NameCensus.

UK surname

Dalgetty

A locational surname referring to someone from the Scottish town of Dalgetty.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Dalgetty surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 236, ranked #17,470, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Ayton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearns and Laurencekirk, Black Isle North and Black Isle South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dalgetty is 236 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 140.8%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

2016

236 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dalgetty had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Dalgetty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dalgetty surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dalgetty 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 211 #17,376
2002 modern 212 #17,651
2003 modern 206 #17,799
2004 modern 216 #17,331
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 208 #17,835
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 222 #17,442
2009 modern 228 #17,486
2010 modern 229 #17,805
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 225 #18,142
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Dalgettys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Ayton, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Brechin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearns and Laurencekirk, Black Isle North, Black Isle South, Muir of Ord and Loanhead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Ayton Berwick
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Brechin Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearns and Laurencekirk Aberdeenshire
2 Black Isle North Highland
3 Black Isle South Highland
4 Muir of Ord Highland
5 Loanhead Midlothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dalgetty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dalgetty

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Dalgetty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Dalgetty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dalgetty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dalgetty is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dalgetty 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 Dalgetty 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 Dalgetty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dalgetty

The surname Dalgetty originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the lands of Dalgetty in Fife. The name Dalgetty itself is believed to stem from the Gaelic words "dail" meaning "field" or "haugh" and "geitie" meaning "little goat".

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Dalgetty can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One entry reads "Patrik de Dalgety".

In the 15th century, a prominent member of the Dalgetty family was Robert Dalgetty, who was appointed as Constable of Dumbarton Castle in 1455. His son, also named Robert Dalgetty, served as a member of the Scottish Parliament in the late 1400s.

During the 16th century, the Dalgetty surname appears in various historical records, such as the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. In 1536, a man named James Dalgetty is mentioned as receiving a grant of land in Fife.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Dalgetty was Captain Dugald Dalgetty, a fictional character created by Sir Walter Scott in his novel "A Legend of Montrose" (1819). This character, a mercenary soldier, has become a literary figure associated with the surname.

Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Dalgetty (1780-1851), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the General Register House and the New College of the University of Edinburgh.

John Dalgetty (1835-1907), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the city of Aberdeen, including the establishment of the Dalgetty Library and Dalgetty Art Gallery.

In the 20th century, Sir Graeme Dalgetty (1891-1971) served as a distinguished British Army officer and was awarded the Military Cross for his service during World War I.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Dalgetty throughout history, with its roots firmly planted in the Scottish landscape and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dalgetty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dalgetty 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. Angus leads with 37 Dalgettys recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.78x.

County Total Index
Angus 37 41.78x
Midlothian 15 11.71x
Selkirkshire 11 127.17x
Lanarkshire 8 2.59x
Essex 7 3.71x
Kincardineshire 7 60.14x
Aberdeenshire 4 4.52x
Stirlingshire 4 11.34x
Perthshire 2 4.66x
Argyllshire 1 3.76x
Roxburghshire 1 5.78x
Surrey 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. Brechin in Angus leads with 12 Dalgettys recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.83x.

Place Total Index
Brechin 12 344.83x
Galashiels 11 343.75x
St Vigeans 10 209.21x
Dalkeith 9 355.73x
Montrose 8 148.98x
West Ham 7 16.80x
Bervie 6 869.57x
Glasgow 6 10.93x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 7.76x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 18.12x
Stirling 3 67.42x
Govan 2 2.62x
Liff Benvie 2 14.88x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 5.41x
Arbroath 1 34.13x
Blairgowrie 1 58.82x
Camberwell 1 1.64x
Campbeltown 1 31.15x
Dundee 1 3.02x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 40.16x
Fetteresso 1 54.95x
Forfar 1 20.83x
Jedburgh 1 58.82x
Logie Pert 1 303.03x
Perth East Church 1 24.75x
South Leith 1 6.94x
St Ninians 1 28.65x
Tannadice 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Henry 1
John 1
Robert 1
Walter 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 Dalgetty households.

FAQ

Dalgetty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dalgetty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Dalgetty surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dalgetty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Dalgetty a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Dalgetty surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the Scottish town of Dalgetty.

What does the Dalgetty map show?

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