NameCensus.

UK surname

Danskin

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "Dànasgaidh" meaning "son of the Dane."

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Danskin surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, down from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Markinch and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Danskin is 297 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.6%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2009

297 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Danskin had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 235 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Danskin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Danskin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Danskin 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 204 #14,702
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 266 #14,658
1998 modern 274 #14,759
1999 modern 275 #14,789
2000 modern 263 #15,228
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 272 #14,930
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 274 #14,769
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 290 #15,096
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 275 #15,459
2013 modern 289 #15,142
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 286 #15,270
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Danskins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Markinch, Ryton, Newburn and Newcastle St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cheshire East and Kennoway and Bonnybank. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Markinch Fife
3 Ryton Durham
4 Newburn Northumberland
5 Newcastle St John Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 003 Leeds
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Leeds 004 Leeds
4 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
5 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Danskin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Danskin

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Danskin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Danskin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Danskin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Danskin is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Danskin 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 Danskin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Danskin

The surname Danskin has its origins in Scotland and is believed to have emerged around the 13th century. It is derived from the old Scottish surname "Denzelstoun" or "Denzelston", which referred to individuals who hailed from the lands of Denzelston, a small village located near the town of Haddington in East Lothian.

The name Denzelston itself is thought to have been derived from the Old English words "dene" meaning a valley or dell, and "zels" which was a personal name, combined with the word "tun" signifying a farmstead or settlement. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the name evolved, giving rise to various forms such as Danskin, Danzekin, and Denzelon.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of instruments of homage and fealty to King Edward I of England. These rolls list several individuals with the surname Denzelstoun or variations thereof, hailing from various parts of Scotland.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Danskin, who served as the Provost of Edinburgh from 1488 to 1489. He played a significant role in the city's governance and administration during his tenure.

Another prominent individual was Robert Danskin, a Scottish merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, who lived in the latter half of the 16th century. He was involved in various trade and commercial activities, contributing to the city's economic development.

During the 17th century, the name Danskin can be found in various ecclesiastical records, such as those of the Church of Scotland. One notable example is Reverend William Danskin, who served as the minister of the parish of Kilconquhar in Fife from 1654 to 1684.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was James Danskin, born in 1720, who was a successful merchant and landowner in the Scottish Borders region. He acquired significant wealth and property, leaving a lasting legacy for his family.

Another individual of note was Sir John Danskin, born in 1765, who pursued a distinguished military career and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General in the British Army. He served in various campaigns and conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars.

Over the centuries, the Danskin surname has been associated with various places and locations within Scotland, such as the village of Denzelston in East Lothian, as well as areas in the Scottish Borders and Fife regions, where members of the family have lived and flourished.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Danskin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Danskin 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. Northumberland leads with 50 Danskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.40x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 50 21.40x
Fife 36 38.72x
Lanarkshire 32 6.30x
Durham 18 3.85x
Lancashire 11 0.59x
Stirlingshire 7 12.08x
Midlothian 5 2.38x
Perthshire 2 2.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newburn Hall in Northumberland leads with 31 Danskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 7045.45x.

Place Total Index
Newburn Hall 31 7045.45x
Markinch 25 791.14x
New Monkland 22 146.57x
Benwell 11 431.37x
Winlaton 11 245.54x
Newton 8 55.71x
Stirling 7 95.89x
Govan 6 4.78x
Leslie 6 255.32x
Murton 5 2083.33x
Glasgow 4 4.44x
Kirkcaldy 4 86.77x
North Leith 3 30.80x
Stella 3 750.00x
Bishopwearmouth 2 4.99x
Dunblane 2 118.34x
Great Bolton 2 8.10x
Sugley 2 1666.67x
Didsbury 1 40.49x
Dysart 1 15.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.18x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 22.88x
Gateshead 1 2.86x
Southwick 1 22.62x
Wallbottle 1 200.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Sarah 2
Grace 1
Isabella 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 8
Robert 8
Thomas 5
Andrew 3
James 3
John 3
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Benjiman 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Gage 1
Jno. 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Danskin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Danskin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Danskin surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Danskin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Danskin a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Danskin surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "Dànasgaidh" meaning "son of the Dane."

What does the Danskin map show?

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