NameCensus.

UK surname

Dansey

A variant form of the locational surname "Dancy" derived from Danseys in Devon.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Dansey surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Great and Little Horksley, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brentwood, Waltham Forest and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dansey is 150 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1911

150 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dansey had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Dansey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dansey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dansey 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 141 #22,794
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 127 #24,384
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

Back to top

Where Danseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Great and Little Horksley, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Lambeth and Devonport Stoke Damerel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brentwood, Waltham Forest, Colchester and Thurrock. 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 Great and Little Horksley Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Devonport Stoke Damerel Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brentwood 003 Brentwood
2 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
3 Colchester 022 Colchester
4 Thurrock 002 Thurrock
5 Thurrock 006 Thurrock

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dansey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dansey

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Dansey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Dansey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dansey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dansey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dansey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dansey

The surname Dansey is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dene," which referred to a valley or a hollow. The name likely originated as a reference to someone who lived in or near a valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Dansey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the exact spelling may have varied slightly, the name appears to have been present in various parts of England during this time.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, records show individuals with variations of the name Dansey living in various counties across England, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucestershire. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include Daneseye, Daunseye, and Dawnsey.

One notable individual with the surname Dansey was Sir John Dansey, who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He was a knight and landowner in Oxfordshire and served as a Member of Parliament for the county in 1399.

Another significant figure was Sir Thomas Dansey, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a wealthy merchant and landowner in London and served as an alderman and sheriff of the city.

In the 17th century, the Dansey family established themselves as prominent landowners in Oxfordshire, with their estate centered around the village of Dancy, which likely derived its name from the family.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Dansey made notable contributions in various fields. For example, Reverend Dansey (1774-1842) was a prominent clergyman and author who wrote several works on religious topics.

Another individual of note was John Dansey (1693-1767), who was a successful businessman and philanthropist in London. He made significant donations to various charitable causes and was instrumental in establishing schools and hospitals in the city.

While the surname Dansey has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration during the colonial era. However, the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely originated as a reference to those living in or near valleys or hollows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dansey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dansey 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. Essex leads with 50 Danseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.78x.

County Total Index
Essex 50 22.78x
Middlesex 15 1.35x
Surrey 8 1.48x
Gloucestershire 7 3.21x
Lancashire 7 0.53x
Shropshire 7 7.29x
Durham 4 1.21x
Kent 4 1.05x
Glamorgan 3 1.55x
Radnorshire 2 22.30x
Somerset 2 1.12x
Wiltshire 2 2.03x
Berkshire 1 1.20x
Dorset 1 1.37x
Herefordshire 1 2.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 12 Danseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.76x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 12 24.76x
Great Horkesley 8 2666.67x
Islington London 8 7.42x
Lexden 8 909.09x
Lambeth 7 7.22x
Ludford 7 3888.89x
Ampney Crucis 6 2857.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 20.80x
Wanstead 6 156.25x
Black Notley 5 2000.00x
St Luke London 5 28.04x
Dawdon 4 98.28x
Wormingford 4 2222.22x
Clase 3 41.67x
Deptford St Paul 3 10.25x
Bath St James 2 106.95x
Colchester St Botolph 2 106.95x
Great Oakley 2 571.43x
Knighton 2 273.97x
Little Horkesley 2 2500.00x
Bexley 1 29.85x
Bishopstone 1 212.77x
Box 1 119.05x
Charlwood 1 192.31x
Ealing 1 10.06x
Everton 1 2.38x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 1 196.08x
Letcombe Regis 1 625.00x
Mile End 1 250.00x
Pembridge 1 200.00x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 1 263.16x
St Marylebone London 1 1.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
Frederick 6
William 6
Charles 4
George 4
James 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
Claude 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Guy 1
Mathew 1
Shadrack 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dansey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dansey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Dansey surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dansey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Dansey a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Dansey surname mean?

A variant form of the locational surname "Dancy" derived from Danseys in Devon.

What does the Dansey map show?

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