NameCensus.

UK surname

Danby

An English place name denoting someone from Danby in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,278 people recorded with the Danby surname, ranking it #3,196 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,526, ranked #4,058, down from #3,196 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Danby is 1,786 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.4%.

1881 census count

1,278

Ranked #3,196

Modern count

1,526

2016, ranked #4,058

Peak year

1911

1,786 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Danby had 1,278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,196 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,526 in 2016, ranked #4,058.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,786 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Danby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Danby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Danby 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 742 #3,553
1861 historical 938 #2,952
1881 historical 1,278 #3,196
1891 historical 1,481 #2,971
1901 historical 1,583 #3,259
1911 historical 1,786 #2,742
1997 modern 1,579 #3,736
1998 modern 1,639 #3,750
1999 modern 1,648 #3,765
2000 modern 1,635 #3,774
2001 modern 1,600 #3,776
2002 modern 1,632 #3,775
2003 modern 1,571 #3,834
2004 modern 1,533 #3,928
2005 modern 1,545 #3,855
2006 modern 1,510 #3,946
2007 modern 1,513 #3,973
2008 modern 1,527 #3,948
2009 modern 1,567 #3,954
2010 modern 1,593 #3,967
2011 modern 1,575 #3,970
2012 modern 1,550 #3,961
2013 modern 1,579 #3,959
2014 modern 1,568 #4,004
2015 modern 1,545 #4,014
2016 modern 1,526 #4,058

Geography

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Where Danbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, East Lindsey, Wakefield and Test Valley. 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 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 059 County Durham
2 Stockton-on-Tees 021 Stockton-on-Tees
3 East Lindsey 011 East Lindsey
4 Wakefield 041 Wakefield
5 Test Valley 015 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Danby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Danby

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

Danby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Danby falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Danby

The surname Danby originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "dene" meaning a valley and "by" meaning a farm or settlement, thus indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a valley or near a farm in a valley.

The name is believed to have its roots in the village of Danby, located in the North Yorkshire Moors region of England. This village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name "Danebi," which is a clear precursor to the modern spelling of Danby.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Danby can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain Richard de Danebi is mentioned. This is likely the earliest documented example of the name in its modern form.

In the 13th century, Sir Walter de Danby, a notable knight and landowner, is recorded as holding lands in Yorkshire. His son, Thomas de Danby, was a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses, serving as a supporter of the House of Lancaster.

During the 14th century, the name Danby appeared in various manorial records and court rolls across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, indicating its spread across northern England.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Danby was Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds (1632-1712), a prominent English statesman and diplomat during the reigns of Charles II and James II. He was granted the title of Duke of Leeds and took on the additional surname of Danby, becoming known as Thomas Osborne, Duke of Leeds and Danby.

Another notable figure was Francis Danby (1793-1861), an English painter known for his landscape and historical paintings. His works can be found in various galleries, including the Tate Britain and the Yale Center for British Art.

In the 19th century, Thomas Danby (1817-1886) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Yorkshire Philosophical Society building in York.

Francis Danby (1793-1861), an English painter known for his landscape and historical paintings, is also associated with this surname. His works can be found in various galleries, including the Tate Britain and the Yale Center for British Art.

