NameCensus.

UK surname

Danish

An ethnic surname derived from the Danish people or region.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Danish surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 127, ranked #26,566, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sidbury, Stockport and Chigwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Brent and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Danish is 127 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2440.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

2016

127 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Danish had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Danish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Danish surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Danish 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 101 #20,955
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 63 #28,881
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 24 #35,488
1999 modern 25 #35,413
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 27 #35,041
2002 modern 31 #34,866
2003 modern 30 #35,046
2004 modern 30 #35,186
2005 modern 44 #34,255
2006 modern 55 #33,688
2007 modern 57 #33,800
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 92 #31,366
2011 modern 85 #32,127
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Danishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sidbury, Stockport, Chigwell, St James Clerkenwell and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Brent, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. 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 Sidbury Devon
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Chigwell Essex
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 029 Brighton and Hove
2 Brent 007 Brent
3 Newham 011 Newham
4 Redbridge 014 Redbridge
5 Waltham Forest 018 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Danish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Danish

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Danish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Danish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Danish is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Danish is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Danish falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Danish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Danish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Danish

The surname Danish has its origins in Denmark, where it first emerged in the 11th century. It likely derived from the Old Norse word "Danr," which referred to the people of Denmark. The earliest recorded instances of the name appeared in Danish parish records and historical documents from the medieval period.

One notable early bearer of the surname was Knud Danish, a Danish nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. He was mentioned in the Liber Census Daniæ, an important census record compiled in 1188. Another early example is Thorvald Danish, a Danish soldier who fought in the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219, as recorded in the Annales Regni Daniæ.

In the 13th century, the name Danish began to spread beyond Denmark's borders as Danish merchants and traders settled in other parts of Europe. It can be found in medieval records from cities like Hamburg and Lübeck, where Danish communities had established themselves.

During the Renaissance period, several individuals with the surname Danish gained prominence. Niels Danish (1456-1531) was a Danish theologian and scholar who contributed to the translation of the Bible into Danish. Hans Danish (1488-1554) was a renowned Danish painter and architect who worked on various churches and castles throughout Denmark.

In the 17th century, the surname Danish appeared in the British Isles, likely brought by Danish immigrants. One notable bearer was Anders Danish (1611-1683), a Danish-born merchant who settled in London and became a prominent figure in the city's Danish community.

Another important figure was Christen Danish (1702-1778), a Danish-born explorer and navigator who accompanied Vitus Bering on his expeditions to the Arctic and the North Pacific. His contributions to cartography and the exploration of the Pacific Northwest were significant.

In the 19th century, the surname Danish continued to be found in various parts of Europe and North America. One notable individual was Peter Danish (1836-1912), a Danish-American artist and sculptor who was part of the Hudson River School of American landscape painting.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Danish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Danish 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Danishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 6.19x
Surrey 1 4.23x
Yorkshire 1 2.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 2 Danishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 168.07x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 2 168.07x
Hackney London 1 36.76x
Lambeth 1 23.64x
Selby 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Emilie 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2

Top occupations

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 Danish households.

FAQ

Danish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Danish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Danish surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Danish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Danish a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Danish surname mean?

An ethnic surname derived from the Danish people or region.

What does the Danish map show?

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