NameCensus.

UK surname

Darrington

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Darrington in West Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Darrington surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, up from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eaton Socon with Wyboston, Barford, Great and Alfreton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darrington is 574 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.0%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

2010

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darrington had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 519 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darrington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darrington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darrington 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 296 #8,532
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 374 #9,930
1911 historical 519 #7,618
1997 modern 545 #8,727
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 567 #8,766
2000 modern 567 #8,733
2001 modern 555 #8,747
2002 modern 570 #8,740
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 550 #8,784
2006 modern 529 #9,084
2007 modern 529 #9,160
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 564 #8,989
2010 modern 574 #9,064
2011 modern 561 #9,118
2012 modern 543 #9,264
2013 modern 541 #9,459
2014 modern 555 #9,316
2015 modern 541 #9,451
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Darringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eaton Socon with Wyboston, Barford, Great, Alfreton, Enfield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Eaton Socon with Wyboston Huntingdonshire
2 Barford, Great Bedfordshire
3 Alfreton Derbyshire
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
2 Bedford 004 Bedford
3 Huntingdonshire 018 Huntingdonshire
4 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
5 Huntingdonshire 022 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darrington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darrington

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Darrington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Darrington 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

Darrington 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 Darrington 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Darrington

The surname Darrington is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Darrington, a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words 'deor' meaning deer and 'tun' meaning enclosure or farmstead, suggesting it was once a place where deer were kept or hunted.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Darrington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Derintone'. This historical record provides valuable insight into the early origins and spelling variations of the surname.

In the 13th century, a documented reference to the name appears in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1219, listing a person named William de Derington. This illustrates the transition of the surname from its place name roots to a hereditary family name.

Notable individuals with the surname Darrington include John Darrington, who served as the Mayor of York in 1494. Records also show a Robert Darrington, born in 1547, who was a prominent merchant and landowner in Yorkshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Darrington family established themselves as influential landowners and gentry in various parts of Yorkshire. One such individual was Sir Thomas Darrington, born in 1602, who was knighted for his services to the Crown during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name appears in records relating to the nearby village of Pontefract, where a family of Darringtons owned substantial properties and estates. One member of this family, William Darrington (1712-1788), was a respected magistrate and philanthropist in the local community.

As the centuries progressed, the Darrington name continued to be associated with various professions and occupations, including clergymen, lawyers, and merchants. Notably, Reverend John Darrington (1786-1864) was a prominent Church of England clergyman who served as the vicar of Pontefract for over three decades.

These examples illustrate the rich history and regional significance of the surname Darrington, which can be traced back to its origins in the Yorkshire village that bore its name. The name has endured through centuries, carried by individuals who have left their mark in various walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darrington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darrington 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. Bedfordshire leads with 74 Darringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.91x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 74 57.91x
Middlesex 56 2.27x
Derbyshire 41 10.61x
Yorkshire 21 0.86x
Huntingdonshire 14 28.57x
Cambridgeshire 7 4.48x
Gloucestershire 5 1.03x
Kent 5 0.59x
Northamptonshire 5 2.15x
Sussex 5 1.20x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.20x
Essex 3 0.62x
Lanarkshire 2 0.25x
Surrey 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.54x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.67x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.59x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.56x
Norfolk 1 0.26x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Roxton in Bedfordshire leads with 35 Darringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7446.81x.

Place Total Index
Roxton 35 7446.81x
Enfield 19 117.36x
Great Barford 15 2238.81x
Alfreton 14 119.25x
Islington London 14 5.85x
Codnor Loscoe 11 359.48x
Eaton Socon 10 497.51x
South Normanton 8 295.20x
St Luke London 7 17.68x
Gamlingay 6 368.10x
Potton 6 352.94x
Bedford St Paul 5 57.08x
Brampton Ash 5 5000.00x
Brighton 5 5.96x
Kimberworth 5 36.85x
Newland 5 122.85x
Somersham 5 420.17x
Wales 5 259.07x
Woodhurst 5 1785.71x
Brightside Bierlow 4 8.34x
Greenwich 4 10.18x
Hackney London 4 2.89x
Leeds 4 2.90x
St George In East London 4 17.23x
Whittington 4 74.77x
Bedford St Peter 3 90.36x
West Ham 3 2.79x
Blackwell 2 105.26x
Govan 2 1.01x
Hemingford Grey 2 266.67x
Mark Eaton 2 344.83x
Sheffield 2 2.57x
Snenton 2 15.30x
Abergavenny 1 14.97x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.93x
Boughton Under Blean 1 70.92x
Chatteris 1 25.06x
Clewer 1 13.18x
Coventry St Michael 1 5.00x
Edmonton 1 5.03x
Egham 1 13.55x
Fletton 1 63.69x
Hampstead London 1 2.60x
Hornsey 1 3.20x
Lambeth 1 0.46x
Layston 1 109.89x
Llanwonno 1 6.48x
Macclesfield 1 4.13x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.16x
Nottingham Standard 1 117.65x
Sculcoates 1 2.58x
Shoreditch London 1 0.93x
Spotland 1 3.07x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 161.29x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.20x
Tilney Cum Islington 1 400.00x
Tottenham 1 2.54x
Warboys 1 70.42x
Wycombe 1 8.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 17
James 12
Joseph 9
Samuel 8
Thomas 7
George 5
Charles 3
Cornelius 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Leonard 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benj.R. 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frank 1
Fredk.C. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hewitt 1
Johnathan 1
Jonas 1
L. 1
Levi 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Darrington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darrington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Darrington surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darrington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Darrington a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Darrington surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Darrington in West Yorkshire.

What does the Darrington map show?

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