While the surname Danby has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Danby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Danby 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. Yorkshire leads with 430 Danbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 430 3.48x
Lincolnshire 142 7.12x
Durham 100 2.69x
Surrey 82 1.35x
Middlesex 78 0.63x
Worcestershire 66 4.05x
Lancashire 63 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 46 5.82x
Nottinghamshire 40 2.38x
Warwickshire 28 0.89x
Cheshire 24 0.87x
Derbyshire 23 1.18x
Suffolk 22 1.45x
Northumberland 20 1.08x
Staffordshire 19 0.45x
Essex 18 0.73x
Norfolk 15 0.78x
Sussex 10 0.48x
Kent 7 0.16x
Westmorland 7 2.55x
Berkshire 6 0.64x
Somerset 6 0.30x
Lanarkshire 5 0.12x
Devon 4 0.15x
Rutland 4 4.37x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.27x
Northamptonshire 2 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.40x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.67x
Shropshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 31 Danbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.44x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 31 4.44x
Ribbesford 29 213.86x
Holy Trinity 26 8.74x
Moss Side 21 26.96x
Battersea 18 3.92x
Billingham 18 281.69x
Camberwell 18 2.26x
Burwell 17 179.51x
Headingley Cum Burley 17 21.36x
Kidderminster Borough 17 17.83x
Horncastle 16 77.71x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 16 50.51x
Stranton 16 12.80x
Mansfield 15 25.78x
Swaffham Prior 15 432.28x
Aston 14 1.62x
Bethnal Green London 12 2.21x
Birmingham 12 1.14x
Great Driffield 12 47.30x
Sculcoates 12 6.12x
Sible Hedingham 12 145.81x
Sutton Stoneferry 12 33.93x
Cratfield 11 518.87x
Dudley 11 5.55x
Egham 11 29.47x
Lancaster 11 12.49x
Yarm 11 173.23x
Hutton Bushell 10 467.29x
Sheriff Hutton W 10 284.90x
Wrawby 10 185.19x
Islington London 9 0.74x
Kingswinford 9 5.89x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 9 36.87x
Norton 9 65.98x
Pennington In Leigh 9 31.69x
St Maryle Wigford 9 58.06x
Woodland 9 365.85x
Bottisham 8 118.87x
Brandon Byshottles 8 17.20x
Chapel Allerton 8 43.24x
Clee With Weelsby 8 18.32x
Derby St Alkmund 8 13.67x
Gnosall 8 78.74x
Goxhill 8 162.60x
Kirby Grindalyth 8 714.29x
Lambeth 8 0.74x
Lockngtn In Kilnwck 8 363.64x
Marsh Chapel 8 325.20x
North Cave Drewton 8 164.27x
Rotherhithe 8 5.19x
Brampton 7 25.64x
Great Yarmouth 7 4.41x
Hampstead London 7 3.60x
Kirkby Stephen 7 98.45x
Langton By Horncastle 7 569.11x
Marske In Guisbrough 7 31.88x
Nether Hallam 7 4.18x
Paddington London 7 1.53x
Panton 7 1029.41x
Thirsk 7 49.09x
Bishop Monkton 6 291.26x
Bowling 6 4.90x
Hilderthorpe 6 96.15x
Holme On Spalding Moor 6 74.07x
Hunslet 6 3.11x
Ludford Magna 6 355.03x
Mortlake 6 22.15x
Newfield 6 121.95x
North Frodingham 6 206.19x
Radford 6 7.02x
Ruston Parva 6 1090.91x
Scarborough 6 5.34x
St Pancras London 6 0.60x
Starston 6 275.23x
Stillington 6 234.38x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.35x
Storwood 6 1666.67x
Thorne 6 39.11x
Willesden 6 5.10x
York St Crux 6 170.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Elizabeth 47
Sarah 46
Annie 26
Ann 25
Eliza 23
Jane 23
Ellen 20
Emma 20
Hannah 17
Alice 16
Harriet 15
Emily 12
Florence 12
Margaret 12
Clara 10
Edith 10
Charlotte 9
Fanny 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Ada 8
Martha 7
Susan 7
Amy 6
Eleanor 5
Ethel 5
Frances 5
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Helen 4
Rebecca 4
Rose 4
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Kezia 3
Leah 3
Lilly 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Flora 2
Georgina 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 81
John 67
Thomas 53
George 52
Charles 29
Robert 26
James 25
Henry 19
Joseph 17
Richard 16
Arthur 13
Samuel 13
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Alfred 9
Benjamin 9
Christopher 8
Francis 7
Walter 7
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Thos. 5
Adam 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Harry 4
Amos 3
Ben 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Fredk. 3
Leonard 3
Percy 3
Solomon 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Butler 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Ezra 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Jas. 2
Martin 2
Septimus 2
Silas 2

FAQ

Danby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Danby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,278 people were recorded with the Danby surname. That placed it at #3,196 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Danby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,526 in 2016. That gives Danby a modern rank of #4,058.

What does the Danby surname mean?

An English place name denoting someone from Danby in Yorkshire.

What does the Danby map show?

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