NameCensus.

UK surname

Deans

Derived from the Old English "denu," referring to someone who lived in or near a valley.

In the 1881 census there were 2,038 people recorded with the Deans surname, ranking it #2,159 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,405, ranked #2,000, up from #2,159 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selkirk, Paisley North East and Bonnybridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deans is 3,413 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.1%.

1881 census count

2,038

Ranked #2,159

Modern count

3,405

2016, ranked #2,000

Peak year

2015

3,413 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deans had 2,038 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,159 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,405 in 2016, ranked #2,000.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,461 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Deans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deans surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deans 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 1,527 #1,873
1861 historical 1,658 #1,728
1881 historical 2,038 #2,159
1891 historical 2,275 #2,052
1901 historical 2,461 #2,218
1911 historical 1,146 #4,078
1997 modern 3,109 #2,063
1998 modern 3,217 #2,081
1999 modern 3,273 #2,066
2000 modern 3,233 #2,078
2001 modern 3,138 #2,097
2002 modern 3,197 #2,100
2003 modern 3,102 #2,117
2004 modern 3,117 #2,103
2005 modern 3,084 #2,093
2006 modern 3,157 #2,061
2007 modern 3,178 #2,065
2008 modern 3,176 #2,081
2009 modern 3,301 #2,063
2010 modern 3,368 #2,071
2011 modern 3,343 #2,055
2012 modern 3,352 #2,013
2013 modern 3,379 #2,033
2014 modern 3,407 #2,028
2015 modern 3,413 #2,003
2016 modern 3,405 #2,000

Geography

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Where Deans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley Abbey and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selkirk, Paisley North East, Bonnybridge, Berwickshire East and Northumberland. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selkirk Scottish Borders
2 Paisley North East Renfrewshire
3 Bonnybridge Falkirk
4 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
5 Northumberland 002 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deans

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Deans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Deans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Deans is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Deans is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Deans falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Deans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Deans

The surname DEANS is of English origin, derived from the Anglo-Norman French occupation word "deyn," meaning a dean or a dignitary of a church. The name likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century and was initially given to those who held the position of a dean in a cathedral or monastic church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, where it appears as "Ralph le Deen." The surname also appears in various forms in medieval records, such as "le Dene," "le Deen," and "le Deyn." These variations reflect the evolution of spelling conventions over time.

The DEANS surname is closely associated with several notable individuals throughout history. John Deans (c. 1570-1625) was an English clergyman and poet who served as the Archdeacon of Cauterbury. Another prominent figure was Henry Deans (1696-1782), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow.

William Deans (1770-1834) was a Scottish landscape painter known for his picturesque depictions of Scottish scenery. His works were highly influential in the development of the Scottish landscape painting tradition. Thomas Deans (1856-1935) was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and represented the English national team.

In the literary world, Mary Deans (1888-1977) was an English author and illustrator best known for her children's books. She wrote and illustrated several popular works, including "The Little Wooden Doll" and "The Story of the Little White Teddy Bear."

While the DEANS surname is of English origin, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and various historical events. However, its roots can be traced back to the influential role of deans in the medieval church and the occupation-based naming traditions of that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deans 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. Lanarkshire leads with 333 Deans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.20x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 333 5.20x
Aberdeenshire 218 11.88x
Midlothian 167 6.29x
Renfrewshire 149 9.70x
Ayrshire 127 8.57x
Durham 115 1.95x
Staffordshire 112 1.67x
Middlesex 75 0.38x
Lancashire 69 0.29x
Yorkshire 65 0.33x
Northumberland 50 1.70x
Roxburghshire 50 13.93x
Berwickshire 45 18.76x
Selkirkshire 41 22.87x
Cumberland 40 2.35x
Norfolk 37 1.21x
Devon 33 0.80x
Angus 31 1.69x
East Lothian 27 10.29x
Kincardineshire 21 8.70x
Dumfriesshire 20 4.57x
Hampshire 14 0.34x
Hertfordshire 13 0.95x
Lincolnshire 13 0.41x
Gloucestershire 10 0.26x
Inverness-shire 10 1.69x
Banffshire 9 2.19x
Surrey 9 0.09x
Cheshire 8 0.18x
Clackmannanshire 8 4.89x
Essex 8 0.20x
Glamorgan 8 0.23x
Northamptonshire 8 0.43x
Peeblesshire 8 8.58x
Dorset 7 0.54x
Flintshire 7 1.31x
Kent 7 0.10x
Fife 6 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 6 1.53x
Perthshire 6 0.67x
Worcestershire 6 0.23x
Leicestershire 5 0.23x
Sussex 5 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.32x
Warwickshire 4 0.08x
Buteshire 2 1.67x
Derbyshire 2 0.06x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.85x
West Lothian 2 0.67x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Morayshire 1 0.32x
Nairnshire 1 1.65x
Stirlingshire 1 0.14x
Westmorland 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

