UK surname
Derived from the Greek name Dionysios, meaning "of Dionysos" or "devoted to Dionysos," the Greek god of wine.
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Danis surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 68, ranked #33,826, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Danis is 398 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 580.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
68
2016, ranked #33,826
Peak year
1861
398 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Danis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Danis surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 398 | #6,441 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 254 | #12,598 |
| 1901 | historical | 65 | #26,917 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 30 | #34,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 53 | #34,315 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 61 | #34,228 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 70 | #33,782 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 68 | #33,826 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary Whitechapel, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Danis surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Danis, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Danis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Danis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Danis is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Danis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Danis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DANIS is of French origin, derived from the medieval French personal name "Denis" or "Denys," which itself comes from the Latin name "Dionysius." This name was borne by a 3rd-century saint who was the first bishop of Paris and is the patron saint of France.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname DANIS can be traced back to the 12th century in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. It is believed that the name may have originated as a patronymic, meaning "son of Denis," or as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a church or location dedicated to Saint Denis.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no recorded instances of the surname DANIS. However, there are several entries for variants of the given name Denis, such as Denisus and Dionisius.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname DANIS was Jean Danis, a French nobleman who lived in the 13th century and was a member of the Knights Templar. Another notable figure was Guillaume Danis, a French merchant and explorer who was part of the first French expedition to Canada in the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, Jacques Danis (1620-1692) was a French Jesuit missionary who established several missions among the Native American tribes in what is now the state of Michigan. His work helped to spread Christianity and French influence in the Great Lakes region.
During the French Revolution, a prominent figure with the surname DANIS was François-Marie Danis (1758-1794), a French lawyer and politician who was a member of the National Convention and an ally of Maximilien Robespierre.
In the 19th century, Louis-Édouard Danis (1817-1890) was a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Augustin and the Lycée Janson de Sailly.
Another distinguished bearer of the surname DANIS was Maurice Danis (1886-1968), a French painter and engraver who was part of the Symbolist movement and is known for his imaginative and dreamlike works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Danis surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 7 Danis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 45.02x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 5.90x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.87x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.03x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peterat Gowts Lincoln in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Danis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3181.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Peterat Gowts Lincoln | 7 | 3181.82x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 107.53x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 18.35x |
| Salford | 1 | 29.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Danis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Danis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Danis households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Fireman | 1 |
| Groom (N D) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Danis surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 68 in 2016. That gives Danis a modern rank of #33,826.
Derived from the Greek name Dionysios, meaning "of Dionysos" or "devoted to Dionysos," the Greek god of wine.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Danis bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.