NameCensus.

UK surname

Dalziel

A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "meadow on the portion of land".

In the 1881 census there were 1,332 people recorded with the Dalziel surname, ranking it #3,080 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,104, ranked #3,069, up from #3,080 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lockerbie, Coatdyke and Whinhall and Airdrie North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dalziel is 2,117 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.0%.

1881 census count

1,332

Ranked #3,080

Modern count

2,104

2016, ranked #3,069

Peak year

2010

2,117 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dalziel had 1,332 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,080 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016, ranked #3,069.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,725 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Dalziel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dalziel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dalziel 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 853 #3,188
1861 historical 921 #3,013
1881 historical 1,332 #3,080
1891 historical 1,421 #3,071
1901 historical 1,725 #3,000
1911 historical 381 #9,635
1997 modern 1,972 #3,089
1998 modern 2,043 #3,101
1999 modern 2,035 #3,140
2000 modern 2,033 #3,127
2001 modern 1,964 #3,152
2002 modern 2,040 #3,125
2003 modern 1,994 #3,122
2004 modern 1,973 #3,155
2005 modern 1,973 #3,119
2006 modern 1,971 #3,136
2007 modern 2,015 #3,107
2008 modern 2,023 #3,119
2009 modern 2,078 #3,117
2010 modern 2,117 #3,131
2011 modern 2,094 #3,114
2012 modern 2,041 #3,138
2013 modern 2,041 #3,189
2014 modern 2,072 #3,168
2015 modern 2,080 #3,126
2016 modern 2,104 #3,069

Geography

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Where Dalziels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lockerbie, Coatdyke and Whinhall, Airdrie North, Lerwick South and Drumgelloch. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Coatdyke and Whinhall North Lanarkshire
3 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
4 Lerwick South Shetland Islands
5 Drumgelloch North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dalziel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dalziel

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Dalziel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Dalziel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dalziel 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

Dalziel 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dalziel

The surname Dalziel originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is a habitational name derived from the Scottish lands of Dalzell, located in the parish of Motherwell in Lanarkshire. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words 'dail' meaning 'field' and 'seilebh' meaning 'willow'.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the form 'de Dalzell' in a charter of the Abbey of Newbattle. The name Dalziel is also mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which record the individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his conquest of Scotland.

In the 14th century, there are references to a Sir Robert Dalzell, who was a prominent Scottish knight and landowner. He is recorded as having participated in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English.

Another notable figure from history bearing the Dalziel surname is Sir Thomas Dalziel (1599-1685), a Scottish Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He later served as a general under King Charles II and played a significant role in the suppression of the Covenanters in Scotland.

In the 18th century, Andrew Dalziel (1742-1806) was a Scottish engraver and publisher who was known for his illustrations and reproductions of works by famous artists such as Raphael and Michelangelo.

The Dalziel family also had a strong presence in the literary world. James Dalziel (1787-1854) was a Scottish poet and playwright, while his son Thomas Dalziel (1823-1906) was a renowned wood engraver who worked on illustrations for various publications, including The Illustrated London News and The Cornhill Magazine.

Edward Dalziel (1817-1905) was another notable member of the Dalziel family, who served as a British army officer and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for bravery, during the Crimean War.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dalziel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dalziel 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 368 Dalziels recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.81x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 368 8.81x
Dumfriesshire 169 59.24x
Ayrshire 148 15.31x
Midlothian 80 4.62x
Shetland 76 57.62x
Kirkcudbrightshire 73 39.05x
Renfrewshire 57 5.69x
Middlesex 45 0.35x
Angus 43 3.59x
Lancashire 33 0.22x
Aberdeenshire 32 2.68x
Cheshire 25 0.88x
Durham 23 0.60x
Northumberland 21 1.09x
Dunbartonshire 19 5.47x
Perthshire 9 1.55x
Cumberland 7 0.63x
Derbyshire 7 0.35x
Kent 7 0.16x
Staffordshire 7 0.16x
Stirlingshire 7 1.47x
Suffolk 6 0.38x
West Lothian 6 3.08x
Argyllshire 5 1.39x
Surrey 5 0.08x
Berwickshire 4 2.56x
Clackmannanshire 4 3.75x
Morayshire 4 1.99x
Warwickshire 4 0.12x
Wigtownshire 4 2.33x
Essex 3 0.12x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
East Lothian 2 1.17x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Selkirkshire 2 1.71x
Shropshire 2 0.18x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Buteshire 1 1.28x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.13x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.34x
Peeblesshire 1 1.65x
Ross-shire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 80 Dalziels recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.74x.

