NameCensus.

UK surname

Darcey

A French locational surname meaning "of Arcy", a place in northern France.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Darcey surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Swithin, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Chichester and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darcey is 255 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.1%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

91

2016, ranked #32,109

Peak year

1901

255 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Darcey had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016, ranked #32,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 255 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Darcey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darcey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darcey 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1891 historical 236 #13,278
1901 historical 255 #12,965
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 85 #31,247
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 91 #32,109

Geography

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Where Darceys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Swithin, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Wirksworth (Callow, Hopton, Ible, Middleton), Griff Grange. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Chichester, Calderdale and Calderwood West and Nerston. 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 Lincoln St Swithin Lincolnshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Wirksworth (Callow, Hopton, Ible, Middleton), Griff Grange Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 004 South Kesteven
2 Chichester 004 Chichester
3 Calderdale 021 Calderdale
4 Calderwood West and Nerston South Lanarkshire
5 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darcey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darcey

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Darcey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Darcey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Darcey is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Darcey is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darcey falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Darcey 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Darcey

The surname Darcey has its origins in France, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "d'Arci" or "d'Arcy," which referred to a specific location or village. This name likely evolved over time into its current spelling, Darcey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darcey can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England compiled in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname had already established a presence in England by the late 11th century, possibly as part of the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert d'Arcy lived in Lincolnshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a knight during the reign of King John (1199-1216). Another individual named Thomas Darcey (1370-1432) was a clergyman and scholar who served as the Chancellor of Oxford University in the early 15th century.

During the Tudor period, the Darcey family gained prominence in England. Sir Thomas Darcey (1506-1568) was a courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries and was appointed as the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.

In the 17th century, a man named Michael Darcey (1638-1726) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Ireland. He was involved in the linen trade and owned substantial property in County Armagh.

Another notable figure with the surname Darcey was John Darcey (1785-1858), an English artist and engraver. He is best known for his engravings of portraits and historical scenes, many of which were commissioned by the British Royal Family.

As the surname spread across different regions and countries, variations in spelling emerged, such as Darcy, D'Arcy, and D'Arcie. Additionally, some place names like Arcy-sur-Eure in northern France and D'Arcy in Lincolnshire, England, are believed to have contributed to the evolution of this surname.

Overall, the surname Darcey has a rich history spanning several centuries and is deeply rooted in the medieval period, with connections to both France and England. Its origins can be traced back to specific locations or villages, and it has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including nobility, clergy, diplomacy, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darcey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darcey 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. Yorkshire leads with 56 Darceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 56 2.76x
Lancashire 29 1.19x
Lincolnshire 27 8.24x
Middlesex 25 1.22x
Midlothian 19 6.92x
Staffordshire 13 1.88x
Kent 12 1.72x
Cheshire 7 1.55x
Durham 6 0.98x
Lanarkshire 5 0.75x
Surrey 3 0.30x
Derbyshire 2 0.62x
Bedfordshire 1 0.94x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.16x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 3.37x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.36x
Roxburghshire 1 2.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 18 Darceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.94x.

Place Total Index
Sculcoates 18 55.94x
Lasswade 17 271.13x
Liverpool 13 8.81x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 84.16x
Bracebridge 9 604.03x
Gillingham 8 55.52x
St Maryle Wigford 8 314.96x
St Pancras London 8 4.85x
Leeds 7 6.11x
Darfield 6 324.32x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 49.02x
Poplar London 6 15.52x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 116.50x
Wolstanton Chesterton 5 141.64x
Halifax 4 13.42x
Hart 4 270.27x
Islington London 4 2.01x
Linthorpe 4 33.03x
Birkenhead 3 8.32x
Bothwell 3 16.69x
Everton 3 3.87x
Kirkdale 3 7.34x
Lewisham 3 8.05x
Middlesbrough 3 11.35x
Salford 3 4.20x
St Giles In Fields London 3 29.85x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 3 74.63x
Burton Upon Trent 2 12.36x
Chesterfield 2 16.64x
Hulme 2 3.94x
Newchurch 2 10.06x
Norwood 2 42.74x
Potter Newton 2 55.87x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 43.38x
Ashby Cum Fenby 1 526.32x
Barony 1 0.60x
Beswick 1 16.08x
Canterbury St Mary 1 21.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.59x
Croydon 1 1.80x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 14.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.91x
Glasgow 1 0.85x
Kirkcudbright 1 40.82x
Lilliesleaf 1 200.00x
Llanelly 1 5.14x
Monkwearmouth 1 17.15x
Moreton 1 232.56x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.40x
Portsea 1 1.22x
Sharnbrook 1 169.49x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.77x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.40x
Stoke 1 21.23x
Sudbrooke 1 2500.00x
Thornaby 1 13.19x
Wavertree 1 12.85x
Woking 1 16.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Margaret 7
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Caroline 1
Edith 1
El. 1
Eliza. 1
Elizth 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Margrett 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nilreanera 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
George 7
James 7
Patrick 6
Edward 5
Thomas 5
William 4
Charles 3
Jeremiah 3
Michael 3
Stephen 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Andrew 1
Dav. 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Hadin 1
Henry 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Miles 1
Morris 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Tho. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Darcey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darcey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Darcey surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darcey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Darcey a modern rank of #32,109.

What does the Darcey surname mean?

A French locational surname meaning "of Arcy", a place in northern France.

What does the Darcey map show?

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