UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the archaic English word for a judge or overseer.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Deam surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bebbington and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deam is 221 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.7%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1861
221 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Deam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Deam surname density by area, 1901 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 221 | #11,031 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 182 | #15,983 |
| 1901 | historical | 105 | #22,179 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 77 | #30,427 |
| 2000 | modern | 73 | #30,881 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 75 | #30,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 64 | #33,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 59 | #34,265 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 54 | #34,700 |
| 2015 | modern | 58 | #34,470 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bebbington, Toxteth Park, St Pancras and Childwall. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Childwall | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Deam 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 Deam, 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 Deam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Deam 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, Deam 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 Deam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Deam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DEAM has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be an occupational surname derived from the Old English word "deam," which means "judge" or "arbitrator." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely employed in some form of judicial or legal profession.
In the 13th century, records show the name appeared as "de Eme" and "de Eame" in various parts of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. These early spellings indicate that the name may have originated from place names like "Eame" or "Eme," with the prefix "de" signifying "of" or "from."
The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England, includes entries for individuals named "John de Eme" and "William de Eame," both residing in Yorkshire. This provides evidence that the DEAM surname was already established in Yorkshire during the latter part of the 13th century.
One of the earliest documented references to the DEAM surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which list a "Johannes Deame" from Lincolnshire. This suggests that the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form by the early 14th century.
In the 16th century, the DEAM surname appeared in various records across England, including the baptismal record of Laurence Deame in 1559 at St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir James Deam (1540-1608), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire.
During the 17th century, the DEAM surname continued to be documented across various regions of England. One prominent figure was Edward Deam (1610-1679), a Puritan minister and author from Suffolk who wrote several religious works.
In the 18th century, the DEAM surname gained recognition through individuals like Thomas Deam (1728-1810), a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Leicestershire. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and is remembered for his accurate calculations of planetary orbits.
Other notable bearers of the DEAM surname include John Deam (1795-1867), a successful industrialist and inventor from Lancashire who patented several innovations in textile machinery, and Elizabeth Deam (1820-1898), a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights from Yorkshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deam 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. Lancashire leads with 20 Deams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 20 | 3.46x |
| Cheshire | 9 | 8.36x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.85x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.03x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 5.43x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.21x |
| Dorset | 1 | 3.13x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.37x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranmere in Cheshire leads with 8 Deams recorded in 1881 and an index of 202.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tranmere | 8 | 202.02x |
| Newton | 7 | 156.95x |
| Everton | 5 | 27.12x |
| Holme On Spalding Moor | 5 | 1562.50x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 25.52x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 14.63x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 65.36x |
| Camborne | 3 | 132.16x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 23.28x |
| Fordington | 1 | 144.93x |
| Hale | 1 | 270.27x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 8.33x |
| Inverurie | 1 | 196.08x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.12x |
| Keynsham | 1 | 178.57x |
| Llanymynech | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Wapping London | 1 | 270.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Deam 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 Deam 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 Deam households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Housekeeper | 3 |
| Painter | 2 |
| Tin Miner | 2 |
| (Hawkers Wife) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Apprentice Engineer (E & M Maker) | 1 |
| Boarding Housekeeper | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Coachman (Domestic) | 1 |
| Coml Traveller Color Trade | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Labourer At Dyeworks (...) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master Painter 2 Boys | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Office Boy | 1 |
| Paperhanger's Apprentice | 1 |
| Retired Painter | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Spinner (C) | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Deam surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Deam a modern rank of #34,511.
An occupational surname derived from the archaic English word for a judge or overseer.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Deam 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.