NameCensus.

UK surname

Dark

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a grove of trees or in a dark valley.

In the 1881 census there were 1,097 people recorded with the Dark surname, ranking it #3,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,374, ranked #4,389, down from #3,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dark is 1,391 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

1,097

Ranked #3,619

Modern count

1,374

2016, ranked #4,389

Peak year

2014

1,391 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dark had 1,097 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,374 in 2016, ranked #4,389.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,330 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dark surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dark 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 793 #3,363
1861 historical 1,050 #2,669
1881 historical 1,097 #3,619
1891 historical 1,237 #3,490
1901 historical 1,246 #3,973
1911 historical 1,330 #3,594
1997 modern 1,310 #4,375
1998 modern 1,308 #4,545
1999 modern 1,327 #4,511
2000 modern 1,344 #4,439
2001 modern 1,319 #4,436
2002 modern 1,363 #4,388
2003 modern 1,333 #4,389
2004 modern 1,318 #4,433
2005 modern 1,291 #4,452
2006 modern 1,249 #4,613
2007 modern 1,271 #4,569
2008 modern 1,281 #4,569
2009 modern 1,325 #4,530
2010 modern 1,353 #4,533
2011 modern 1,354 #4,482
2012 modern 1,309 #4,546
2013 modern 1,368 #4,453
2014 modern 1,391 #4,418
2015 modern 1,369 #4,431
2016 modern 1,374 #4,389

Geography

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Where Darks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and East and West Lavington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, South Gloucestershire, Ceredigion and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 East and West Lavington Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
2 Torridge 002 Torridge
3 South Gloucestershire 027 South Gloucestershire
4 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
5 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dark

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dark

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dark, 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 Dark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dark 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dark 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

Dark is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dark falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dark is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dark

The surname DARK is believed to have originated in England, likely during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "deorc," which means "dark" or "obscure." This surname was likely given to individuals with a dark complexion or those who lived in a shaded or forested area.

The earliest recorded instances of the DARK surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Derk" and "Derke," reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the DARK surname was William Derk, who lived in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 12th century. Another notable bearer of this name was John Dark, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was born in 1520 and played a significant role in the city's trade with the Americas.

The DARK surname can also be traced to place names, such as the town of Darke, located in Wiltshire, England. This town's name is derived from the Old English word "deorc," indicating that the area was likely heavily forested or shaded.

During the Middle Ages, the DARK surname was also found in various parts of Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, where it was spelled as "Dunkel" or "Donker," respectively. These variations likely emerged as a result of migration and cultural exchanges.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the DARK surname. One such figure was Sir William Dark (1594-1668), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another was Samuel Dark (1722-1801), a British mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the fields of geodesy and navigation.

Other notable bearers of the DARK surname include:

1. Anita Dark (1858-1937), a British suffragette and activist for women's rights. 2. Robert Dark (1887-1952), an Australian soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross for his bravery during World War I. 3. Eleanor Dark (1901-1985), an Australian writer and novelist known for her works exploring the themes of identity and belonging. 4. Martin Dark (1953-present), a British musician and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Feeder. 5. Anna Dark (1964-present), a Swedish actress and model who has appeared in various films and television shows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dark 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 164 Darks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.55x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 164 1.55x
Gloucestershire 152 7.34x
Devon 135 6.14x
Surrey 94 1.83x
Somerset 84 4.94x
Wiltshire 82 8.78x
Warwickshire 50 1.88x
Worcestershire 47 3.41x
Kent 39 1.08x
Dorset 25 3.61x
Glamorgan 23 1.25x
Staffordshire 22 0.62x
Sussex 22 1.24x
Cornwall 21 1.76x
Lanarkshire 20 0.59x
Yorkshire 16 0.15x
Hampshire 14 0.65x
Durham 11 0.35x
Lancashire 11 0.09x
Essex 8 0.38x
Oxfordshire 6 0.92x
Renfrewshire 6 0.73x
Monmouthshire 5 0.65x
Shropshire 4 0.44x
Berkshire 3 0.38x
Cumberland 3 0.33x
Bedfordshire 2 0.37x
Herefordshire 2 0.46x
Northumberland 2 0.13x
Royal Navy 2 1.59x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.32x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.43x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 55 Darks recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.39x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 55 57.39x
Bideford 31 131.58x
Lambeth 29 3.15x
West Lavington 29 647.32x
Aston 28 3.82x
Bethnal Green London 26 5.67x
St Marylebone London 18 3.19x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 17 8.71x
Camberwell 17 2.52x
Newington 16 4.10x
Old Shoreham 15 1666.67x
Chelsea London 14 4.40x
St Pancras London 14 1.65x
Islington London 13 1.27x
Kidderminster Borough 13 16.10x
Stoke Damerel 13 8.45x
Bristol St Paul In 12 21.74x
Hammersmith London 12 4.61x
Sourton 12 645.16x
Parkham 11 379.31x
Weston 11 84.10x
Abbotsbury 10 282.49x
Sundridge 10 166.39x
Tudhoe 10 36.36x
Walcot 10 11.04x
Wellington 10 43.37x
Birmingham 9 1.01x
Edgbaston 9 10.89x
Greenwich 9 5.35x
Rutherglen 9 17.95x
Bedminster 8 5.01x
Bermondsey 8 2.54x
Childs Wyckham 8 490.80x
Edington 8 237.39x
Handsworth 8 9.10x
Instow 8 337.55x
Llanrhidian Higher 8 68.49x
Stratton On The Fosse 8 800.00x
Dudley 7 4.17x
Glasgow 7 1.15x
Honiton 7 57.52x
Linkinhorne 7 84.03x
Little Bedwyn 7 382.51x
Swansea Town 7 4.64x
Twining 7 225.08x
Wolverhampton 7 2.55x
Bristol St Stephen 6 111.52x
Brize Norton 6 215.83x
Clifton 6 5.73x
Devizes St James 6 48.35x
East Greenock 6 7.76x
Littleham 6 37.31x
Melksham 6 36.99x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.67x
Paddington London 6 1.54x
Spitalfields London 6 7.55x
St Clether 6 769.23x
Upperswinford 6 51.41x
Yeovil 6 17.37x
Bathwick 5 26.57x
Bitton 5 27.73x
Brasted 5 107.07x
Cardiff St Mary 5 4.93x
Castleford 5 13.12x
Clevedon 5 28.28x
Corsham 5 36.68x
Enford 5 157.73x
Fulham London 5 3.26x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 13.19x
Gloucester St Nicholas 5 52.14x
Hampstead London 5 3.04x
Normanby In 5 17.86x
Nutfield 5 128.53x
Portsea 5 1.18x
Ratcliffe London 5 8.57x
St Clement Danes London 5 22.87x
Wandsworth 5 4.92x
Arreton 4 57.64x
Lyme Regis 4 48.19x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 2.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 43
George 34
Henry 27
Samuel 24
Charles 22
Joseph 22
James 21
Thomas 21
Frederick 17
Alfred 15
Albert 12
Arthur 10
Edwin 10
Frank 9
Richard 9
Herbert 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Stephen 7
Edward 6
Francis 5
Harry 5
Andrew 4
David 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Isaac 3
Mark 3
Sydney 3
Ambrose 2
Fredrick 2
Infant 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Willie 2
Alexander 1
Bengeman 1
Benjn. 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edw.J. 1
Elias 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Jacob 1
Jame 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,097 people were recorded with the Dark surname. That placed it at #3,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dark surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,374 in 2016. That gives Dark a modern rank of #4,389.

What does the Dark surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a grove of trees or in a dark valley.

What does the Dark map show?

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