NameCensus.

UK surname

Darren

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "deor" meaning "deer".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Darren surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 165, ranked #22,234, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bentham, Silkstone and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Harrogate and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darren is 165 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

165

2016, ranked #22,234

Peak year

2015

165 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darren had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016, ranked #22,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 120 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Darren surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darren surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darren 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 70 #31,016
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 73 #31,186
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 165 #22,241
2016 modern 165 #22,234

Geography

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Where Darrens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bentham, Silkstone, St Leonard Shoreditch, Portland and Boxted. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Harrogate, Flintshire, Isle of Wight and Havering. 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 Bentham Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Portland Dorset
5 Boxted Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 020 Bradford
2 Harrogate 019 Harrogate
3 Flintshire 001 Flintshire
4 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
5 Havering 008 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darren

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darren

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Darren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Darren household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Darren 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

Darren is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darren falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Darren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Darren

The surname DARREN is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "deor," meaning "deer," and the suffix "-ing," denoting a place or group of people. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near a deer park or were associated with hunting or tending to deer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Deringhe," referring to a settlement in Buckinghamshire. This place name likely evolved into various spellings, such as Deringes, Deringe, and eventually, DARREN.

During the 13th century, the name DARREN gained prominence in the county of Somerset, where it is believed to have originated. Records from this period mention individuals like William de Derynges (born circa 1250) and John Derynges (born circa 1275), who held lands in the region.

In the 14th century, the DARREN surname spread to other parts of England, including Devon and Gloucestershire. Notable figures from this era include Sir Richard Darren (1320-1392), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War, and Alice Darren (born circa 1350), a landholder in Somerset.

By the 16th century, the spelling of the name had largely stabilized to its modern form, DARREN. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. One prominent individual was William DARREN (1515-1589), a merchant and landowner in Somerset who served as a magistrate.

In the 17th century, the DARREN surname continued to spread across England, with pockets of concentration in the southern and western regions. Notable bearers of the name from this era include Captain John DARREN (1620-1678), a naval officer who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and Elizabeth DARREN (born circa 1650), a wealthy landowner in Devon.

Throughout its history, the surname DARREN has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, soldiers, and civil servants. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has maintained a consistent presence in various regions of England over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darren families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darren 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1 Darrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 32.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Darrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.87x.

Place Total Index
Govan 1 129.87x

FAQ

Darren surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darren surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Darren surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darren surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016. That gives Darren a modern rank of #22,234.

What does the Darren surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "deor" meaning "deer".

What does the Darren map show?

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