NameCensus.

UK surname

Dane

A surname denoting Danish descent or origin.

In the 1881 census there were 660 people recorded with the Dane surname, ranking it #5,439 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 752, ranked #7,274, down from #5,439 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Peterborough and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dane is 777 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.9%.

1881 census count

660

Ranked #5,439

Modern count

752

2016, ranked #7,274

Peak year

2000

777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dane had 660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,439 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016, ranked #7,274.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 735 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dane 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 537 #4,693
1861 historical 643 #4,172
1881 historical 660 #5,439
1891 historical 684 #5,723
1901 historical 699 #6,295
1911 historical 735 #5,846
1997 modern 753 #6,864
1998 modern 764 #6,999
1999 modern 769 #7,002
2000 modern 777 #6,934
2001 modern 741 #7,040
2002 modern 729 #7,265
2003 modern 719 #7,230
2004 modern 723 #7,205
2005 modern 704 #7,310
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 693 #7,484
2008 modern 693 #7,547
2009 modern 731 #7,387
2010 modern 762 #7,301
2011 modern 738 #7,405
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 723 #7,545
2014 modern 746 #7,410
2015 modern 750 #7,303
2016 modern 752 #7,274

Geography

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Where Danes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Eyam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Peterborough, Sevenoaks and Bassetlaw. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Eyam Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Peterborough 011 Peterborough
4 Sevenoaks 015 Sevenoaks
5 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dane

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dane is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dane is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dane falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dane

The surname DANE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "Dene" which meant "a Danish person" or "a Dane". This name was likely given to individuals who either came from Denmark or had Danish ancestry during the Viking Age in England.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DANE can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "de Dena". This suggests that the name was already in use in England prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed that the name may have been brought to England by Danish settlers or Vikings during their invasions and subsequent settlements in various parts of the country.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname DANE was Robert de Dene, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, during the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Dane, a prominent English politician and soldier who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the early 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname DANE appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One notable figure from this period was Edmund Dane, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname DANE continued to be found throughout England, particularly in the southwestern counties. One notable individual from this period was Sir Ralph Dane (1619-1695), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset.

Another prominent bearer of the surname DANE was John Dane (1692-1778), an English clergyman and author who was born in Somerset. He wrote several works on theology and religion during his lifetime.

As the surname DANE spread across England, it also began to appear in various place names and locales. For example, there is a village called Dane End in Hertfordshire, and another called Danes Moss in Cheshire. These place names likely derived from the presence of Danish settlers in those areas during the Viking Age.

Overall, the surname DANE has a rich history and heritage that can be traced back to the early days of the Danish presence in England. Its prevalence in certain regions of the country, as well as its appearance in historical records and place names, reflects the significant impact that Danish settlers and Vikings had on the development of English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dane 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. Kent leads with 158 Danes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.20x.

County Total Index
Kent 158 7.20x
Middlesex 105 1.63x
Lancashire 62 0.81x
Derbyshire 43 4.27x
Norfolk 39 3.95x
Surrey 34 1.09x
Staffordshire 23 1.06x
Cheshire 20 1.41x
Northumberland 20 2.09x
Durham 17 0.89x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.62x
Lincolnshire 12 1.17x
Roxburghshire 12 10.31x
Sussex 12 1.11x
Somerset 10 0.97x
Shropshire 9 1.62x
Essex 7 0.55x
Worcestershire 7 0.83x
Yorkshire 7 0.11x
Devon 6 0.45x
Hampshire 6 0.46x
Pembrokeshire 4 1.96x
Warwickshire 4 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.35x
Brecknockshire 2 1.56x
Hertfordshire 2 0.45x
Leicestershire 2 0.28x
Oxfordshire 2 0.50x
Wiltshire 2 0.35x
Angus 1 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Buteshire 1 2.57x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.88x
Denbighshire 1 0.41x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Fife 1 0.26x
Herefordshire 1 0.38x
Kincardineshire 1 1.28x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Renfrewshire 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.31x
Rutland 1 2.12x
Stirlingshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Faversham in Kent leads with 58 Danes recorded in 1881 and an index of 277.25x.

Place Total Index
Faversham 58 277.25x
Paddington London 25 10.58x
Glossop Dale 17 36.07x
Ashford 14 65.54x
Shoreditch London 13 4.67x
Everton 12 4.94x
Folkestone 12 28.21x
Hackney London 12 3.33x
Dover St James 10 104.06x
Liverpool 10 2.16x
Eyam 9 320.28x
Ludworth 9 189.87x
Milton In Milton 9 96.57x
Nottingham St Mary 9 4.02x
Repps Cum Bastwick 9 1525.42x
Wednesbury 9 16.60x
Great Grimsby 8 12.26x
Hawick 8 30.70x
Runcorn 8 24.45x
Tooting Graveney 8 91.74x
Ardwick 7 10.17x
Aylesford 7 115.13x
Castleton 7 489.51x
Dudley 7 6.86x
Great Yarmouth 7 8.55x
Islington London 7 1.12x
Kensington London 7 1.96x
Shouldham Thorpe 7 1147.54x
Burradon In Rothbury 6 2222.22x
Camberwell 6 1.46x
Easington 6 1818.18x
East Chinnock 6 468.75x
Pittington 6 111.52x
Bow London 5 6.11x
East Thickley 5 128.87x
Horsham 5 23.75x
Hougham 5 38.34x
Marham 5 303.03x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.65x
Southwark Christchurch 5 16.60x
Stretford 5 11.91x
Wellington 5 16.02x
Wooler 5 148.81x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.43x
Castle Church 4 30.67x
Cornsay 4 77.67x
Gillingham 4 8.85x
Hampstead London 4 4.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 13.48x
Llandewy Velfrey 4 303.03x
Maidstone 4 6.12x
Monks Coppenhall 4 7.47x
Newington 4 1.68x
North Meols 4 5.36x
Nottingham St Peter 4 41.41x
Penge 4 9.74x
Rainham 4 66.34x
Seaton 4 77.52x
Shouldham 4 287.77x
St Luke London 4 3.88x
Stone In Dartford 4 71.05x
Wednesfield 4 12.53x
West Ham 4 1.43x
Wilton 4 31.30x
Baschurch 3 78.95x
Brighton 3 1.37x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 14.13x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.12x
Hornsey 3 3.69x
Lee 3 9.42x
Leftwich 3 47.62x
Manchester 3 0.87x
Minster In Sheppey 3 8.26x
Molesworth 3 652.17x
Preston 3 1.47x
Salford 3 1.34x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 18.56x
Toxteth Park 3 1.16x
Walsall Foreign 3 2.68x
Woolwich 3 3.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 26
Charles 21
George 20
Thomas 18
James 17
Edward 13
Henry 13
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Samuel 9
Frederick 8
Arthur 6
Benjamin 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Harry 3
Patrick 3
Richard 3
Robt. 3
Walter 3
Willm. 3
A. 2
Anthony 2
Arnold 2
Edmund 2
Emanuel 2
Ernest 2
Godfrey 2
Jacob 2
Michael 2
Uriah 2
Archibald 1
Clement 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Emma 1
Felden 1
Frank 1
Fredric 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Laurence 1
Lewis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 660 people were recorded with the Dane surname. That placed it at #5,439 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016. That gives Dane a modern rank of #7,274.

What does the Dane surname mean?

A surname denoting Danish descent or origin.

What does the Dane map show?

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