UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who lived in a damp or marshy area.
In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Damp surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #20,709 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochester, Newchurch and Brading. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Damp is 119 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.3%.
1881 census count
92
Ranked #20,709
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1901
119 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Damp surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Damp surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 84 | #19,067 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 92 | #20,709 |
| 1891 | historical | 117 | #21,658 |
| 1901 | historical | 119 | #20,624 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 47 | #33,548 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 48 | #33,932 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 46 | #35,155 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochester, Newchurch, Brading, Arreton and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | Kent |
| 2 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 3 | Brading | Hampshire |
| 4 | Arreton | Hampshire |
| 5 | Swansea | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Damp surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Damp, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Damp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Damp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Damp is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Damp is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Damp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Damp originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the Old English word "damp" which meant "vapor" or "moisture." This name likely referred to someone who lived in a particularly damp or humid area, perhaps near a marsh or a body of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Damp surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which document a Adam le Damp residing in Oxfordshire. The Damp name also appears in various English parish records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with variations in spelling such as Dampe, Dampf, and Dampey.
In the 16th century, the Damp surname was particularly concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. During this time, some notable individuals bearing the name included John Damp, a merchant from Bristol who was documented in 1564, and William Damp, a landowner from Cirencester, mentioned in a deed from 1587.
As the name spread throughout England, it took on various forms, often reflecting local dialects and place names. For instance, in the village of Dampton, located in Cambridgeshire, the surname was commonly spelled as Dampton or Damton.
One of the most prominent figures with the Damp surname was Sir Thomas Damp (1556-1627), a successful lawyer and landowner from Gloucestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1603.
Another notable individual was Edward Damp (1645-1718), a renowned clockmaker from London who was responsible for developing several innovative timekeeping mechanisms. His clocks were highly sought after by the wealthy and aristocratic families of the time.
In the 18th century, the Damp surname continued to be found throughout various parts of England, with notable individuals such as Samuel Damp (1727-1792), a respected Anglican clergyman and author from Oxfordshire, and Mary Damp (1753-1828), a well-known philanthropist from Wiltshire who established several charitable institutions for the poor and underprivileged.
As the name spread further afield, it also found its way to the American colonies, where several Damp families settled in the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily in the regions of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Damp surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 73 Damps recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 73 | 39.26x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.58x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.90x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.33x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 3.20x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.72x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.25x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ryde in Hampshire leads with 21 Damps recorded in 1881 and an index of 526.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ryde | 21 | 526.32x |
| Arreton | 15 | 2500.00x |
| Portsea | 10 | 27.44x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 8 | 245.40x |
| Newport | 6 | 594.06x |
| Portsmouth | 6 | 140.19x |
| Alverstoke | 5 | 74.29x |
| Brading | 4 | 161.94x |
| Carisbrooke | 4 | 155.04x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 23.17x |
| St Albans | 2 | 156.25x |
| Binsted | 1 | 140.85x |
| Downham Market | 1 | 104.17x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 7.08x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.98x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.00x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.82x |
| Shelswell | 1 | 10000.00x |
| South Bersted | 1 | 76.92x |
| St Helens | 1 | 74.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Damp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Damp surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Damp households.
FAQ
In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Damp surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Damp a modern rank of #35,336.
An occupational surname referring to someone who lived in a damp or marshy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Damp bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.