NameCensus.

UK surname

Dampier

A French topographic surname for someone living near a pond or wetland, derived from Old French "dam(me)" meaning "pond."

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Dampier surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Combe St Nicholas, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Bury and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dampier is 287 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.0%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

1911

287 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dampier had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dampier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dampier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dampier 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 133 #16,835
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 246 #12,912
1901 historical 249 #13,172
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 266 #15,096
2001 modern 253 #15,403
2002 modern 250 #15,819
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 235 #16,335
2006 modern 223 #17,036
2007 modern 223 #17,248
2008 modern 223 #17,395
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 239 #17,280
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 232 #17,761
2015 modern 225 #18,050
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Dampiers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Combe St Nicholas, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenwich, Bury, Maidstone, South Somerset and Epping Forest. 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 Combe St Nicholas Somerset
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
2 Bury 013 Bury
3 Maidstone 005 Maidstone
4 South Somerset 020 South Somerset
5 Epping Forest 013 Epping Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dampier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dampier

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

Dampier is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dampier falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dampier

The surname DAMPIER is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the Old French term "damper," meaning "lord" or "master," which in turn comes from the Latin word "dominus." The name likely referred to someone who held a position of authority or was a landowner.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to various regions of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was John Dampier, who was mentioned in the parish records of Barningham, Norfolk, in 1558.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the exploits of the English explorer and navigator William Dampier (1651-1715). He was the first Englishman to explore and document parts of Australia and was also the first to circumnavigate the world three times. His accounts of his voyages, published as "A New Voyage Round the World" and "Voyages and Descriptions," became highly influential works in the field of maritime exploration.

Another notable figure with the DAMPIER surname was Thomas Dampier (1629-1708), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Cuxton in Kent. He was known for his work on ecclesiastical history and his translations of ancient texts.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where the baptism of John Dampier was recorded in 1725.

During the 19th century, the DAMPIER name was associated with several figures in the arts and literature. One such individual was William Dampier (1836-1908), an English painter and illustrator known for his watercolor landscapes and depictions of rural life.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Thomas Dampier (1815-1895), an English novelist and writer who authored several works, including "The Maid of the Oaks" and "The Cavaliers of Virginia."

The name DAMPIER continues to be found across various regions of the world, particularly in countries with significant English heritage and immigration, such as Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dampier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dampier 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. Somerset leads with 41 Dampiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.99x.

County Total Index
Somerset 41 12.99x
Kent 27 4.04x
Devon 23 5.64x
Surrey 23 2.41x
Sussex 20 6.05x
Middlesex 19 0.97x
Hampshire 10 2.49x
Dorset 8 6.22x
Herefordshire 8 9.95x
Warwickshire 7 1.42x
Norfolk 5 1.66x
Cambridgeshire 4 3.22x
Essex 3 0.78x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Renfrewshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alford in Somerset leads with 10 Dampiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16666.67x.

Place Total Index
Alford 10 16666.67x
Bermondsey 9 15.42x
Alverstoke 8 54.98x
Sparkford 8 4705.88x
Welsh Newton 8 5333.33x
Birmingham 7 4.25x
Lee 7 72.09x
Maidstone 7 35.14x
Poole St James 7 144.93x
Stoke Damerel 7 24.51x
Hastings St Leonards 6 123.46x
Tonbridge 6 24.87x
Clerkenwell London 5 10.80x
Cliffe 5 446.43x
Gillingham 5 1666.67x
Stoke St Gregory 5 520.83x
Battersea 4 5.54x
Brighton 4 6.00x
Camberwell 4 3.19x
Combe St Nicholas 3 394.74x
Crediton 3 77.52x
East Stonehouse 3 37.31x
Fulham London 3 10.55x
Rotherhithe 3 12.39x
Ruishton 3 937.50x
Shoreditch London 3 3.53x
St Andrewthe Less 3 21.14x
Stonehouse East 3 144.93x
Battle 2 89.69x
Bedminster 2 6.75x
Colchester St Mary At 2 145.99x
Colyton 2 127.39x
Crewkerne 2 59.70x
Donyatt 2 769.23x
Hastings St Mary 2 24.30x
High Ham 2 266.67x
Islington London 2 1.05x
Lewisham 2 5.61x
Paddington London 2 2.77x
Portsea 2 2.54x
Tormoham 2 11.58x
Axmouth 1 217.39x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 71.43x
Bishops Hull 1 98.04x
Bosley 1 370.37x
Clevedon 1 30.49x
Croydon 1 1.89x
Devonport 1 21.32x
Greenock Oldor West 1 238.10x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 14.18x
Heston 1 15.36x
Kelvedon 1 97.09x
Kensington London 1 0.92x
Melcombe Regis 1 18.76x
Penge 1 7.99x
Penshurst 1 89.29x
Seaton 1 63.69x
Speldhurst 1 29.33x
St Giles Cambridge 1 62.50x
St Pancras London 1 0.63x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 51.02x
Strood 1 26.18x
Sutton 1 14.47x
Todmorden Walsden 1 16.05x
Tudeley 1 270.27x
Walcot 1 5.95x
Walmer 1 34.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 8
Annie 7
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Celia 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fredericca 1
Hanna 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Joan 1
K.A. 1
K.A.L. 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lois 1
Lousa 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Olive 1
R.D. 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 11
George 9
Alfred 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Harry 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Amos 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Alexander 1
Alexandra 1
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Digby 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gerald 1
Ivah 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Kelite 1
Leonard 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Samaul 1
Samuel 1
Simeon 1
Stephen 1
Willian 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Dampier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dampier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Dampier surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dampier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Dampier a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Dampier surname mean?

A French topographic surname for someone living near a pond or wetland, derived from Old French "dam(me)" meaning "pond."

What does the Dampier map show?

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