NameCensus.

UK surname

Dave

A diminutive of the given name David, derived from the Hebrew "beloved."

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Dave surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,827, ranked #3,468, up from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dave is 1,827 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4837.8%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

1,827

2016, ranked #3,468

Peak year

2016

1,827 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dave had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,827 in 2016, ranked #3,468.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Dave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dave surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dave 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 253 #9,764
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 75 #25,852
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 1,084 #5,138
1998 modern 1,140 #5,102
1999 modern 1,186 #4,985
2000 modern 1,214 #4,848
2001 modern 1,188 #4,832
2002 modern 1,243 #4,747
2003 modern 1,263 #4,604
2004 modern 1,303 #4,471
2005 modern 1,363 #4,279
2006 modern 1,469 #4,039
2007 modern 1,533 #3,916
2008 modern 1,557 #3,890
2009 modern 1,614 #3,855
2010 modern 1,688 #3,785
2011 modern 1,695 #3,712
2012 modern 1,709 #3,629
2013 modern 1,782 #3,563
2014 modern 1,795 #3,558
2015 modern 1,784 #3,546
2016 modern 1,827 #3,468

Geography

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Where Daves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, London parishes, St Pancras, Curry, North and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leicester and Brent. 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 Seaton Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Curry, North Somerset
5 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leicester 010 Leicester
2 Leicester 006 Leicester
3 Brent 019 Brent
4 Brent 001 Brent
5 Leicester 007 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dave

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Dave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Dave is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dave is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dave 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 Dave 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Dave

The surname DAVE is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the medieval personal name David, which is derived from the Hebrew name "Davīd" meaning "beloved". The name David was popular among the Normans and was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DAVE can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Roger Dave, who was mentioned in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

In the 14th century, the surname DAVE appeared in various forms, such as Davey, Davie, and Davyes, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable individual from this period was John Davye, a landowner from Oxfordshire, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wootton in 1348.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname DAVE continued to be prevalent in various parts of England. Notable bearers of this surname included William Dave, a merchant from London who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1589, and Thomas Dave, a landowner from Gloucestershire who was recorded in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1672.

In the 18th century, the surname DAVE spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable individual from this period was Robert Dave, a Scottish poet and author born in 1728, who is remembered for his works on Scottish folklore and traditions.

As the British Empire expanded, the surname DAVE was carried to various parts of the world by settlers and explorers. One notable bearer of this surname was Captain James Dave, an English explorer and navigator who was born in 1765 and is known for his expeditions to the South Pacific.

Other notable individuals with the surname DAVE throughout history include Sir John Dave (1801-1879), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Southampton; William Dave (1825-1905), an English architect known for designing several notable buildings in London; and Elizabeth Dave (1856-1932), a pioneering British educator and advocate for women's education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dave 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 12 Daves recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 3.97x
Cheshire 5 7.49x
Yorkshire 3 1.00x
Herefordshire 2 16.13x
Essex 1 1.68x
Kent 1 0.97x
Leicestershire 1 2.98x
Monmouthshire 1 4.57x
Montgomeryshire 1 14.43x
Peeblesshire 1 70.42x
Royal Navy 1 27.78x
Somerset 1 2.05x
Wiltshire 1 3.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 10 Daves recorded in 1881 and an index of 134.23x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 10 134.23x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 649.35x
Hereford St Peter 2 606.06x
Cemmes 1 1000.00x
Chepstow 1 270.27x
Ilkley 1 204.08x
Leicester St Margaret 1 12.22x
Matching 1 1666.67x
North Cray 1 1428.57x
Pontefract 1 153.85x
Royal Navy 1 32.47x
St Dunstan In West London 1 1111.11x
St Pancras London 1 4.11x
Stapleford 1 5000.00x
Stobo 1 2000.00x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 116.28x
Wanstrow 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
... 1
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Ellen 1
Kezia 1
Louisa 1
Miriam 1
Rosa 1
Sally 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
Sampson 2
William 2
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Julia 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Dave households.

FAQ

Dave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Dave surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,827 in 2016. That gives Dave a modern rank of #3,468.

What does the Dave surname mean?

A diminutive of the given name David, derived from the Hebrew "beloved."

What does the Dave map show?

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