NameCensus.

UK surname

Dance

An English occupational surname for a dancer or dancing master, or a nickname for someone who was an accomplished dancer.

In the 1881 census there were 2,400 people recorded with the Dance surname, ranking it #1,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,964, ranked #2,273, down from #1,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Wokingham and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dance is 3,194 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.

1881 census count

2,400

Ranked #1,858

Modern count

2,964

2016, ranked #2,273

Peak year

1911

3,194 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dance had 2,400 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,964 in 2016, ranked #2,273.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,194 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dance 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 1,505 #1,906
1861 historical 1,200 #2,370
1881 historical 2,400 #1,858
1891 historical 2,253 #2,074
1901 historical 2,984 #1,877
1911 historical 3,194 #1,634
1997 modern 3,048 #2,108
1998 modern 3,136 #2,139
1999 modern 3,150 #2,150
2000 modern 3,100 #2,174
2001 modern 3,060 #2,150
2002 modern 3,113 #2,162
2003 modern 2,998 #2,190
2004 modern 2,988 #2,195
2005 modern 2,977 #2,175
2006 modern 2,960 #2,188
2007 modern 2,979 #2,186
2008 modern 2,920 #2,255
2009 modern 3,003 #2,247
2010 modern 3,043 #2,272
2011 modern 3,018 #2,260
2012 modern 2,936 #2,280
2013 modern 2,998 #2,272
2014 modern 3,021 #2,270
2015 modern 2,985 #2,269
2016 modern 2,964 #2,273

Geography

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Where Dances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Nottingham St Mary and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Wokingham, Stratford-on-Avon, Basingstoke and Deane and Stevenage. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
2 Wokingham 017 Wokingham
3 Stratford-on-Avon 006 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Basingstoke and Deane 005 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Stevenage 006 Stevenage

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dance

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dance is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dance is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dance falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dance

The surname Dance is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "dauncer," which means "to dance." This occupation-based surname was likely given to professional dancers, minstrels, or those who entertained through dance and music.

The earliest recorded instances of the Dance surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the mention of a Robert le Dauncer in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273. This record suggests that individuals bearing this surname were active in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the Dance surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a William Daunce is listed. This demonstrates the spread of the name across different parts of England. Additionally, the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, indicating its presence in the northern regions as well.

Interestingly, the Dance surname is also believed to have connections with certain place names. For instance, the village of Daunce in Gloucestershire may have contributed to the development of the surname, with individuals taking on the name based on their association with that location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Dance surname. One example is Sir John Dance (c. 1470-1539), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was George Dance the Elder (1695-1768), an English architect and surveyor who designed various buildings, including the Mansion House in London.

Other individuals with the Dance surname include George Dance the Younger (1741-1825), an English architect and surveyor who succeeded his father, George Dance the Elder, in various architectural projects. Walter Dance (c. 1312-1384) was an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Edward III.

