UK surname
An Nigerian surname representing an influential family or clan.
In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Darey surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #21,957 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darey is 631 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.1%.
1881 census count
82
Ranked #21,957
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1891
631 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Darey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Darey surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 170 | #11,780 |
| 1861 | historical | 529 | #4,961 |
| 1881 | historical | 82 | #21,957 |
| 1891 | historical | 631 | #6,133 |
| 1901 | historical | 199 | #15,173 |
| 1911 | historical | 255 | #12,719 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 43 | #33,576 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes, St Pancras and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Darey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Darey, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Darey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Darey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Darey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Darey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Darey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Darey has its origins in England and is believed to have appeared during the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 14th centuries. Darey is derived from the Old English elements "deor," meaning "deer," and "eg," meaning "island" or "low-lying land." This surname likely described someone who lived near a deer park or an area frequented by deer.
The regions associated with the Darey surname are predominantly located in southern England, such as Devon and Somerset. The name can be found in various historical documents, often seeing different spellings due to the lack of standardized spelling in the medieval era. Some early variations include Dary, Darry, and Derey.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Darey appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, where a John Darey is listed. Such tax records were essential for understanding the distribution and economy of the population at the time. Another mention occurs in the Poll Tax records of 1379 in Yorkshire, where a William Darey is noted.
Prominent individuals bearing this name include Thomas Darey, born around 1420, who was a notable landowner in Devon. He participated in local governance, contributing to the social and economic framework of his region. John Darey, born in 1533 and died in 1596, made significant contributions to early modern naval endeavors, serving under renowned admiral Sir Francis Drake.
Mary Darey, born in 1621, was a known herbalist in her local community, utilizing traditional knowledge passed down through generations. She was a remarkable figure during a time when female practitioners were rare and often overlooked in historical records.
In the 18th century, Richard Darey, born in 1745, broke new ground as an early industrialist in the textile industry of Somerset. He played a critical role in developing nascent industrial processes that would eventually contribute to the Industrial Revolution.
Edward Darey, born in 1778, was a prominent figure in the agricultural reforms of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, utilizing innovative farming techniques that improved crop yields and efficiency in Wiltshire.
Throughout its history, the Darey surname has been associated with a variety of professions and has undergone numerous transformations. Its origins are deeply rooted in the medieval English landscape, encapsulating both the cultural and socio-economic shifts of the times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 25 Dareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 25 | 2.60x |
| Middlesex | 25 | 3.09x |
| Yorkshire | 15 | 1.87x |
| Royal Navy | 5 | 51.81x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.21x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 3.42x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.73x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.51x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.09x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.59x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.71x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.80x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hillingdon in Middlesex leads with 15 Dareys recorded in 1881 and an index of 581.40x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hillingdon | 15 | 581.40x |
| Leeds | 11 | 24.28x |
| Chorley | 8 | 148.42x |
| Manchester | 7 | 16.20x |
| Bromley London | 6 | 33.69x |
| Newchurch | 5 | 63.61x |
| Middlesbrough | 4 | 38.28x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.82x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 2 | 56.82x |
| Newport | 2 | 71.68x |
| Wolstanton | 2 | 24.10x |
| Accrington | 1 | 11.45x |
| Bath St James | 1 | 73.53x |
| Bow London | 1 | 9.70x |
| Egloshayle | 1 | 232.56x |
| Heaton Norris | 1 | 18.28x |
| Heigham | 1 | 14.97x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 10.55x |
| Levenshulme | 1 | 101.01x |
| Llandaff | 1 | 21.32x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 1 | 13.48x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 26.18x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 6.14x |
| Ventnor | 1 | 63.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Darey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Darey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Darey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Darey surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Darey a modern rank of #35,648.
An Nigerian surname representing an influential family or clan.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Darey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.