UK surname
Patronymic surname derived from the given name Dave or David, meaning "beloved" or "uncle."
In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Daves surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #10,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Lambeth and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daves is 1,497 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.9%.
1881 census count
262
Ranked #10,721
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1861
1,497 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Daves surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Daves surname density by area, 1881 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 | 718 | #3,643 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,497 | #1,888 |
| 1881 | historical | 262 | #10,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 979 | #4,224 |
| 1901 | historical | 184 | #15,942 |
| 1911 | historical | 550 | #7,287 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Lambeth, Merthyr Tydfil, St Marylebone and Aberdare. 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 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Daves 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 Daves, 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 Daves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Daves 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, Daves 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 Daves is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Daves, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Daves is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English personal name David, which ultimately traces its roots back to the Hebrew name "David" meaning "beloved."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Daves surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as de Daves and Daves, suggesting its widespread use during that time.
The Daves surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Some historical references indicate that the name may have been associated with certain occupations or professions, such as shepherding or farming, as many surnames during that era were derived from the trades or professions of their bearers.
Notable individuals bearing the Daves surname include Sir John Daves (c. 1350-1420), who was a prominent English landowner and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was Robert Daves (c. 1470-1535), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Thetford in the early 16th century.
In the 17th century, the Daves surname was found in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One noteworthy individual from this period was William Daves (1605-1682), a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire who was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local charities and educational institutions.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Daves surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some families migrating to other regions or countries. One notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Daves (1780-1856), a writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and education reform.
Throughout its history, the Daves surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Daves, Davys, Davy, and Davyes, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and orthography during earlier periods. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English and Hebrew roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daves 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. Middlesex leads with 35 Daves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 35 | 1.39x |
| Surrey | 22 | 1.79x |
| Staffordshire | 20 | 2.35x |
| Cornwall | 15 | 5.26x |
| Durham | 15 | 2.00x |
| Kent | 15 | 1.75x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.47x |
| Worcestershire | 14 | 4.26x |
| Gloucestershire | 13 | 2.63x |
| Flintshire | 12 | 17.74x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 0.48x |
| Essex | 9 | 1.81x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 1.74x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 1.26x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 1.60x |
| Somerset | 7 | 1.73x |
| Sussex | 5 | 1.18x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 0.63x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 0.75x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 0.80x |
| Caernarfonshire | 2 | 1.97x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.38x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Cardiganshire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 0.94x |
| Dorset | 1 | 0.61x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 1.80x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.26x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 3.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 10 Daves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Daves surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 15 |
| Mary | 15 |
| Sarah | 13 |
| Eliza | 7 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Agnes | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Georgina | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Barbarah | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Cathrina | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elder | 1 |
| Elinor | 1 |
| Elizbth | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Eugenie | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florance | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helie | 1 |
| Heneretta | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Lilia | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Liza | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Marrian | 1 |
| Mattilda | 1 |
| Metilda | 1 |
| Philadelphia | 1 |
| Rachiel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Rosetta | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Daves surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 13 |
| James | 9 |
| William | 8 |
| Charles | 6 |
| Samuel | 6 |
| Thomas | 6 |
| Edward | 4 |
| Henry | 4 |
| Joseph | 4 |
| Robert | 4 |
| Alfred | 3 |
| David | 3 |
| George | 3 |
| Daniel | 2 |
| Edwin | 2 |
| Francis | 2 |
| Frank | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Jesse | 2 |
| Levi | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Willie | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Davied | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Edw. | 1 |
| Enoch | 1 |
| F. | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Harvey | 1 |
| Howell | 1 |
| Ivan | 1 |
| Josias | 1 |
| Lenora | 1 |
| Leonard | 1 |
| Louis | 1 |
| Mathew | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Nicholas | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Philip | 1 |
| Ruben | 1 |
| Sutcliffe | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
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 Daves households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 43 |
| Coal Miner | 8 |
| Ag Lab | 5 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Carter | 3 |
| Private R M L I | 3 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Cook | 2 |
| Dress Maker | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Iron Miner | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Book Map Folder | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Chain Maker | 1 |
| Chane Maker | 1 |
| Church Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Cotton Mill Reeler | 1 |
| Cotton Mill Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestice Servant | 1 |
| Engine Fitter & Turner | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoors) | 1 |
| Fitter Boot & Shoes | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Serv Unemployed | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Domestic Serv | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourers Wife | 1 |
| General Practioner M.R.C.S. L.D.S. | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Gilt Chain Maker | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Heater | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Daves surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Daves a modern rank of #33,633.
Patronymic surname derived from the given name Dave or David, meaning "beloved" or "uncle."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Daves 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.