NameCensus.

UK surname

Dalglish

A surname of Scottish origin meaning "dweller near a green meadow or valley."

In the 1881 census there were 546 people recorded with the Dalglish surname, ranking it #6,327 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 371, ranked #12,561, down from #6,327 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Paisley South East, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dalglish is 546 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.1%.

1881 census count

546

Ranked #6,327

Modern count

371

2016, ranked #12,561

Peak year

1881

546 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dalglish had 546 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,327 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016, ranked #12,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 546 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dalglish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dalglish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dalglish 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 481 #5,426
1881 historical 546 #6,327
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 461 #8,554
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 330 #12,701
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 337 #12,942
2000 modern 337 #12,901
2001 modern 330 #12,893
2002 modern 343 #12,803
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 329 #13,027
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 345 #12,571
2007 modern 342 #12,809
2008 modern 338 #13,044
2009 modern 357 #12,766
2010 modern 367 #12,775
2011 modern 364 #12,713
2012 modern 350 #12,965
2013 modern 365 #12,766
2014 modern 365 #12,853
2015 modern 374 #12,495
2016 modern 371 #12,561

Geography

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Where Dalglishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Paisley South East, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Birmingham, Kirkintilloch West and Northern and Irvine Valley Rural. 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 Rutherglen Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Paisley South East Renfrewshire
2 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
3 Birmingham 103 Birmingham
4 Kirkintilloch West East Dunbartonshire
5 Northern and Irvine Valley Rural East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dalglish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dalglish

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Dalglish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dalglish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dalglish is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dalglish is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dalglish 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 Dalglish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dalglish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dalglish

The surname Dalglish has its origins in Scotland, likely emerging in the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic phrase "dail ghlas," meaning "green meadow" or "green valley." This suggests that the name was originally a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near or owned a green meadow or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Register of the Priory of St. Andrews, where a "Thomas de Dalgleish" is mentioned in 1296. The spelling "Dalgleish" is an older variation of the modern "Dalglish," reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the Dalglish family was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, particularly around the town of Dalkeith. The name "Dalkeith" itself is believed to be derived from the same Gaelic roots as Dalglish, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the Scottish landscape.

Notable individuals with the surname Dalglish include Sir Robert Dalglish (1676-1734), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who founded the Dalglish School in Glasgow. Another prominent figure was General Sir John Dalglish (1784-1857), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War.

In the realm of sports, the name Dalglish is perhaps most famously associated with Sir Kenny Dalglish (born 1951), the Scottish football player and manager who had a highly successful career with Liverpool FC, both as a player and as a manager. He led Liverpool to numerous victories, including multiple league titles and European Cup triumphs.

Other notable individuals with the surname Dalglish include James Dalglish (1792-1857), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, and John Dalglish (1879-1938), a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers FC and the Scottish national team in the early 20th century.

While the Dalglish name has Scottish roots, its bearers have since spread across the globe, carrying the legacy of their surname's connection to the green meadows and valleys of their ancestral homeland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dalglish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dalglish 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. Lanarkshire leads with 239 Dalglishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.85x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 239 13.85x
Renfrewshire 57 13.78x
Lancashire 46 0.73x
Midlothian 25 3.50x
Stirlingshire 18 9.15x
Warwickshire 17 1.26x
Dumfriesshire 16 13.57x
Cheshire 15 1.27x
Dunbartonshire 13 9.07x
Ayrshire 12 3.01x
Northumberland 12 1.51x
Cumberland 11 2.39x
Argyllshire 9 6.06x
Middlesex 8 0.15x
Surrey 7 0.27x
Leicestershire 6 1.01x
Yorkshire 6 0.11x
West Lothian 5 6.22x
Clackmannanshire 4 9.08x
Isle of Man 4 4.04x
Fife 3 0.95x
Hampshire 3 0.27x
Roxburghshire 3 3.10x
Durham 2 0.13x
Perthshire 2 0.84x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Wigtownshire 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 62 Dalglishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.20x.

Place Total Index
Barony 62 14.20x
Glasgow 46 15.01x
Govan 39 9.14x
Eastwood 25 98.15x
Rutherglen 20 78.99x
Birmingham 13 2.90x
Campsie 13 120.37x
Hamilton 13 27.01x
Morpeth 12 128.48x
New Monkland 12 23.52x
Crawfordjohn 11 714.29x
Mearns 11 151.93x
Salford 11 5.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 3.48x
Ewes 10 1612.90x
Glassford 10 375.94x
Lanark 10 71.99x
Paisley Middle Church 10 41.53x
Broughton In Salford 9 15.55x
Claughton With Grange 8 149.25x
Dunoon Kilmun 8 69.08x
New Kilpatrick 8 58.65x
Workington 8 30.42x
Ardrossan 6 43.42x
Asfordby 6 612.24x
Bermondsey 6 3.78x
Gorton 6 10.08x
Avondale 5 49.55x
Bonhill 5 21.72x
Carlaverock 5 260.42x
Dalmellington 5 42.59x
Dalserf 5 29.04x
Gisburn 5 515.46x
Kirkliston 5 106.61x
Biggar 4 102.56x
Bowdon 4 85.65x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 28.43x
Halewood 4 117.99x
Neilston 4 19.27x
Onchan 4 14.02x
South Leith 4 4.97x
Temple 4 140.85x
Tillicoultry 4 40.82x
Toxteth Park 4 1.87x
West Derby 4 2.16x
Bubbenhall 3 625.00x
Caldewgate 3 11.92x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 20.23x
Inverkip 3 30.77x
St Marylebone London 3 1.05x
Radcliffe 2 6.55x
Scotforth 2 48.54x
Sunbury 2 31.20x
West Greenock 2 2.69x
Wilton 2 18.87x
Alva 1 10.65x
Baldock 1 28.90x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.73x
Bosley 1 136.99x
Cheltenham 1 1.24x
Chilworth 1 243.90x
Crieff 1 11.22x
Drymen 1 37.88x
East Greenock 1 2.56x
East Kilbride 1 13.53x
Hale 1 24.63x
Kensington London 1 0.34x
Kilmarnock 1 2.10x
Kirkdale 1 0.94x
Libberton 1 86.96x
Liverpool 1 0.26x
Lowestoft 1 3.26x
Ormskirk 1 8.25x
Paisley Low Church 1 7.64x
Portsmouth 1 3.97x
Potter Newton 1 10.72x
Rugby 1 5.49x
Stirling 1 4.03x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.41x
Whithorn 1 18.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Margaret 5
Jane 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Sarah 3
Ellen 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Abigal 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annabella 1
Anne 1
C.Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Elisabeth 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Hild 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Magdalen 1
Maggie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
N. 1
Sybilla 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dalglish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dalglish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 546 people were recorded with the Dalglish surname. That placed it at #6,327 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dalglish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 371 in 2016. That gives Dalglish a modern rank of #12,561.

What does the Dalglish surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin meaning "dweller near a green meadow or valley."

What does the Dalglish map show?

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