NameCensus.

UK surname

Dare

An English surname derived from the Old English word "dēor," meaning brave, bold, or daring.

In the 1881 census there were 1,297 people recorded with the Dare surname, ranking it #3,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,975, ranked #3,258, down from #3,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stoke St Gregory and Curry, North. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, West Dorset and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dare is 2,032 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.3%.

1881 census count

1,297

Ranked #3,158

Modern count

1,975

2016, ranked #3,258

Peak year

1999

2,032 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dare had 1,297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,975 in 2016, ranked #3,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,828 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dare surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dare surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dare 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 799 #3,345
1861 historical 837 #3,296
1881 historical 1,297 #3,158
1891 historical 1,450 #3,022
1901 historical 1,617 #3,197
1911 historical 1,828 #2,697
1997 modern 1,969 #3,093
1998 modern 2,019 #3,136
1999 modern 2,032 #3,144
2000 modern 1,990 #3,175
2001 modern 1,925 #3,206
2002 modern 2,004 #3,169
2003 modern 1,988 #3,132
2004 modern 1,987 #3,134
2005 modern 1,936 #3,169
2006 modern 1,940 #3,178
2007 modern 1,949 #3,194
2008 modern 1,972 #3,176
2009 modern 1,998 #3,213
2010 modern 2,010 #3,259
2011 modern 1,969 #3,277
2012 modern 1,943 #3,260
2013 modern 1,998 #3,246
2014 modern 2,022 #3,237
2015 modern 1,979 #3,264
2016 modern 1,975 #3,258

Geography

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Where Dares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stoke St Gregory, Curry, North, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, West Dorset, Taunton Deane and Exeter. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Stoke St Gregory Somerset
3 Curry, North Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 007 East Devon
2 East Devon 005 East Devon
3 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
4 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
5 Exeter 003 Exeter

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dare

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dare

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dare household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dare is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dare is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dare falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dare 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dare

The surname "Dare" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "daru" or "deor," meaning a wild animal or deer. It is believed to have first appeared as a surname in the 12th century, primarily used as a nickname for someone who possessed certain characteristics associated with a deer, such as swiftness or shyness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Dare" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, dating back to 1195, where it appears as "Deor." This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century in the southern English county of Sussex.

In the 13th century, the surname "Dare" started to appear in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a "William Dere" in Oxfordshire. This variant spelling, "Dere," was likely an earlier form of the name.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname "Dare." However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as "Dereham" in Norfolk and "Derebury" in Shropshire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "Dare" was John Dare, a merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the 14th century. He is mentioned in the city's records from 1346 to 1379.

During the 16th century, the name gained prominence with Sir Edward Dare (c. 1510-1586), an English lawyer and member of parliament who served as Clerk of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Nathaniel Dare (c. 1610-1659), an English colonial leader and one of the earliest settlers of Virginia. He served as a member of the Council of State in the Virginia Colony and was involved in the establishment of the Dare County, named after him.

In the 18th century, Richard Dare (1718-1786) was a prominent English engraver and painter, known for his landscape illustrations and portraits.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname "Dare" was associated with various literary figures, including Mary Dare (1788-1858), an English poet, and Ethel Dare (1863-1952), an American author and playwright.

While the surname "Dare" has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British colonization and migration. Today, it can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dare 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 239 Dares recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.89x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 239 1.89x
Somerset 208 10.24x
Devon 154 5.87x
Surrey 114 1.85x
Glamorgan 74 3.37x
Essex 64 2.57x
Dorset 57 6.89x
Suffolk 43 2.80x
Gloucestershire 41 1.66x
Warwickshire 37 1.16x
Derbyshire 28 1.42x
Staffordshire 27 0.63x
Monmouthshire 25 2.74x
Leicestershire 24 1.72x
Lancashire 21 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 14 1.75x
Hampshire 14 0.54x
Yorkshire 13 0.10x
Sussex 12 0.56x
Wiltshire 10 0.90x
Worcestershire 10 0.61x
Cheshire 8 0.29x
Kent 8 0.19x
Anglesey 6 2.68x
Berkshire 6 0.63x
Hertfordshire 6 0.69x
Rutland 5 5.40x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.24x
Angus 3 0.26x
Northamptonshire 3 0.25x
Northumberland 2 0.11x
Royal Navy 2 1.33x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.27x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Perthshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Curry in Somerset leads with 46 Dares recorded in 1881 and an index of 665.70x.

