NameCensus.

UK surname

Darwen

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Darwen surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Rossendale and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darwen is 293 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.1%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

1911

293 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darwen had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Darwen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darwen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darwen 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 94 #17,837
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 263 #12,717
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 235 #16,458
2000 modern 218 #17,246
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 214 #17,854
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 220 #18,265
2011 modern 209 #18,730
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 217 #18,493
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Darwens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Preston, Blackburn, Manchester and Chorley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Rossendale, South Ribble and Fylde. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Manchester Cheshire
5 Chorley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 006 Lancaster
2 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
3 South Ribble 008 South Ribble
4 South Ribble 004 South Ribble
5 Fylde 007 Fylde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darwen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darwen

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Darwen 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

Darwen is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Darwen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darwen 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. Lancashire leads with 142 Darwens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 142 7.35x
Yorkshire 12 0.74x
Warwickshire 5 1.22x
Cumberland 4 2.85x
Middlesex 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.82x
Lincolnshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 21 Darwens recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.60x.

Place Total Index
Preston 21 40.60x
Lancaster 20 173.91x
Walton Le Dale 15 289.02x
Wrightington 15 1785.71x
Tottington Higher End 11 500.00x
Blackburn 8 15.56x
Chorley 8 73.73x
Over Darwen 8 51.81x
Skelmersdale 8 248.45x
Fishwick 7 583.33x
Pendleton In Salford 6 26.05x
Habergham Eaves 5 28.30x
Ingleton 5 549.45x
Birmingham 4 2.92x
Elton 4 59.88x
Parton 4 481.93x
York St Giles In 4 263.16x
Aughton 3 157.07x
Brightside Bierlow 1 3.16x
Hornsey 1 4.85x
Leamington 1 36.76x
Leeds 1 1.10x
Little Bolton 1 4.02x
Paddington London 1 1.67x
Scarisbrick 1 44.64x
St Maryle Wigford 1 49.51x
Streatley 1 277.78x
Warrington 1 4.36x
Worsbrough 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 13
Thomas 9
William 7
George 6
James 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Edward 3
Robert 3
Harry 2
Alexander 1
Alexandria 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Dison 1
Edmond 1
Enoch 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jacson 1
Mathew 1
Septimous 1
Thos.E. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Darwen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darwen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Darwen surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darwen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Darwen a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Darwen map show?

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