NameCensus.

UK surname

Daws

A surname derived from the Old English word "daw" meaning "jackdaw" or "crow."

In the 1881 census there were 1,542 people recorded with the Daws surname, ranking it #2,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,107, ranked #5,309, down from #2,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Isleworth and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Mansfield and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daws is 1,542 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.2%.

1881 census count

1,542

Ranked #2,724

Modern count

1,107

2016, ranked #5,309

Peak year

1881

1,542 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Daws had 1,542 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016, ranked #5,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,542 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Daws surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Daws surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Daws 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 1,272 #2,247
1861 historical 1,010 #2,766
1881 historical 1,542 #2,724
1891 historical 1,293 #3,346
1901 historical 1,499 #3,422
1911 historical 1,461 #3,301
1997 modern 1,137 #4,934
1998 modern 1,153 #5,041
1999 modern 1,196 #4,944
2000 modern 1,193 #4,933
2001 modern 1,176 #4,899
2002 modern 1,215 #4,855
2003 modern 1,176 #4,888
2004 modern 1,168 #4,925
2005 modern 1,137 #4,991
2006 modern 1,126 #5,039
2007 modern 1,122 #5,096
2008 modern 1,131 #5,103
2009 modern 1,165 #5,068
2010 modern 1,171 #5,146
2011 modern 1,156 #5,161
2012 modern 1,115 #5,228
2013 modern 1,122 #5,287
2014 modern 1,121 #5,315
2015 modern 1,110 #5,315
2016 modern 1,107 #5,309

Geography

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Where Daws' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Isleworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Mansfield, Bolsover and Hart. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 001 Rother
2 Mansfield 010 Mansfield
3 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
4 Mansfield 008 Mansfield
5 Hart 008 Hart

Forenames

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First names often paired with Daws

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Daws

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Daws 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

Daws is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Daws falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Daws is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Daws

The surname Daws originates from England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "daw," which referred to the jackdaw bird. This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion, resembling the bird's appearance.

Early records indicate that the surname Daws was prevalent in various counties across England, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. One of the earliest documented mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1221, which lists a person named Hugo Daw.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it was recorded as "Dawe." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spellings were not yet established. The name was also found in other medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1327, which referenced a William Dawe.

Interestingly, the Daws surname has been associated with several notable historical figures. In the 16th century, John Daws (1546-1601) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Another prominent figure was Samuel Daws (1677-1745), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of navigation techniques.

During the 17th century, the surname Daws appeared in various parish records across England. For instance, in 1635, the baptism of John Daws was recorded in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. Additionally, the marriage of William Daws and Margery Mead was documented in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, in 1665.

The surname Daws has also been associated with place names, such as Dawshill in Gloucestershire and Dawscourt in Oxfordshire. These locations may have influenced the surname's evolution or been named after individuals bearing the Daws name.

Throughout history, several other notable individuals with the surname Daws have made their mark. These include Robert Daws (1615-1678), an English Puritan minister, and Benjamin Daws (1735-1812), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Daws families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daws 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. Surrey leads with 241 Daws' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.31x.

County Total Index
Surrey 241 3.31x
Middlesex 235 1.57x
Norfolk 147 6.40x
Nottinghamshire 113 5.61x
Kent 70 1.37x
Yorkshire 67 0.45x
Leicestershire 64 3.87x
Derbyshire 62 2.65x
Durham 49 1.10x
Lancashire 49 0.28x
Staffordshire 48 0.95x
Lincolnshire 44 1.84x
Sussex 43 1.71x
Hertfordshire 35 3.40x
Hampshire 32 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 27 2.99x
Warwickshire 25 0.66x
Gloucestershire 22 0.75x
Cambridgeshire 21 2.22x
Northamptonshire 20 1.42x
Glamorgan 16 0.62x
Worcestershire 16 0.82x
Somerset 13 0.54x
Westmorland 12 3.66x
Cornwall 9 0.53x
Devon 9 0.29x
Dorset 8 0.82x
Northumberland 6 0.27x
Wiltshire 6 0.45x
Monmouthshire 5 0.46x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Oxfordshire 4 0.43x
Suffolk 3 0.16x
Essex 2 0.07x
Renfrewshire 2 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 51 Daws' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.63x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 51 12.63x
Lambeth 37 2.84x
Leicester St Margaret 35 8.67x
Isleworth 26 39.16x
Hucknall Torkard 24 47.01x
Bulwell 23 52.55x
Ealing 23 17.23x
Gayton 22 567.01x
Aston 18 1.74x
Heston 17 34.27x
Bermondsey 16 3.60x
Kingston On Thames 16 9.15x
Upton Cum Chalvey 16 44.47x
Belgrave 15 40.14x
Burnham Overy 15 476.19x
Chelsea London 14 3.11x
Chertsey 14 29.77x
Great Massingham 14 309.05x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 14 20.31x
St Luke London 14 5.84x
Tonbridge 14 7.62x
Wisbech St Peter 14 29.51x
Hornsey 13 6.88x
St Pancras London 13 1.08x
Tewin 13 481.48x
Mansfield 12 17.23x
Salehurst 12 110.09x
Shepperton 12 182.09x
Camberwell 11 1.15x
Kirkdale 11 3.69x
Shoreditch London 11 1.70x
Winlaton 11 25.80x
Wolverhampton 11 2.84x
Biddulph 10 35.16x
Greenwich 10 4.21x
Ilkestonderbypart 10 146.20x
Islington London 10 0.69x
Willington 10 38.96x
Alfreton 9 12.67x
Beaconsfield 9 107.66x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.39x
Morley 9 633.80x
Rodborough 9 63.60x
Westoe 9 3.57x
Wheathampstead 9 75.63x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.27x
Great Grimsby 8 5.28x
Langdale 8 213.33x
Lewisham 8 2.94x
Little Walsingham 8 154.14x
Mansfield Woodhouse 8 59.75x
Oldham 8 1.40x
Radford 8 7.82x
Sculcoates 8 3.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.66x
Tansor 8 620.16x
Wilsford 8 227.27x
Bath St Michael 7 57.61x
Battersea 7 1.27x
Birmingham 7 0.56x
Bramshott 7 92.72x
Chiswick 7 8.58x
Clapham 7 3.75x
Crich 7 45.87x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.78x
Fakenham 7 61.89x
Greasley 7 15.41x
Heanor 7 20.02x
Heaton 7 44.03x
Kensington London 7 0.84x
Peterborough 7 6.88x
Tiverton 7 13.07x
Basford 6 6.47x
Darlington 6 3.50x
Great Malvern 6 14.75x
Kirton 6 62.76x
Long Bennington 6 129.03x
St Marylebone London 6 0.75x
Tottington Higher End 6 29.75x
Wakefield 6 5.28x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Daws surname: questions and answers

How common was the Daws surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,542 people were recorded with the Daws surname. That placed it at #2,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Daws surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016. That gives Daws a modern rank of #5,309.

What does the Daws surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "daw" meaning "jackdaw" or "crow."

What does the Daws map show?

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