NameCensus.

UK surname

Dall

A locational surname referring to someone from a valley or dell.

In the 1881 census there were 562 people recorded with the Dall surname, ranking it #6,164 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 543, ranked #9,384, down from #6,164 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Kirkcaldy Templehall East and Glenrothes Woodside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dall is 940 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

562

Ranked #6,164

Modern count

543

2016, ranked #9,384

Peak year

1891

940 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dall had 562 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,164 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 543 in 2016, ranked #9,384.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 940 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dall 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 626 #4,140
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 562 #6,164
1891 historical 940 #4,404
1901 historical 802 #5,634
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 541 #9,044
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 533 #9,013
2002 modern 540 #9,103
2003 modern 534 #9,035
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 513 #9,276
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 515 #9,357
2008 modern 535 #9,155
2009 modern 548 #9,201
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 560 #9,130
2012 modern 535 #9,375
2013 modern 536 #9,535
2014 modern 547 #9,426
2015 modern 547 #9,353
2016 modern 543 #9,384

Geography

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Where Dalls are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Kirkcaldy Templehall East, Glenrothes Woodside, Chichester and Crossgates and Halbeath. 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 Cupar Fife
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Kennoway Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Kirkcaldy Templehall East Fife
3 Glenrothes Woodside Fife
4 Chichester 009 Chichester
5 Crossgates and Halbeath Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dall

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dall is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dall is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dall falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dall

The surname DALL originated in the English county of Yorkshire during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "dæl," meaning a valley or dale between hills. The earliest recorded spelling appears to be de Dalle, listed in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. This suggests the name referred to someone who lived in a valley or near a dale.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to various places like Dallacres and Dallington that may have contributed to the development of the surname. Place names with "dall" or "dale" were common in Yorkshire, lending further credence to the name's origins.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John de Dalle, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1317. Another early bearer was William del Dale, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Dall, Dalle, Dally, and Dalley. This was likely due to regional dialect variations and inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname DALL throughout history include:

1. John Dall (1598-1663), an English clergyman and author of several religious works. 2. Samuel Dall (1718-1798), an American Congregationalist minister and author from Massachusetts. 3. Caroline Healey Dall (1822-1912), an American author, transcendentalist, and advocate for women's rights. 4. William Dall (1845-1927), an American naturalist and paleontologist known for his contributions to the study of mollusks. 5. Marcus Dall (1888-1971), a British artist and illustrator best known for his book illustrations and botanical drawings.

The surname DALL has a long and storied history, with its roots firmly planted in the landscapes of Yorkshire and a connection to the Old English word for valley or dale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dall 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. Fife leads with 204 Dalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.00x.

County Total Index
Fife 204 64.00x
Midlothian 108 14.97x
Angus 68 13.63x
Middlesex 27 0.50x
Lanarkshire 24 1.38x
Lancashire 15 0.23x
Northumberland 12 1.50x
Cheshire 11 0.93x
Cambridgeshire 10 2.93x
Durham 10 0.62x
Hampshire 10 0.91x
Perthshire 9 3.72x
Surrey 9 0.34x
Warwickshire 6 0.44x
Herefordshire 5 2.26x
Sussex 5 0.55x
East Lothian 3 4.21x
Roxburghshire 3 3.08x
Clackmannanshire 2 4.50x
Denbighshire 2 0.98x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Orkney 1 1.69x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.58x
Renfrewshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 61 Dalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.02x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 61 21.02x
Wemyss 28 207.56x
Dundee 24 12.89x
Leslie 16 198.27x
Dunfermline 15 30.61x
Dysart 15 69.86x
Markinch 15 138.63x
Collessie 14 381.47x
Kennoway 14 482.76x
South Leith 13 16.02x
Cupar 12 86.58x
Forfar 12 44.43x
Govan 12 2.79x
Abdie 11 607.73x
Edinburgh St Johns 11 241.76x
Barnton 10 352.11x
Chesterton 10 95.06x
Abbotshall 8 67.17x
Elie 8 640.00x
Kilconquhar 8 211.08x
Kirriemuir 8 64.99x
St George In East London 8 15.79x
Barony 7 1.59x
Creich 7 985.92x
Freshwater 7 138.89x
Liff Benvie 7 9.24x
St Vigeans 7 25.99x
Aberdour 6 186.92x
Birmingham 6 1.33x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 42.80x
Fulwood 6 86.96x
Kirkcaldy 6 37.95x
Redgorton 6 223.88x
Tynemouth 6 13.98x
Almeley 5 450.45x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.64x
Bromley London 5 4.22x
Cramond 5 91.41x
Ferry Port On Craig 5 95.42x
Monikie 5 190.84x
Scoonie 5 72.46x
Temple 5 174.22x
Arbroath 4 24.20x
Bedlington 4 14.95x
Broadwater 4 19.21x
Gateshead 4 3.34x
Berwick North 3 60.00x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 17.59x
Maryhill 3 8.80x
Newburgh 3 74.07x
Newington 3 1.51x
North Leith 3 8.99x
Oldham 3 1.45x
Poplar London 3 2.95x
Portsea 3 1.39x
St Pancras London 3 0.69x
Acomb 2 102.56x
Battersea 2 1.01x
Bersham 2 23.04x
Ceres 2 52.22x
Falkland 2 39.92x
Glasgow 2 0.65x
Hawick 2 9.16x
Manchester 2 0.70x
St Marylebone London 2 0.70x
Willesden 2 3.94x
Aston By Sutton 1 188.68x
Dairsie 1 77.52x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 16.78x
Jedburgh 1 10.46x
Kemback 1 63.29x
Kirkwall St Ola 1 11.27x
Montrose 1 3.31x
Pembroke St Mary 1 4.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 0.92x
St Anne Soho London 1 3.25x
Tamworth 1 10.29x
Trinity Gask 1 136.99x
Worsley 1 2.54x
York St Cuthbert 1 20.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 6
Charles 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
George 3
James 3
Richard 3
William 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
W. 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Alexd. 1
August 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Johnson 1
Joseph 1
Lawrence 1
Nelson 1
Phillips 1
Raymar 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Dall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 562 people were recorded with the Dall surname. That placed it at #6,164 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 543 in 2016. That gives Dall a modern rank of #9,384.

What does the Dall surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a valley or dell.

What does the Dall map show?

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