UK surname
A surname derived from the German word meaning "valley" or "dale."
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Daun surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, London parishes and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daun is 281 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.9%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
281 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Daun surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Daun surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 99 | #17,294 |
| 1861 | historical | 281 | #8,921 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 171 | #16,733 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 84 | #29,537 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 73 | #31,186 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 82 | #32,048 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 84 | #32,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 86 | #32,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 91 | #32,219 |
| 2015 | modern | 88 | #32,421 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, London parishes, St John Hackney, Ilkeston and Peterculter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Ilkeston | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Peterculter | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Daun surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Daun, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Daun surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Daun household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Daun is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Daun is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Daun, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Daun is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the town of Daun, located in the Eifel region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The name is derived from the German word "Dun," which means "hill" or "mound," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have resided near or on a hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Daun can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Rheno-Mosellanus, a collection of medieval documents from the Moselle and Rhine regions, dating back to the 12th century. In this collection, there are references to individuals bearing the name "de Dune" or "de Duna," which are likely early variations of the surname Daun.
During the Middle Ages, the Daun family held significant influence and power in the Eifel region. In the 13th century, a nobleman named Heinrich von Daun is mentioned in historical records as the owner of the castle Daun and the surrounding lands. This castle, now in ruins, was a strategic fortification that played a role in the region's defense during that time.
One of the most notable figures with the surname Daun was Leopold Joseph Maria Reichsgraf von Daun, an Austrian field marshal who lived from 1705 to 1766. He gained fame for his military successes during the Seven Years' War, particularly his victory over the Prussian army at the Battle of Kolin in 1757.
Another prominent individual with the Daun surname was Wirich Philipp Lorenz von Daun, a German Catholic bishop who lived from 1669 to 1741. He served as the Prince-Bishop of Speyer from 1730 until his death and was known for his efforts in rebuilding the cathedral and other ecclesiastical buildings in the region.
In the 19th century, Franz Xaver von Daun, a German nobleman and politician, played a significant role in the affairs of the Grand Duchy of Baden. He served as the Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs from 1845 to 1848.
The surname Daun can also be found in other variations, such as Dahn and Dawn, which may have originated from the same root or been influenced by the German surname over time. Notable individuals with these alternative spellings include the German-American writer and philosopher Felix Dahn, who lived from 1834 to 1912, and the English author and playwright Ann Radcliffe, born Ann Ward but better known by her married name Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823).
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daun surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 20 Dauns recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 20 | 34.59x |
| Kincardineshire | 10 | 131.58x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.12x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.13x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 3.18x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 3.01x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.99x |
| Banffshire | 2 | 15.44x |
| Dorset | 2 | 4.88x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.94x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 5.19x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.95x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 10 Dauns recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 10 | 82.85x |
| Brotton | 6 | 740.74x |
| Banchory Devenick | 5 | 704.23x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 9.53x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 14.29x |
| Huntly | 5 | 531.91x |
| Maryculter | 5 | 2173.91x |
| Bath St James | 3 | 285.71x |
| Spalding | 3 | 151.52x |
| Aberlour | 2 | 487.80x |
| Longfleet | 2 | 425.53x |
| Oxford St Giles | 2 | 108.70x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 8.71x |
| Premnay | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Snodland | 2 | 333.33x |
| Cabrach | 1 | 666.67x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 7.95x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 38.17x |
| Newhills | 1 | 84.75x |
| Peterculter | 1 | 243.90x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Daun surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Daun surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Daun households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Annuitant | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Genrl Lab | 1 |
| Gun Polisher | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Newspaper Reporter | 1 |
| Outdoor Officer H M Customs | 1 |
| Provision Merchant Assist | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Daun surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Daun a modern rank of #32,476.
A surname derived from the German word meaning "valley" or "dale."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Daun bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.