NameCensus.

UK surname

Dally

A surname derived from the Anglo-French word "dalier" meaning to converse or linger.

In the 1881 census there were 596 people recorded with the Dally surname, ranking it #5,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 554, ranked #9,230, down from #5,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Rhondda Cynon Taf and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dally is 762 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.0%.

1881 census count

596

Ranked #5,868

Modern count

554

2016, ranked #9,230

Peak year

1891

762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dally had 596 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 554 in 2016, ranked #9,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 762 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dally surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dally surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dally 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 683 #3,804
1861 historical 721 #3,771
1881 historical 596 #5,868
1891 historical 762 #5,234
1901 historical 698 #6,305
1911 historical 652 #6,430
1997 modern 561 #8,538
1998 modern 572 #8,663
1999 modern 565 #8,787
2000 modern 561 #8,811
2001 modern 545 #8,859
2002 modern 546 #9,029
2003 modern 534 #9,035
2004 modern 533 #9,071
2005 modern 521 #9,176
2006 modern 510 #9,342
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 544 #9,041
2009 modern 558 #9,066
2010 modern 581 #8,991
2011 modern 564 #9,095
2012 modern 561 #9,045
2013 modern 555 #9,267
2014 modern 559 #9,268
2015 modern 562 #9,141
2016 modern 554 #9,230

Geography

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Where Dallys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, London parishes, Wendron and Rowde. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Rhondda Cynon Taf, The Vale of Glamorgan and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wendron Cornwall
5 Rowde Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 014 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 004 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dally

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dally

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dally 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

Dally is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dally

The surname Dally is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval era, specifically the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dalian," which means "to delay" or "to linger." This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as being slow or leisurely in their actions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dally can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1202, where a certain William Dally is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 contain a reference to a Roger Dally, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England during that time period.

The Dally surname is also thought to have a connection to certain place names in England, such as Dally, a small hamlet in Derbyshire. It is possible that the name originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who hailed from or resided in that particular area.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure with the surname Dally was John Dally, a merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Norwich. He is mentioned in various legal records and documents from that era, suggesting his influential status within the local community.

Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Dally, a military officer who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. He fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was knighted for his bravery and service to the crown.

During the 16th century, the surname Dally gained further recognition with the birth of William Dally (1508-1589), a renowned English scholar and theologian. He was a fellow at Oxford University and played a significant role in the Reformation movement in England.

In the 18th century, the Dally surname was carried by James Dally (1726-1805), a successful merchant and entrepreneur who established a thriving trade business in the city of Bristol. His wealth and influence allowed him to acquire substantial land holdings and properties in the region.

The 19th century saw the birth of Arthur Dally (1845-1912), a distinguished author and historian who wrote extensively on the subject of English literature and culture. His works, such as "The Literature of the Victorian Era" and "A History of the English Novel," were widely acclaimed and contributed to the understanding of the literary landscape of that period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dally families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dally 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. Cornwall leads with 83 Dallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.70x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 83 12.70x
Middlesex 66 1.14x
Lanarkshire 39 2.09x
Wiltshire 33 6.46x
Glamorgan 29 2.88x
Gloucestershire 28 2.47x
Devon 26 2.16x
Somerset 26 2.80x
Surrey 25 0.89x
Derbyshire 21 2.32x
Lancashire 21 0.31x
Kent 19 0.96x
Staffordshire 16 0.82x
Yorkshire 13 0.23x
Renfrewshire 12 2.68x
Wigtownshire 12 15.65x
Essex 11 0.97x
Angus 9 1.68x
Pembrokeshire 9 4.90x
Monmouthshire 8 1.92x
Northumberland 8 0.93x
Warwickshire 8 0.55x
Channel Islands 7 4.09x
Cheshire 7 0.55x
Hampshire 7 0.59x
Herefordshire 6 2.53x
West Lothian 6 6.90x
Brecknockshire 5 4.33x
Midlothian 5 0.65x
Sussex 5 0.51x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 4.79x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.23x
Dorset 3 0.79x
Leicestershire 3 0.47x
Worcestershire 3 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.57x
Durham 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Perthshire 1 0.39x
Stirlingshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wendron in Cornwall leads with 26 Dallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 286.34x.

Place Total Index
Wendron 26 286.34x
Gorran 19 1032.61x
Glasgow 18 5.43x
Rowde 17 720.34x
Newnham 15 515.46x
Spondon 13 373.56x
Govan 12 2.60x
Reigate Foreign 11 36.10x
Aberdare 10 14.49x
Imber 9 1168.83x
Kensington London 9 2.80x
Aberystruth 8 21.74x
Barony 8 1.69x
Birmingham 8 1.65x
Constantine 8 209.97x
East Greenock 8 18.93x
Ilkeston 8 31.56x
Loughton 8 141.84x
Hammersmith London 7 4.92x
Lochee 7 146.75x
Pembroke St Mary 7 29.62x
St Helier 7 12.57x
St Pancras London 7 1.51x
Whitley 7 251.80x
Ystradyfodwg 7 7.94x
Camborne 6 22.27x
Inch 6 80.21x
Llanwonno 6 16.61x
Lyonshall 6 348.84x
Paddington London 6 2.83x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 6.48x
Poplar London 6 5.51x
Sandford 6 204.08x
St Anne Soho London 6 18.19x
Taunton St James 6 44.25x
Whitburn 6 47.77x
Chelsea London 5 2.87x
Dartford 5 24.81x
Llangattock 5 53.14x
Padstow 5 115.21x
Shoreditch London 5 2.00x
St Austell 5 22.37x
Tiverton 5 24.14x
Walcot 5 10.10x
Wigtown 5 114.16x
Accrington 4 6.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.75x
Chatham 4 7.38x
Chester St Oswald 4 17.33x
Kippax 4 79.52x
Lasswade 4 22.61x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 4.14x
Pendleton In Salford 4 4.90x
Richmond 4 10.14x
Rochester St Margaret 4 19.25x
Shepton Mallet 4 38.35x
Sithney 4 60.51x
Southwark St Thomas 4 259.74x
West Bromwich 4 3.58x
Wolstanton 4 6.76x
Wolverhampton 4 2.67x
York St Nicholas In 4 124.22x
Axbridge 3 333.33x
Crowan 3 57.92x
Handsworth 3 6.24x
Leigh 3 32.79x
Markfield 3 94.64x
Newabbey 3 167.60x
Pembrey 3 26.81x
Rotherham 3 9.30x
St Marylebone London 3 0.97x
Bristol St Thomas 2 155.04x
Radstock 2 32.73x
Rumworth 2 20.43x
South Petherton 2 41.67x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.69x
Tormoham 2 3.93x
West Ham 2 0.79x
Willesden 2 3.67x
Zennor 2 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 29
James 22
Thomas 19
George 14
Joseph 11
Charles 10
Henry 10
Richard 8
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
David 3
Peter 3
Ambrose 2
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
W.H. 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Daniel 1
Edger 1
Edmd.V. 1
Edwd.R 1
Elijah 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jno.J.P. 1
Joshua 1
Martin 1
Richd.H. 1
Spencer 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Dally surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dally surname in 1881?

In 1881, 596 people were recorded with the Dally surname. That placed it at #5,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dally surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 554 in 2016. That gives Dally a modern rank of #9,230.

What does the Dally surname mean?

A surname derived from the Anglo-French word "dalier" meaning to converse or linger.

What does the Dally map show?

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