The Dance surname has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in the occupation of dancing and entertaining. While its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 13th century, the name has persisted through generations and has been associated with notable figures across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dance 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. Surrey leads with 327 Dances recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Surrey 327 2.87x
Middlesex 275 1.18x
Berkshire 227 12.93x
Gloucestershire 183 3.99x
Hampshire 177 3.69x
Herefordshire 160 16.69x
Worcestershire 109 3.57x
Wiltshire 105 5.08x
Warwickshire 101 1.71x
Lancashire 72 0.26x
Kent 70 0.88x
Staffordshire 58 0.73x
Durham 53 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 50 1.59x
Yorkshire 49 0.21x
Essex 47 1.02x
Lincolnshire 40 1.07x
Northumberland 40 1.15x
Sussex 38 0.96x
Glamorgan 24 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 22 1.56x
Monmouthshire 22 1.30x
Oxfordshire 19 1.32x
Devon 18 0.37x
Derbyshire 17 0.46x
Shropshire 15 0.74x
Somerset 14 0.37x
Suffolk 14 0.49x
Leicestershire 13 0.50x
Hertfordshire 6 0.37x
Radnorshire 5 2.65x
Rutland 4 2.33x
Cheshire 3 0.06x
Dorset 3 0.20x
Norfolk 3 0.08x
Royal Navy 3 1.08x
Brecknockshire 2 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Cardiganshire 1 0.18x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.52x
Isle of Man 1 0.23x
Westmorland 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 76 Dances recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.73x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 76 3.73x
Birmingham 47 2.39x
Camberwell 46 3.08x
Battersea 37 4.30x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 34 233.20x
Nottingham St Mary 34 4.17x
Ledbury 27 81.99x
Crondall 26 101.01x
Tilehurst 24 67.68x
Islington London 23 1.01x
Aston 22 1.35x
Bray 22 42.66x
Hurst 22 95.78x
Portsea 22 2.34x
Rotherhithe 22 7.62x
Fulham London 20 5.90x
Kensington London 20 1.54x
Stratton 19 342.34x
West Bromwich 19 4.20x
Poplar London 18 4.08x
Newton 17 7.95x
Hunslet 16 4.43x
West Ham 16 1.57x
Ashleworth 15 371.29x
Brighton 15 1.89x
Gateshead 15 2.88x
Bromley London 14 2.72x
Eastnor 14 438.87x
Gatton 14 765.03x
Kingsclere 14 63.96x
Lewisham 14 3.29x
Reigate Foreign 14 11.35x
Sonning 14 72.24x
Cheltenham 13 3.67x
Clapham 13 4.45x
Croydon 13 2.06x
Newington 13 1.51x
St Pancras London 13 0.69x
Twickenham 13 12.97x
Hereford St Owen 12 37.90x
Meavy 12 528.63x
Preshute 12 94.34x
Rushall 12 25.83x
St Marylebone London 12 0.96x
Throckley 12 125.13x
Whickham 12 18.75x
Winlaton 12 17.98x
Barking 11 8.15x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 2.55x
Bromsberrow 11 514.02x
Hampstead London 11 3.02x
Speen 11 38.30x
Wolverhampton 11 1.81x
Abbotts Ann 10 185.19x
Andover 10 22.08x
Burghill 10 91.91x
Hammersmith London 10 1.74x
Hartpury 10 155.28x
Hereford All Sts 10 22.76x
Holme Lacy 10 393.70x
Huntley 10 293.26x
Mile End Old Town London 10 2.01x
Ramsbury 10 53.39x
Taplow 10 117.51x
Upton Cum Chalvey 10 17.75x
Warnford 10 322.58x
Addington 9 168.54x
Childrey 9 217.92x
Cove 9 143.31x
Coxlodge 9 34.03x
Daglingworth 9 335.82x
Farnham 9 10.16x
Lowestoft 9 6.69x
Reading St Mary 9 6.40x
Stourbridge 9 11.45x
Westbury On Severn East 9 8.68x
Wokingham 9 22.47x
Acton 8 5.84x
Carnforth 8 52.49x
Welford 8 105.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 149
Elizabeth 104
Sarah 75
Ellen 53
Jane 51
Emma 43
Ann 39
Annie 34
Alice 33
Louisa 31
Eliza 28
Hannah 25
Edith 24
Kate 22
Charlotte 20
Emily 20
Fanny 20
Harriet 20
Martha 20
Caroline 19
Ada 17
Margaret 15
Florence 14
Clara 13
Susan 12
Maria 11
Anne 10
Rose 10
Elizth. 9
Harriett 9
Lucy 9
Catherine 8
Lydia 8
Agnes 7
Amy 7
Matilda 7
Minnie 7
Amelia 5
Beatrice 5
Esther 5
Frances 5
Georgina 5
Jessie 5
Rachel 5
Rebecca 5
Rhoda 5
Sophia 5
Gertrude 4
Helen 4
Isabella 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 152
John 118
George 111
Thomas 81
James 73
Charles 65
Henry 54
Joseph 42
Alfred 37
Albert 36
Edward 34
Frederick 28
Arthur 24
Francis 17
Harry 17
Robert 16
Walter 15
Ernest 14
Herbert 14
Richard 14
Edwin 13
Samuel 11
Thos. 11
David 9
Frank 7
Daniel 5
Sidney 5
Stephen 5
Sydney 5
Geo. 4
Peter 4
Philip 4
Benjamin 3
Josiah 3
Abel 2
Abraham 2
Emden 2
Frances 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Geo.H. 2
Henery 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Jacob 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Robt. 2
Thos.Wm. 2

FAQ

Dance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,400 people were recorded with the Dance surname. That placed it at #1,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,964 in 2016. That gives Dance a modern rank of #2,273.

What does the Dance surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a dancer or dancing master, or a nickname for someone who was an accomplished dancer.

What does the Dance map show?

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