NameCensus.

UK surname

Darville

Locational surname derived from Darville, a place name in France.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Darville surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, South Staffordshire and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darville is 245 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 147.9%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

2014

245 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darville had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Darville surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darville surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darville 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 159 #17,219
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 216 #17,364
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 218 #17,131
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 232 #17,293
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Darvilles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, St Pancras and Harrow-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Croydon, South Staffordshire, Wyre, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Swindon. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Harrow-on-the-Hill Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Croydon 041 Croydon
2 South Staffordshire 012 South Staffordshire
3 Wyre 011 Wyre
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 009 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Swindon 015 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darville

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darville

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Darville surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Darville household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Darville 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

Darville 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

Darville falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Darville is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Darville

The surname Darville is of French origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from the Old French word "darve," which translates to "great" or "noble," and the suffix "-ville," meaning "town" or "village." This combination suggests that the name was initially associated with an individual who hailed from a prominent town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darville can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named Reinald de Darville, who held properties in various parts of Normandy, France.

During the 12th century, the Darville family established themselves as influential nobles in the region of Picardy, located in northern France. Records from this period indicate that a knight named Raoul de Darville fought alongside King Philip II of France during the Third Crusade (1189-1192). His bravery and loyalty to the crown earned him the title "Seigneur de Darville," signifying his status as a lord of the Darville estate.

In the 14th century, a branch of the Darville family migrated to England, where they settled in the county of Lincolnshire. One notable member of this lineage was Sir John Darville (1325-1387), a prominent knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. Sir John's military exploits earned him recognition, and he was appointed as the Governor of Lincoln Castle in 1368.

Another distinguished figure bearing the Darville name was Jacques de Darville (1520-1586), a French painter and architect who gained renown during the Renaissance period. His masterpiece, the Château de Chenonceau, is considered one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture and is still admired for its exquisite design and craftsmanship.

In the 17th century, the Darville family established roots in the New World, with several members settling in the French colonies of Canada and Louisiana. One such individual was Pierre Darville (1650-1718), a fur trader and explorer who played a crucial role in establishing trade routes along the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes region.

As the centuries passed, the Darville surname continued to spread across various regions, with notable individuals emerging from different backgrounds and professions. For instance, Marie-Anne Darville (1720-1799) was a renowned French opera singer who performed at the prestigious Opéra Comique in Paris, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darville 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 37 Darvilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 4.04x
Buckinghamshire 19 34.28x
Surrey 19 4.25x
Yorkshire 9 0.99x
Berkshire 5 7.27x
Gloucestershire 3 1.67x
Hertfordshire 1 1.58x
Lancashire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Kimble in Buckinghamshire leads with 10 Darvilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 7692.31x.

Place Total Index
Great Kimble 10 7692.31x
Battersea 9 26.68x
Bowling 9 100.00x
Harrow 8 571.43x
Hammersmith London 7 31.00x
Princes Risborough 7 945.95x
Edgware 6 2307.69x
Newington 6 17.72x
Harrow On The Hill 5 273.22x
New Windsor 5 216.45x
St Pancras London 4 5.42x
Camberwell 2 3.42x
Cheltenham 2 14.42x
St George Hanover Square 2 12.38x
St Marylebone London 2 4.09x
Wendover 2 333.33x
Cheshunt 1 45.25x
Croydon 1 4.03x
Hackney London 1 1.95x
Kensington London 1 1.96x
Paddington London 1 2.97x
Richmond 1 15.97x
Toxteth Park 1 2.71x
Winchcomb 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Alice 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Avis 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Kezia 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Paiscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 6
James 4
Arthur 3
George 3
Henry 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Joseph 1
Lemington 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Darville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Darville surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Darville a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Darville surname mean?

Locational surname derived from Darville, a place name in France.

What does the Darville map show?

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