Place Total Index
Govan 80 7.74x
Cambusnethan 55 59.29x
Sandsting Aitsting 50 418.41x
Barony 37 3.50x
Hamilton 36 30.90x
Glasgow 34 4.58x
Liff Benvie 32 17.62x
Urr 30 123.36x
Penpont 29 553.44x
Old Monkland 28 16.89x
New Monkland 27 21.87x
Hampstead London 25 12.43x
Kilmarnock 25 21.73x
Sorn 23 121.12x
Sanguhar 21 552.63x
South Leith 20 10.27x
Durrisdeer 19 388.55x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 2.59x
Carluke 17 44.82x
Ayr 16 35.07x
Muirkirk 14 61.67x
Tynemouth 14 13.60x
Cathcart 13 24.01x
Dalziel 13 28.93x
Northmavine 13 129.48x
Abbey 12 7.86x
Kells 12 279.72x
Morton 12 126.72x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 4.92x
Kirkoswald 11 139.42x
New Kilpatrick 11 33.31x
Sanquhar 11 109.67x
West Greenock 11 6.12x
Auckinleck 10 33.42x
Borgue 10 199.20x
Cambuslang 10 23.75x
Dalmellington 10 35.19x
Glencairn 10 130.38x
Inverkip 10 42.39x
Paisley High Church 10 12.55x
Birkenhead 9 3.96x
Kilwinning 9 28.84x
Kirkpatrick Durham 9 154.64x
Lerwick Gulberwick 9 44.07x
Dalkeith 8 23.44x
Dalton 8 312.50x
Dundee 8 1.79x
Paddington London 8 1.68x
Tinwald 8 209.97x
Westoe 8 3.67x
Applegarth 7 161.66x
Bothwell 7 6.18x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.88x
Falkirk 7 6.28x
Irvine 7 26.07x
Liverpool 7 0.75x
Maryhill 7 8.56x
Riccarton Hurlford 7 41.30x
Toxteth Park 7 1.35x
Walsall Foreign 7 3.11x
West Calder 7 20.53x
Cleator 6 12.96x
Davenham 6 231.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 3.61x
Holywood 6 125.79x
Lanark 6 17.85x
Logie 6 28.85x
St Marylebone London 6 0.87x
Stonham Aspall 6 186.92x
Strichen 6 57.75x
Wirksworth 6 32.64x
Dalry 5 114.42x
Dumbarton 5 10.35x
Galston 5 18.92x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 5 107.30x
Lower Bebington 5 29.52x
Peterhead 5 7.91x
Seaton Delaval 5 29.64x
Stow 5 56.18x
Sunderland 5 7.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Agnes 7
Margaret 7
Mary 7
Jane 6
Jessie 6
Eliza 4
Isabella 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Emily 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Elenor 1
Esabella 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Harrett 1
Isabel 1
Jennie 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mattie 1
May 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 13
Thomas 12
James 11
Alexander 6
George 6
Samuel 5
Charles 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Alexr.George 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Adam 1
Alexanda 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Edelsten 1
Gilbert 1
Gordon 1
Guy 1
Harvey 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jas.A.H. 1
Joseph 1
Lovet 1
Murrey 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Robart 1
Robt. 1
T.Muir 1
Thos.J. 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Dalziel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dalziel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,332 people were recorded with the Dalziel surname. That placed it at #3,080 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dalziel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016. That gives Dalziel a modern rank of #3,069.

What does the Dalziel surname mean?

A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "meadow on the portion of land".

What does the Dalziel map show?

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