NameCensus.

UK surname

Deary

A surname derived from the Middle English word "dere" meaning beloved or precious.

In the 1881 census there were 246 people recorded with the Deary surname, ranking it #11,201 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 700, ranked #7,703, up from #11,201 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Glasgow and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, West Lancashire and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deary is 716 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 184.6%.

1881 census count

246

Ranked #11,201

Modern count

700

2016, ranked #7,703

Peak year

2010

716 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deary had 246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,201 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016, ranked #7,703.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 345 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Deary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deary surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deary 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 246 #11,201
1891 historical 297 #11,192
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 290 #11,716
1997 modern 626 #7,904
1998 modern 640 #7,999
1999 modern 621 #8,253
2000 modern 624 #8,197
2001 modern 610 #8,193
2002 modern 643 #8,022
2003 modern 643 #7,885
2004 modern 651 #7,828
2005 modern 664 #7,660
2006 modern 655 #7,756
2007 modern 669 #7,703
2008 modern 667 #7,761
2009 modern 707 #7,585
2010 modern 716 #7,645
2011 modern 703 #7,676
2012 modern 683 #7,759
2013 modern 692 #7,800
2014 modern 696 #7,807
2015 modern 694 #7,769
2016 modern 700 #7,703

Geography

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Where Dearys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Liverpool, Hickling and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, West Lancashire, Liverpool, North West Leicestershire and West Neilston and Uplawmoor. 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 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Hickling Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 006 Dover
2 West Lancashire 012 West Lancashire
3 Liverpool 011 Liverpool
4 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
5 West Neilston and Uplawmoor East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deary

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Deary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deary 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

Deary falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Deary

The surname Deary originated in Scotland, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic term "dearg," meaning "red" or "ruddy," likely referring to the complexion or hair color of an early bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Deary surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1364, where a John Dery is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

During the 16th century, the Deary name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1569, which mentions a Robert Dery from the county of Fife.

The Deary surname has ties to several Scottish place names, such as Derry in Aberdeenshire and Derrie in Perthshire. These locations may have influenced the name's spelling variations, including Derry, Derie, and Derrie.

Notable individuals bearing the Deary surname include:

1. William Deary (1536-1602), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College at the University of St. Andrews. 2. John Deary (1679-1756), a Scottish merchant and landowner from Aberdeenshire, who played a role in establishing trade routes between Scotland and the American colonies. 3. Elizabeth Deary (1782-1858), a Scottish author and poet, known for her works exploring the lives of women in rural Scotland. 4. James Deary (1840-1912), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. 5. Robert Deary (1879-1944), a Scottish-American architect renowned for his designs of public buildings in New York City during the early 20th century.

While the Deary surname may have originated as a descriptive term, it has since become an integral part of Scottish heritage, with its bearers contributing to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deary 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. Norfolk leads with 51 Dearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 51 14.11x
Lanarkshire 42 5.52x
Middlesex 23 0.98x
Durham 22 3.15x
Renfrewshire 15 8.23x
Essex 12 2.59x
Lancashire 12 0.43x
Yorkshire 12 0.52x
Clackmannanshire 7 36.06x
Lincolnshire 7 1.86x
Cheshire 6 1.16x
Staffordshire 6 0.76x
Monmouthshire 5 2.94x
Kent 4 0.50x
Northumberland 4 1.14x
Surrey 3 0.26x
Midlothian 2 0.64x
Peeblesshire 2 18.08x
Ayrshire 1 0.57x
Banffshire 1 2.05x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.58x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Suffolk 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Dearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.51x.

Place Total Index
Govan 16 8.51x
Port Glasgow 13 147.56x
Barony 12 6.24x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 10 425.53x
Palling 9 2432.43x
Batley 8 36.13x
Hickling 8 1194.03x
Bow London 7 23.39x
Dollar 7 348.26x
Thorpe Next Norwich 7 182.77x
Handsworth 6 30.67x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 123.97x
Trimingham 6 3750.00x
Aberystruth 5 33.38x
Gateshead 5 9.55x
Hamilton 5 23.58x
Walthamstow 5 29.94x
West Ham 5 4.88x
Wolsingham 5 78.49x
Birtley 4 140.35x
Glasgow 4 2.96x
Great Grimsby 4 16.76x
Hyde 4 26.13x
Lanark 4 65.36x
Liverpool 4 2.36x
Ratcliffe London 4 30.82x
Market Rasen 3 142.86x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 14.36x
Abbey 2 7.19x
Bermondsey 2 2.86x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.96x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.33x
Chilham 2 175.44x
Dagenham 2 72.46x
Hackney London 2 1.52x
Martham 2 227.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 14.65x
Norwich St James 2 70.42x
West Derby 2 2.45x
Westoe 2 5.04x
Widnes 2 9.94x
Bacton 1 270.27x
Birkenhead 1 2.42x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 4.51x
Burnham Westgate 1 128.21x
Colinton 1 28.49x
Eaton St Andrew 1 100.00x
Eltham 1 21.28x
Fordyce 1 28.49x
Fulham London 1 2.93x
Great Little Marsden 1 7.82x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.34x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.30x
Holdenhurst 1 7.91x
Horsham 1 12.99x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.75x
Ilkley 1 26.25x
Innerleithen 1 34.13x
Jesmond 1 20.33x
Lakenham 1 19.46x
Manningham 1 3.48x
Mildenhall 1 32.89x
Monkton Prestwick 1 58.48x
Newington 1 1.15x
North Leith 1 6.86x
Norwich St Clement 1 23.87x
Oldham 1 1.11x
Peebles 1 30.58x
Potter Heigham 1 303.03x
Row 1 12.24x
Rutherglen 1 8.97x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Sutton At Hone 1 60.24x
Thorne 1 34.60x
Warburton 1 294.12x
Washington 1 34.13x
Woolston With 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Bridget 3
Ellen 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Elizabth. 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Frederica 1
Lucy 1
Margreta 1
Mrs 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
Thomas 10
Robert 6
William 5
George 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Michael 2
Owen 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Barnett 1
Benjamin 1
C.William 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Enis 1
Enos 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Mary 1
Nathaniel 1
Patrick 1
Patsey 1
Patt 1
Peter 1
Theophilus 1

FAQ

Deary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 246 people were recorded with the Deary surname. That placed it at #11,201 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 700 in 2016. That gives Deary a modern rank of #7,703.

What does the Deary surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "dere" meaning beloved or precious.

What does the Deary map show?

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