NameCensus.

UK surname

Dam

A Dutch toponymic surname referring to someone living near a dam or embankment.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Dam surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Greenwich and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dam is 216 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1442.9%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

2016

216 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dam had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 57 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Dam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dam 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 57 #23,092
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1901 historical 23 #31,466
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 203 #19,381
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Dams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Greenwich, Westminster, Nottingham and Luton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 016 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Greenwich 007 Greenwich
3 Westminster 005 Westminster
4 Nottingham 022 Nottingham
5 Luton 017 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dam

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Dam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dam 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dam 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

Dam is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dam 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 Dam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dam

The surname "DAM" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and Belgium during the medieval period. It is derived from the Dutch word "dam," which means a barrier or embankment constructed to hold back water. This name was likely given to someone who lived near a dam or was responsible for maintaining one.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "DAM" can be found in the Dutch town of Gouda, where a certain Jan Dam is mentioned in a legal document dated 1367. The name was also present in other parts of the Low Countries, such as the city of Bruges, where a merchant named Willem Dam is recorded in a trade register from the 15th century.

In the Netherlands, the surname "DAM" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Nicolaes Dam, a Dutch painter who lived from 1647 to 1687 and is known for his still-life paintings depicting household objects and flowers.

Another prominent figure with the surname "DAM" was Hendrik Dam, a Dutch politician and jurist who served as the Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1672 to 1677. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Nijmegen, which ended the Franco-Dutch War.

In Belgium, the name "DAM" can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a family by that name living in the city of Ghent. One notable Belgian with this surname was Pieter Dam, a renowned painter and engraver who lived from 1642 to 1705 and is known for his etchings depicting landscapes and rural scenes.

The surname "DAM" also found its way to other parts of Europe, such as Germany, where it was sometimes spelled as "DAMM." In the 18th century, a German mathematician named Christian Dam made important contributions to the field of calculus and published several works on the subject.

Another individual of note was Willem Dam, a Dutch navigator and explorer who accompanied the famous explorer Abel Tasman on his voyages to Australia and New Zealand in the 1640s. Dam played a crucial role in mapping and documenting the newly discovered lands.

While the surname "DAM" has its roots in the Netherlands and Belgium, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, where it continues to be used by descendants of Dutch and Belgian immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dam 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. Kent leads with 6 Dams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.89x.

County Total Index
Kent 6 12.89x
Nottinghamshire 2 10.88x
Lancashire 1 0.62x
Lincolnshire 1 4.59x
Middlesex 1 0.73x
Norfolk 1 4.77x
Surrey 1 1.50x
Warwickshire 1 2.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley in Kent leads with 5 Dams recorded in 1881 and an index of 704.23x.

Place Total Index
Bromley 5 704.23x
Nottingham St Mary 2 42.02x
Birmingham 1 8.72x
Camberwell 1 11.48x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 204.08x
Hainton 1 10000.00x
Liverpool 1 10.17x
St George In East London 1 78.13x
Wells Next Sea 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
(Mr) 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Lititia 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
John 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
James 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dam households.

FAQ

Dam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Dam surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Dam a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Dam surname mean?

A Dutch toponymic surname referring to someone living near a dam or embankment.

What does the Dam map show?

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