NameCensus.

UK surname

Dalling

A habitational name for someone from a place named Dalling in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 391 people recorded with the Dalling surname, ranking it #8,090 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, down from #8,090 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington, Swansea and Bathgate, Wester Inch and Inchcross.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dalling is 457 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.9%.

1881 census count

391

Ranked #8,090

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

1998

457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dalling had 391 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,090 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 447 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dalling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dalling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dalling 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 279 #8,067
1861 historical 315 #8,071
1881 historical 391 #8,090
1891 historical 415 #8,610
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 282 #11,915
1997 modern 448 #10,113
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 451 #10,435
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 420 #10,811
2002 modern 427 #10,900
2003 modern 404 #11,191
2004 modern 407 #11,135
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 401 #11,237
2007 modern 413 #11,100
2008 modern 418 #11,083
2009 modern 426 #11,146
2010 modern 440 #11,101
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 430 #11,065
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 430 #11,323
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Dallings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Govan Combination and Swimbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington, Swansea and Bathgate, Wester Inch and Inchcross. 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 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Swimbridge Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington Renfrewshire
2 Swansea 021 Swansea
3 Swansea 009 Swansea
4 Bathgate, Wester Inch and Inchcross West Lothian
5 Swansea 019 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dalling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dalling

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dalling, 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 Dalling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dalling 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dalling 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

Dalling is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dalling falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dalling

The surname Dalling originated in England and is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a town in Norfolk called Dalling. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "dæl" meaning "valley" and "ing" meaning "people of," suggesting that the name refers to people living in the valley.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the surname Dalling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. This record indicates that the name was already established in Norfolk by the 11th century.

During the medieval period, the surname Dalling appeared in various records and documents, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Dallyng, Dallynge, and Dalinge. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling during that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Dalling was Sir Robert Dalling, who served as the Mayor of Norwich, England, in 1568. Another prominent individual was John Dalling, born in 1695, who was a renowned composer and organist in London during the early 18th century.

Moving forward to the 18th century, William Dalling, born in 1738, was a renowned English engraver and sculptor known for his work on architectural designs and medallions. In the 19th century, Henry Dalling, born in 1818, was a prominent British artist and painter, best known for his landscape and coastal scenes.

Another notable individual with the surname Dalling was Sir Maurice Dalling, born in 1870, who was a distinguished British diplomat and served as the Ambassador to Mexico from 1919 to 1923.

The surname Dalling has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Dalling Field and Dalling Green, both located in Norfolk, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dalling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dalling 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. Devon leads with 86 Dallings recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.45x.

County Total Index
Devon 86 11.45x
Lanarkshire 53 4.54x
Kirkcudbrightshire 39 74.64x
Middlesex 38 1.05x
Glamorgan 30 4.77x
Surrey 25 1.42x
Peeblesshire 19 111.90x
Lancashire 11 0.26x
West Lothian 11 20.24x
Midlothian 10 2.07x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.85x
Yorkshire 9 0.25x
Ayrshire 7 2.59x
Gloucestershire 6 0.85x
Kinross-shire 6 65.79x
Dumfriesshire 4 5.02x
Kent 3 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.36x
Stirlingshire 1 0.75x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 23 Dallings recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.64x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 23 44.64x
Swimbridge 22 1447.37x
Barnstaple 21 178.12x
Govan 21 7.27x
Kelton 17 396.27x
Old Monkland 14 30.22x
Peebles 13 258.96x
Bermondsey 11 10.24x
Crawford 11 504.59x
Bathgate 10 84.75x
Ilfracombe 10 129.37x
Shoreditch London 10 6.39x
Wear Gifford 10 1818.18x
Buittle 9 731.71x
Hackney London 9 4.45x
Sculcoates 8 14.11x
Balmaghie 7 608.70x
Kirkdale 7 9.72x
Southwark Christchurch 7 41.40x
St Quivox 7 76.67x
Bishops Tawton 6 256.41x
Bristol St Paul In 6 31.81x
Islington London 6 1.72x
Kinross 6 191.69x
Liberton 6 80.43x
Pettinain 6 1363.64x
East Stonehouse 5 33.78x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.97x
Clerkenwell London 4 4.70x
Glenholm 4 1379.31x
Newington 4 3.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 6.91x
Woodborough 4 363.64x
Camberwell 3 1.30x
Cardiff St Mary 3 8.67x
Colvend 3 188.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.54x
Greenwich 3 5.22x
Kensington London 3 1.50x
Moffat 3 82.42x
Roath 3 10.51x
South Molton 3 72.64x
Bideford 2 24.84x
Chelsea London 2 1.84x
Liverpool 2 0.77x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 3.00x
Berry Pomeroy 1 80.00x
Borgue 1 71.43x
Brighton 1 0.81x
Bulkworthy 1 714.29x
Clovelly 1 102.04x
Dalbeattie 1 5000.00x
Dumfries 1 12.72x
Eddleston 1 113.64x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 8.74x
Falkirk 1 3.21x
Hornsey 1 2.19x
Innerleithen 1 22.17x
Kells 1 83.33x
Libberton 1 129.87x
Poplar London 1 1.47x
Port Glasgow 1 7.40x
St Mary Extra 1 16.81x
St Marylebone London 1 0.52x
St Pancras London 1 0.34x
Toxteth Park 1 0.69x
West Derby 1 0.80x
Whitburn 1 12.74x
Ystradyfodwg 1 1.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 7
Jane 6
Emily 5
Emma 5
Ann 4
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
A. 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
C. 1
Carrie 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Elizth. 1
Elou. 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Rosc... 1
Sally 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 13
Thomas 13
James 7
Charles 5
George 4
Henry 4
Chas. 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Tobias 2
Willie 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Ambrose 1
David 1
E. 1
E.R. 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Jno. 1
Jo. 1
Levi 1
Nathaniel 1
S.G. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Tommy 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.F.J. 1

FAQ

Dalling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dalling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 391 people were recorded with the Dalling surname. That placed it at #8,090 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dalling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Dalling a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Dalling surname mean?

A habitational name for someone from a place named Dalling in Norfolk, England.

What does the Dalling map show?

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