Thos. 6
David 5
Edmund 5
Fred 5
Willm. 5
Wm. 5
Anthony 3
Daniel 3
Geo. 3
Peter 3
Fredk. 2
Howard 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Levi 2
Michael 2
Paul 2
Philip 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Wallace 2
Wm 2
Alexander 1

FAQ

Dakin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dakin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,152 people were recorded with the Dakin surname. That placed it at #2,065 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dakin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,834 in 2016. That gives Dakin a modern rank of #2,373.

What does the Dakin surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Deacon".

What does the Dakin map show?

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