NameCensus.

UK surname

Darge

A surname derived from a Scottish clan associated with the district of Gairloch, Ross-shire.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Darge surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Polmont and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Muirhouse, Arun and Drylaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darge is 129 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1901

129 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darge had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Darge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darge 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Darges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Polmont, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Athelstaneford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Muirhouse, Arun, Drylaw, West Pilton and Troon. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Polmont Stirling
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Athelstaneford Haddington

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Muirhouse City of Edinburgh
2 Arun 015 Arun
3 Drylaw City of Edinburgh
4 West Pilton City of Edinburgh
5 Troon South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darge

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Darge 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

Darge 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

Darge 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 Darge 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 Darge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Darge

The surname Darge has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "dearg," meaning "red" or "ruddy," suggesting that the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a reddish complexion or hair color.

The earliest known record of the Darge surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Darge family may have held land and notable status in Scotland during this time period.

In the 15th century, the Darge name appeared in various charters and records in the Scottish counties of Fife and Angus, indicating that the family had established roots in these regions. One notable figure from this era was John Darge, a merchant and burgess of Dundee, who was involved in trade with the Netherlands in the late 1400s.

By the 16th century, the Darge surname had spread to other parts of Scotland, with records showing individuals bearing the name in Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, and the Highlands. One notable figure from this time was William Darge, a Presbyterian minister who was born in Fife in 1585 and served as the minister of the parish of Kilconquhar.

In the 17th century, the Darge family continued to maintain a presence in Scotland, with several members serving as clergymen, lawyers, and landowners. One noteworthy individual was Robert Darge, a Covenanter who was born in Angus in 1620 and was imprisoned for his religious beliefs during the Scottish Reformation.

As the Darge surname spread throughout Scotland and into other parts of the British Isles, variations in spelling emerged, including Darge, Darg, Dargie, and Dergie. The name also appeared in areas with strong Scottish influence, such as Ulster in Northern Ireland, where several Darge families settled during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Darge surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including Sir Thomas Darge, a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century; James Darge, a prominent merchant and shipowner in Aberdeen in the 18th century; and William Darge, a Scottish poet and writer who was born in Fife in 1823 and published several volumes of poetry and prose.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darge 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. Midlothian leads with 29 Darges recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.99x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 29 19.99x
East Lothian 22 153.42x
Stirlingshire 15 37.57x
Lanarkshire 13 3.71x
Middlesex 9 0.83x
Staffordshire 6 1.64x
Aberdeenshire 5 4.99x
Kent 4 1.08x
Yorkshire 3 0.28x
Perthshire 2 4.12x
Northumberland 1 0.62x
Royal Navy 1 7.75x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 16 Darges recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.42x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 27.42x
Athelstaneford 10 3571.43x
Barony 9 10.16x
Polmont 8 544.22x
St George In East London 8 78.59x
Falkirk 7 74.87x
Rugeley 6 229.01x
South Leith 6 36.76x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 23.89x
Haddington 5 235.85x
Corstorphine 4 500.00x
Dirleton 4 714.29x
Govan 4 4.62x
Berwick North 3 300.00x
Milton In Gravesend 3 54.15x
Scone 2 232.56x
Sheffield 2 5.85x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 29.33x
Borthwick 1 153.85x
Chapel Allerton 1 62.11x
Cramond 1 90.91x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 108.70x
Lambeth 1 1.06x
Minster In Sheppey 1 16.34x
Royal Navy 1 9.07x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 44.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Clara 2
Maria 2
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Euphemia 1
Harriet 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
John 2
William 2
Charles 1
Chas 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Darge households.

FAQ

Darge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Darge surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Darge a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Darge surname mean?

A surname derived from a Scottish clan associated with the district of Gairloch, Ross-shire.

What does the Darge map show?

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