Place Total Index
North Curry 46 665.70x
Shoreditch London 33 6.04x
Stoke St Gregory 32 518.64x
Hampstead London 24 12.22x
Lambeth 24 2.18x
Aston 20 2.28x
St Luke London 20 9.89x
Birmingham 17 1.60x
Finchingfield 17 217.95x
Hinckley 16 48.24x
Islington London 16 1.31x
Bridgewater 15 27.21x
Clare 15 203.80x
Seaton 15 148.22x
Exeter St Sidwell 14 23.28x
Kilmington 14 645.16x
Llandaff 14 19.16x
Shute 14 560.00x
Wootton Fitzpaine 14 1443.30x
Ilminster 13 91.68x
Paddington London 13 2.80x
St George Hanover Square 13 5.85x
Colyton 12 119.05x
Roath 12 12.03x
Steeple Bumpstead 12 263.16x
Ystradyfodwg 12 6.23x
Glemsford 11 101.95x
Hackney London 11 1.56x
Putney 11 19.13x
St George In East London 11 9.27x
St Woollos 11 10.81x
Swansea Town 11 6.11x
Hempstead 10 367.65x
Hornsey 10 6.27x
Wrington 10 146.84x
Battersea 9 1.94x
Chigwell 9 38.30x
Clifton 9 7.20x
Coyty Lower 9 63.11x
Hammersmith London 9 2.90x
Huntspill 9 108.30x
Llanvihangel Crucorney 9 468.75x
Marshwood 9 620.69x
Newington 9 1.93x
Sedgley 9 5.69x
St Pancras London 9 0.89x
Taunton St Mary 9 24.15x
Alvaston 8 142.10x
Bury 8 4.68x
Cardiff St John 8 11.15x
Ealing 8 7.10x
Litchurch 8 10.07x
Long Melford 8 56.02x
Oldham 8 1.66x
Stockland 8 210.53x
Stoke Newington London 8 8.14x
Worcester St Peter 8 25.66x
Bilston 7 8.48x
Chipstable 7 496.45x
Croydon 7 2.05x
Hanwell 7 31.31x
Iron Acton 7 140.00x
Keighley 7 5.25x
Salisbury St Thomas 7 79.19x
West Monkton 7 156.60x
Awliscombe 6 259.74x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 13.37x
Cheddar 6 58.71x
Derby All Sts 6 36.39x
Derby St Alkmund 6 10.14x
Fordington 6 33.65x
Fulbourn 6 78.53x
Holyhead 6 14.40x
Kirkley 6 46.69x
Malborough 6 57.47x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.24x
Portsea 6 1.18x
Sidbury 6 106.76x
Sutton 6 13.49x
Willand 6 413.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Elizabeth 55
Sarah 31
Eliza 29
Jane 24
Ellen 22
Ann 21
Annie 21
Emma 21
Emily 20
Alice 16
Louisa 14
Charlotte 13
Susan 13
Harriet 12
Kate 12
Lucy 10
Maria 10
Caroline 8
Hannah 8
Harriett 8
Laura 7
Margaret 7
Bessie 6
Rose 6
Susannah 6
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Ada 4
Anne 4
Edith 4
Eva 4
Henrietta 4
Jessie 4
Minnie 4
Rebecca 4
Anna 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Ida 3
Jemima 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Rhoda 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2
Avise 2
Clara 2
Lillian 2
Lizzie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 85
William 63
George 58
James 36
Henry 28
Thomas 28
Charles 26
Joseph 19
Walter 16
Edward 14
Frederick 14
Albert 13
Robert 13
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Samuel 10
Francis 8
Harry 8
Richard 8
Frank 6
Isaac 6
Edmund 5
Edwin 5
Herbert 4
Mark 4
Patrick 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Edwd. 3
Eli 3
Ernest 3
Michael 3
Richd. 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Augustus 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Fredk. 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Levi 2
Percy 2
Roger 2
Sam 2
Charls 1
Ellis 1

FAQ

Dare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,297 people were recorded with the Dare surname. That placed it at #3,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,975 in 2016. That gives Dare a modern rank of #3,258.

What does the Dare surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "dēor," meaning brave, bold, or daring.

What does the Dare map show?

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