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 104 Deans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.15x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 104 27.15x
Govan 99 6.25x
Glasgow 55 4.83x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 48 13.98x
Barony 37 2.28x
Abbey 33 14.09x
Wombourn 33 265.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 32 3.00x
Dalkeith 31 59.21x
Shettleston 28 48.81x
South Leith 28 9.37x
Eastwood 25 26.44x
Monkwearmouth Shore 25 21.73x
Cambusnethan 24 16.86x
East Stonehouse 20 24.62x
Dalry 19 27.23x
Kilbarchan 19 40.74x
Paisley Low Church 19 39.09x
Stewarton 17 57.94x
Terrington St Clement 17 123.55x
Barrow In Furness 16 5.00x
Galashiels 16 24.15x
Leeds 16 1.44x
Erskine 15 134.41x
Gateshead 15 3.40x
Kilmarnock 15 8.50x
Old Monkland 15 5.90x
Peterhead 15 15.46x
Clenchwarton 13 286.98x
Dundonald 13 23.78x
Maryhill 13 10.36x
Melrose 13 28.82x
Melrose 13 41.89x
Sutton St Mary 13 43.39x
Westruther 13 284.46x
Burton Upon Trent 12 7.67x
Byker 12 8.24x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.57x
Dreghorn 12 44.71x
Duddingston 12 22.52x
Portsea 12 1.51x
Wolverhampton 12 2.33x
Arthuret 11 61.83x
Bothwell 11 6.33x
Cathcart 11 13.24x
Roberton 11 285.71x
Sprouston 11 158.05x
Wallsend 11 11.77x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 5.65x
Bishopwearmouth 10 1.98x
Blantyre 10 14.99x
Brandon Byshottles 10 13.54x
Dundee 10 1.46x
Harrington 10 48.57x
Kintore 10 62.74x
Liverpool 10 0.70x
Baldock 9 70.09x
Bilston 9 6.94x
Bromley London 9 2.06x
Cannock 9 7.71x
Carluke 9 15.47x
Edinburgh Old 9 55.87x
Everton 9 1.20x
Foveran 9 64.79x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 3.53x
Riccarton 9 40.23x
Sheffield 9 1.44x
St Pancras London 9 0.56x
Stevenston 9 23.29x
Tipton 9 4.40x
Uldale 9 520.23x
Ayton 8 57.47x
Dollar 8 47.20x
Elswick 8 3.40x
Lasswade 8 13.18x
Pannal 8 42.46x
Shotts 8 10.43x
Tarbolton 8 32.79x
Tettenhall 8 19.56x
Tewkesbury 8 23.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 49
William 44
George 30
James 23
Thomas 21
Charles 17
Joseph 17
Robert 17
David 11
Henry 9
Alexander 7
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Samuel 7
Ralph 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Frank 3
Donald 2
Effingham 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Infant 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Cornelius 1
Elwood 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geoffrey 1
Jn. 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Leopold 1
Loudy 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Deans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,038 people were recorded with the Deans surname. That placed it at #2,159 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,405 in 2016. That gives Deans a modern rank of #2,000.

What does the Deans surname mean?

Derived from the Old English "denu," referring to someone who lived in or near a valley.

What does the Deans map show?

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