NameCensus.

UK surname

Dando

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "danden" meaning "to be idle or gentle".

In the 1881 census there were 1,110 people recorded with the Dando surname, ranking it #3,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,032, ranked #3,169, up from #3,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dando is 2,191 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.1%.

1881 census count

1,110

Ranked #3,587

Modern count

2,032

2016, ranked #3,169

Peak year

1999

2,191 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dando had 1,110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,032 in 2016, ranked #3,169.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,593 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dando surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dando surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dando 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 646 #4,019
1861 historical 444 #5,826
1881 historical 1,110 #3,587
1891 historical 722 #5,467
1901 historical 1,593 #3,241
1911 historical 1,554 #3,118
1997 modern 2,101 #2,936
1998 modern 2,153 #2,972
1999 modern 2,191 #2,952
2000 modern 2,169 #2,953
2001 modern 2,102 #2,981
2002 modern 2,150 #2,984
2003 modern 2,104 #2,973
2004 modern 2,084 #3,013
2005 modern 2,019 #3,059
2006 modern 2,026 #3,049
2007 modern 2,012 #3,114
2008 modern 2,010 #3,138
2009 modern 2,041 #3,158
2010 modern 2,107 #3,140
2011 modern 2,077 #3,143
2012 modern 2,029 #3,154
2013 modern 2,070 #3,151
2014 modern 2,107 #3,119
2015 modern 2,065 #3,147
2016 modern 2,032 #3,169

Geography

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Where Dandos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton, Bedwelty and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset and Purbeck. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 027 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Purbeck 005 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dando

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dando

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Dando surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dando household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Dando 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

Dando is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dando 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 Dando 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 Dando, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dando

The surname Dando has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dand" or "donden," which means "idler" or "lazy person." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone perceived as lazy or idle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dando can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1273, which mentions a person named Johanna Dando. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name Dando appeared in various records across different counties in England, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which listed a William Dando. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records that documented the names of individuals subject to taxation.

The Dando surname has also been associated with several place names in England, including the village of Dando in Somerset. This village's name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dene," meaning a valley, and the word "dun," meaning a hill or down. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Dando may have originated from or lived in this area.

One notable individual with the surname Dando was John Dando (1570-1647), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Rector of Chumleigh in Devon. He was known for his work titled "The Penitent Pardoned," published in 1647.

Another notable figure was Sir John Dando (1756-1832), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1815 for his military service.

In the 19th century, John Baptist Dando (1806-1866) was a prominent English sculptor known for his work on the Albert Memorial in London. He also created sculptures for various churches and public buildings throughout England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dando surname in the United States can be found in the 17th century, with the arrival of Robert Dando, who settled in Virginia in 1636.

Throughout history, the Dando surname has been spelled in various ways, including Dando, Dando, Dandoe, and Dandoo, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that occurred over time and across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dando families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dando 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 282 Dandos recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.22x.

County Total Index
Somerset 282 16.22x
Gloucestershire 223 10.53x
Monmouthshire 139 17.81x
Middlesex 86 0.80x
Staffordshire 75 2.06x
Glamorgan 70 3.72x
Yorkshire 30 0.28x
Brecknockshire 29 13.43x
Surrey 28 0.53x
Worcestershire 28 1.99x
Durham 26 0.81x
Lancashire 25 0.20x
Sussex 13 0.71x
Northamptonshire 10 0.98x
Warwickshire 9 0.33x
Derbyshire 7 0.41x
Wiltshire 6 0.63x
Berkshire 5 0.62x
Kent 5 0.14x
Herefordshire 3 0.68x
Dorset 2 0.28x
Banffshire 1 0.45x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Devon 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Frampton Cotterell in Gloucestershire leads with 61 Dandos recorded in 1881 and an index of 821.00x.

Place Total Index
Frampton Cotterell 61 821.00x
Westerleigh 51 1073.68x
Radstock 37 323.71x
Paulton 36 452.26x
Midsomer Norton 30 183.15x
Trevethin 30 40.69x
Bedwellty 29 21.04x
Dudley 28 16.33x
Aberystruth 22 31.97x
Kingswinford 22 16.62x
Sedgley 22 16.25x
Cannock 19 29.87x
Castleford 18 46.19x
Llanelly 17 65.79x
Wedmore 17 150.31x
Chilcompton 16 672.27x
Shoreditch London 16 3.42x
St Woollos 15 17.22x
Cardiff St Mary 14 13.52x
Farrington Gurney 14 707.07x
High Littleton 13 454.55x
Walcot 13 14.04x
Bethnal Green London 12 2.56x
Camberwell 12 1.74x
Farmborough 12 383.39x
Hindley 12 21.97x
Lyncombe Widcombe 12 26.37x
Newport 12 32.22x
St Luke London 12 6.93x
St Pancras London 12 1.38x
Llanhilleth 11 214.43x
Llantrisant 11 23.21x
Roath 11 12.88x
Bradford 9 3.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 4.51x
Clifton 9 8.41x
Coldashton 9 625.00x
Compton Dando 9 743.80x
Iron Acton 9 210.28x
Portishead 9 69.66x
Clutton 8 212.20x
Hove 8 10.01x
Lower Ystradgynlais 8 60.06x
Mangotsfield 8 37.90x
Sunderland Bridge 8 157.17x
Winterbourne 8 68.38x
Yate 8 172.41x
Bristol St Paul In 7 12.41x
Cameley 7 358.97x
Chipping Sodbury 7 177.22x
Tudhoe 7 24.90x
Upper Llanvrechva 7 57.71x
Weedon Beck 7 96.15x
Westoe 7 3.84x
Birmingham 6 0.66x
Bradford On Avon 6 19.63x
Hackney London 6 0.99x
Litchurch 6 8.82x
Clerkenwell London 5 1.96x
Combe Hay 5 724.64x
Friern Barnet 5 21.02x
Hawkesbury 5 69.35x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 2.77x
Reading St Mary 5 7.70x
Rowley Regis 5 4.92x
St John Near Swansea 5 21.51x
Ystradyfodwg 5 3.03x
Brecknock St David 4 68.97x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 4 20.74x
Cardiff St John 4 6.51x
Gelligaer 4 9.32x
Hemington 4 185.19x
Llanwenarth Ultra 4 70.18x
Manchester 4 0.69x
Sutton 4 9.31x
Tandridge 4 176.99x
Timsbury 4 75.90x
Twerton 4 22.32x
Wapley Codrington 4 392.16x
Westbury On Trym 4 5.57x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dando surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dando surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,110 people were recorded with the Dando surname. That placed it at #3,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dando surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,032 in 2016. That gives Dando a modern rank of #3,169.

What does the Dando surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "danden" meaning "to be idle or gentle".

What does the Dando map show?

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