NameCensus.

UK surname

Damon

A surname of Greek origin meaning "to tame" or "to subdue."

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Damon surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 336, ranked #13,583, down from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedford St Paul, Portsmouth, Portsea and Winterbourne Houghton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, North Dorset and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Damon is 337 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.7%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

336

2016, ranked #13,583

Peak year

2014

337 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Damon had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016, ranked #13,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Damon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Damon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Damon 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 228 #13,582
1901 historical 224 #14,091
1911 historical 267 #12,360
1997 modern 257 #14,989
1998 modern 263 #15,161
1999 modern 273 #14,875
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 311 #13,490
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 300 #14,048
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 291 #14,742
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 313 #14,200
2012 modern 334 #13,443
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 337 #13,659
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 336 #13,583

Geography

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Where Damons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedford St Paul, Portsmouth, Portsea, Winterbourne Houghton, Melcombe Regis and Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bedford, North Dorset and Great Yarmouth. 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 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
2 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 Winterbourne Houghton Dorset
4 Melcombe Regis Dorset
5 Dorchester Holy Trinity, Fordington Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bedford 014 Bedford
2 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
3 Bedford 005 Bedford
4 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
5 Bedford 019 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Damon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Damon

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Damon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Damon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Damon 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

Damon 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

Damon falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Damon

The surname Damon is of English origin, derived from the Old French name "Damin" or "Damine," which itself came from the Latin name "Dominus," meaning "Lord" or "Master." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Damon are found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Damin," "Damun," and "Damone," indicating its evolution over time.

One notable figure bearing the surname Damon was Sir Thomas Damon, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. He was recorded as holding significant estates in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Another historical figure with the surname Damon was John Damon, a renowned English printer and publisher who lived in the 16th century. He is known for publishing several important works, including the first edition of Sir Thomas More's "Utopia" in 1516.

In the 17th century, Robert Damon, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol, England, gained recognition for his successful trading ventures with the West Indies and the American colonies.

During the 18th century, the Damon surname was associated with several notable authors and poets, including Samuel Damon, whose works included "The Husbandman's Manual" and "The Art of Husbandry," published in the early 1700s.

The 19th century saw the rise of Henry Damon, a prominent American businessman and philanthropist from Massachusetts. He made significant contributions to the field of education and founded the Damon Memorial Library in his hometown.

Throughout its history, the surname Damon has been tied to various locations across England, such as Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Bristol, where it had a strong presence. The name has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly in the United States, where it was brought by English immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Damon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Damon 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. Dorset leads with 97 Damons recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.90x.

County Total Index
Dorset 97 81.90x
Hampshire 25 6.76x
Middlesex 21 1.16x
Surrey 13 1.48x
Bedfordshire 8 8.56x
Somerset 7 2.41x
Yorkshire 3 0.17x
Berkshire 2 1.48x
Devon 2 0.53x
Essex 2 0.56x
Kent 2 0.32x
Channel Islands 1 1.87x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Norfolk 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winterborne Houghton in Dorset leads with 14 Damons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9333.33x.

Place Total Index
Winterborne Houghton 14 9333.33x
Fordington 11 431.37x
Upway 11 2444.44x
Portsea 10 13.80x
Shoreditch London 9 11.50x
Bedford St Paul 8 124.81x
Christchurch 8 99.75x
Melcombe Regis 8 162.93x
Swanage 8 547.95x
Abbotsbury 7 1166.67x
Weymouth 6 267.86x
Bromley London 5 12.59x
Langton Matravers 5 909.09x
Portisham 5 1136.36x
Soberton 5 735.29x
Sydling St Nicholas 5 1428.57x
Battersea 4 6.02x
Bincombe 4 2857.14x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 11.02x
Yeovil 4 67.80x
Chickerell 2 392.16x
Clewer 2 36.04x
Croydon 2 4.10x
Lambeth 2 1.27x
Longbredy 2 1428.57x
Nettlestead 2 540.54x
Paddington London 2 3.01x
Ryde 2 25.16x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.29x
Thorne 2 90.09x
Barnstaple 1 16.95x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.28x
Broadway 1 212.77x
Clifton 1 5.59x
Dorchester All Sts 1 175.44x
Fleet 1 1111.11x
Grays Thurrock 1 30.21x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.35x
Kensington London 1 1.00x
Kimmeridge 1 909.09x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.73x
Merriott 1 117.65x
Milborne St Andrew 1 285.71x
Poole St James 1 22.47x
Puncknowle 1 344.83x
Sewerby Cum Marton 1 294.12x
St Helier 1 5.74x
Topsham 1 56.50x
Walcot 1 6.46x
West Ham 1 1.27x
Willesden 1 5.88x
Winterborne Stickland 1 333.33x
Wookey 1 156.25x
Wyke Regis 1 58.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 10
Annie 7
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Susan 3
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Adela 1
Agnes 1
Azenath 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Conelia 1
Edith 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Margaretta 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
R. 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Rosenia 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Damon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Damon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Damon surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Damon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016. That gives Damon a modern rank of #13,583.

What does the Damon surname mean?

A surname of Greek origin meaning "to tame" or "to subdue."

What does the Damon map show?

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