NameCensus.

UK surname

Dangerfield

From a place called Dangerville in Normandy, or indicating someone who lived near a dangerous field or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 871 people recorded with the Dangerfield surname, ranking it #4,351 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,048, ranked #5,561, down from #4,351 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Darlaston and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Stafford and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dangerfield is 1,142 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

871

Ranked #4,351

Modern count

1,048

2016, ranked #5,561

Peak year

1999

1,142 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dangerfield had 871 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,351 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,048 in 2016, ranked #5,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,106 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dangerfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dangerfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dangerfield 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 660 #3,927
1861 historical 637 #4,207
1881 historical 871 #4,351
1891 historical 916 #4,511
1901 historical 1,025 #4,657
1911 historical 1,106 #4,197
1997 modern 1,077 #5,170
1998 modern 1,122 #5,169
1999 modern 1,142 #5,138
2000 modern 1,110 #5,235
2001 modern 1,092 #5,203
2002 modern 1,074 #5,375
2003 modern 1,070 #5,293
2004 modern 1,066 #5,326
2005 modern 1,041 #5,373
2006 modern 1,034 #5,415
2007 modern 1,032 #5,468
2008 modern 1,014 #5,588
2009 modern 1,047 #5,566
2010 modern 1,060 #5,600
2011 modern 1,076 #5,471
2012 modern 1,048 #5,504
2013 modern 1,067 #5,523
2014 modern 1,076 #5,520
2015 modern 1,054 #5,560
2016 modern 1,048 #5,561

Geography

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Where Dangerfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Darlaston, London parishes, Lambeth and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Stafford and Harlow. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Darlaston Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 006 Stroud
2 Stafford 008 Stafford
3 Harlow 011 Harlow
4 Stroud 004 Stroud
5 Stroud 005 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dangerfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dangerfield

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

Dangerfield is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dangerfield

The surname Dangerfield is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "denger" meaning a villager and "feld" meaning an open field or clearing. It is believed to have originated in the region of Buckinghamshire, England, during the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dengerfelde." This entry refers to a village or settlement in Buckinghamshire, suggesting that the name was initially used to identify someone from that particular location.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various documents and records with spellings such as "Dengerfeld" and "Dengerfeild." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Dangerfield, a knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was known for his service to King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France.

Another prominent individual with this surname was John Dangerfield, a 17th-century English author and spy. He was born in 1644 and gained notoriety for his involvement in the Popish Plot, a supposed Catholic conspiracy to overthrow King Charles II.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with several places in England, such as Dangerfield Park in Buckinghamshire and Dangerfield Hall in Cheshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, further reinforcing its English origins.

Thomas Dangerfield, born in 1766, was a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Guildhall in Bath and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

A more recent example is Rodney Dangerfield, the American comedian and actor born in 1921. Although his birth name was Jacob Cohen, he adopted the stage name Rodney Dangerfield, which became synonymous with his comedic persona and catchphrase "I don't get no respect."

Throughout its history, the surname Dangerfield has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, reflecting the heritage and origins of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dangerfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dangerfield 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. Staffordshire leads with 168 Dangerfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.84x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 168 5.84x
Gloucestershire 163 9.76x
Middlesex 106 1.24x
Surrey 104 2.51x
Warwickshire 60 2.79x
Wiltshire 45 5.98x
Worcestershire 34 3.06x
Essex 24 1.43x
Hampshire 23 1.32x
Lancashire 21 0.21x
Kent 17 0.59x
Glamorgan 15 1.01x
Midlothian 13 1.14x
Berkshire 11 1.72x
Shropshire 10 1.36x
Somerset 9 0.66x
Yorkshire 9 0.11x
Northamptonshire 8 1.00x
Oxfordshire 6 1.14x
Perthshire 5 1.31x
Hertfordshire 4 0.68x
Sussex 4 0.28x
Bedfordshire 2 0.45x
Devon 2 0.11x
Herefordshire 2 0.57x
Brecknockshire 1 0.59x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.19x
Channel Islands 1 0.40x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Orkney 1 1.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlaston in Staffordshire leads with 57 Dangerfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.47x.

Place Total Index
Darlaston 57 143.47x
Aston 48 8.12x
West Bromwich 28 17.02x
Camberwell 25 4.60x
Tipton 21 23.86x
West Ham 21 5.66x
Cheltenham 19 14.75x
Kingstanley 19 307.94x
Lambeth 19 2.56x
Harborne 18 19.54x
Islington London 16 1.94x
Penge 16 29.41x
Stroud 16 49.23x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 2.83x
Willenhall 13 24.15x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 12 39.27x
Horsley 12 162.16x
Minchinhampton 12 90.16x
Kensington London 11 2.32x
Dawley 10 37.36x
Bethnal Green London 9 2.43x
Birmingham 9 1.26x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.02x
Dudley 9 6.66x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 9 169.49x
Saul 9 517.24x
Swindon 9 15.41x
Westbury On Trym 9 15.91x
Arlingham 8 437.16x
Corhampton 8 1379.31x
Hampstead London 8 6.03x
Liverpool 8 1.30x
Newington 8 2.54x
Sedgley 8 7.49x
Bisley 7 46.27x
Bow London 7 6.46x
Coaley 7 325.58x
Ogbourne St Andrew 7 542.64x
Stourbridge 7 24.47x
Walcot 7 9.59x
Walton On Thames 7 36.75x
Clapham 6 5.64x
Devizes St John 6 106.01x
Ealing 6 7.88x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.31x
New Windsor 6 27.92x
Portsea 6 1.75x
Streatham 6 9.50x
Wednesbury 6 8.35x
West Derby 6 2.03x
Wolverhampton 6 2.71x
Aberavon 5 36.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.18x
Cannock 5 9.97x
Canterbury St Mary 5 25.64x
Hammersmith London 5 2.38x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 9.20x
Irthlingborough 5 63.69x
Kings Norton 5 5.01x
Margam 5 30.23x
Reading St Giles 5 7.97x
Rock 5 112.61x
Shipton Under Wychwood 5 147.93x
St Luke London 5 3.66x
Barnes 4 22.79x
Bermondsey 4 1.58x
Fulham London 4 3.24x
Hackney London 4 0.84x
Scone 4 58.91x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.67x
Swansea Town 4 3.29x
Brading 3 12.93x
Chiswick 3 6.45x
Croydon 3 1.30x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 38.81x
Newent 3 35.34x
Rodborough 3 37.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 1.75x
Tettenhall 3 17.07x
Westbury On Severn 3 45.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 39
John 36
William 36
George 25
Henry 24
James 19
Joseph 19
Charles 15
Arthur 14
Edward 14
Albert 12
Alfred 12
Samuel 10
Walter 9
Richard 8
Frederick 7
Ernest 6
Percy 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Daniel 4
Fredk. 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Stephen 4
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Moses 3
A. 2
Alf 2
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Aubrey 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
H. 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Reuben 2
Robert 2
Robt. 2
Athelstan 1
Ben 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Egbert 1
Eli 1
Isac 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dangerfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dangerfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 871 people were recorded with the Dangerfield surname. That placed it at #4,351 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dangerfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,048 in 2016. That gives Dangerfield a modern rank of #5,561.

What does the Dangerfield surname mean?

From a place called Dangerville in Normandy, or indicating someone who lived near a dangerous field or pasture.

What does the Dangerfield map show?

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