NameCensus.

UK surname

Dana

A Hebrew surname meaning "arbiter" or "judge," or an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word for "bold."

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Dana surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 172, ranked #21,648, up from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Trafford and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dana is 172 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 364.9%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

172

2016, ranked #21,648

Peak year

2016

172 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dana had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016, ranked #21,648.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 37 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dana surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dana surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dana 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 37 #31,398
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 61 #31,841
1999 modern 65 #31,605
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 172 #21,648

Geography

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Where Danas 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 Hackney, Trafford, Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham and Islington. 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 Hackney 006 Hackney
2 Trafford 001 Trafford
3 Enfield 021 Enfield
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 007 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Islington 017 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dana

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dana

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Dana surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dana 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dana 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

Dana 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

Dana 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 Dana 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Dana

The surname DANA has its origins in the Middle Ages and is believed to have originated in various parts of Europe, including Ireland, England, and Germany. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "dana," which means "bold" or "daring," as well as the Old English word "denu," meaning "valley" or "dell."

In Ireland, the DANA surname is believed to have arisen as a variant of the Irish name O'Dunaing, which comes from the Gaelic word "dun," meaning "fort" or "stronghold." The earliest recorded instances of the name in Ireland date back to the 12th century, with references to individuals bearing the DANA surname appearing in various medieval records and manuscripts.

In England, the DANA surname is thought to have originated as a topographic name, referring to individuals who lived in or near a valley or dell. The name is found in various spellings, such as Dene, Denn, and Denne, in early English records, including the Domesday Book of 1086.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the DANA surname was Sir Ralph de Dene, an English nobleman who lived in the 13th century and fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Dana, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

In Germany, the DANA surname is believed to have derived from the Old German word "tan," meaning "oak" or "oak tree." The name is found in various spellings, such as Dahn, Daan, and Daane, in historical records dating back to the 15th century.

Other notable individuals with the DANA surname include Richard Henry Dana Jr. (1815-1882), an American lawyer and author who wrote the famous memoir "Two Years Before the Mast," and Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897), an American journalist and newspaper editor who served as the editor of the New York Sun and the New York Tribune.

Throughout history, the DANA surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, military leaders, authors, and journalists, reflecting the diverse origins and meanings of this name across different cultures and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dana families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dana 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Danas recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 5.13x
Durham 8 9.85x
Cheshire 4 6.64x
Gloucestershire 1 1.87x
Hertfordshire 1 5.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 7 Danas recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.43x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 7 100.43x
Chelsea London 6 72.99x
Bollington In 4 740.74x
Clerkenwell London 4 62.11x
Kensington London 3 19.78x
Chipping Barnet 1 303.03x
Easington 1 833.33x
Mile End Old Town London 1 17.21x
West Dean 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rossanna 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Arabella 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Rosane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
H. 1
James 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
William 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 Dana households.

FAQ

Dana surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dana surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Dana surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dana surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016. That gives Dana a modern rank of #21,648.

What does the Dana surname mean?

A Hebrew surname meaning "arbiter" or "judge," or an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word for "bold."

What does the Dana map show?

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