NameCensus.

UK surname

Deas

An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "O'Deaghaidh," meaning "descendant of Deaghadh" (a personal name of unknown meaning).

In the 1881 census there were 880 people recorded with the Deas surname, ranking it #4,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 865, ranked #6,483, down from #4,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dingwall, Tunbridge Wells and Leven North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deas is 974 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.7%.

1881 census count

880

Ranked #4,309

Modern count

865

2016, ranked #6,483

Peak year

1901

974 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deas had 880 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 865 in 2016, ranked #6,483.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 974 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Deas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deas 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 572 #4,447
1861 historical 601 #4,411
1881 historical 880 #4,309
1891 historical 918 #4,503
1901 historical 974 #4,855
1911 historical 247 #13,016
1997 modern 817 #6,427
1998 modern 828 #6,578
1999 modern 827 #6,626
2000 modern 854 #6,436
2001 modern 830 #6,465
2002 modern 842 #6,510
2003 modern 804 #6,620
2004 modern 814 #6,572
2005 modern 805 #6,587
2006 modern 812 #6,534
2007 modern 818 #6,572
2008 modern 837 #6,511
2009 modern 849 #6,570
2010 modern 873 #6,561
2011 modern 848 #6,627
2012 modern 834 #6,628
2013 modern 848 #6,650
2014 modern 866 #6,569
2015 modern 853 #6,581
2016 modern 865 #6,483

Geography

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Where Deas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Leslie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dingwall, Tunbridge Wells, Leven North, Anstruther and Caldercruix and Plains. 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 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Leslie Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dingwall Highland
2 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
3 Leven North Fife
4 Anstruther Fife
5 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deas

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Deas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Deas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Deas is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deas 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

Deas falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Deas 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 Deas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Deas

The surname DEAS is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Scottish surname "DEWAR," which is derived from the Gaelic word "deobhair," meaning "servant" or "follower."

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name DEAS was John Deas, who is mentioned in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1578. This document suggests that the DEAS family was well-established in Scotland by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the DEAS surname appeared in various Scottish records, including the Parish Registers of Stirlingshire and Aberdeenshire. These records indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in the central and northeastern regions of Scotland during this time period.

One notable bearer of the DEAS surname was David Deas, a Scottish writer and historian who lived from 1793 to 1867. He authored several works on Scottish history and culture, including "The Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa" and "The River Clyde and the Harbour of Glasgow."

Another prominent figure with the DEAS surname was Sir John Deas, a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord of Session from 1826 to 1838. He played a significant role in the development of Scottish legal principles and is remembered for his contributions to the field of law.

In the 19th century, the DEAS surname began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the family emigrated to other parts of the world. One such individual was Alexander Deas, a Scottish-born merchant and explorer who settled in Texas in the 1830s. He is credited with establishing one of the first Anglo settlements in the region and played a crucial role in the development of early Texas.

Another notable bearer of the DEAS surname was George Deas, a Scottish-American artist who lived from 1770 to 1857. He is best known for his portraits of prominent figures in Charleston, South Carolina, where he resided for much of his life.

Throughout its history, the DEAS surname has been linked to various place names and older spellings, such as "Deas" and "Dias," reflecting its Scottish origins and the variations that occurred as the name spread to different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deas 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. Fife leads with 361 Deas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.12x.

County Total Index
Fife 361 71.12x
Midlothian 134 11.67x
Lanarkshire 107 3.86x
Angus 51 6.42x
Northumberland 32 2.51x
Perthshire 30 7.80x
Middlesex 24 0.28x
Surrey 21 0.50x
Lancashire 20 0.20x
Durham 16 0.63x
Kent 10 0.34x
Renfrewshire 10 1.50x
Cheshire 9 0.48x
Ross-shire 9 3.82x
West Lothian 9 6.97x
Roxburghshire 6 3.86x
Clackmannanshire 5 7.06x
Dunbartonshire 5 2.17x
Berwickshire 4 3.85x
Buteshire 3 5.77x
Hampshire 2 0.11x
Morayshire 2 1.50x
Ayrshire 1 0.16x
Inverness-shire 1 0.39x
Kincardineshire 1 0.96x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Selkirkshire 1 1.29x
Shetland 1 1.14x
Stirlingshire 1 0.32x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wemyss in Fife leads with 155 Deas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 721.60x.

Place Total Index
Wemyss 155 721.60x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 85 18.39x
Govan 48 7.00x
Dysart 34 99.47x
Leslie 33 256.81x
Barony 31 4.42x
Liff Benvie 27 22.39x
South Leith 27 20.89x
Kirkcaldy 15 59.59x
New Monkland 14 17.08x
St Andrews 14 60.61x
Markinch 13 75.45x
Arngask 12 745.34x
Dundee 12 4.05x
Kilrenny 12 127.80x
Elswick 10 9.82x
Burntisland 9 63.42x
Everton 9 2.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 11.81x
Perth West Church 9 49.29x
Scoonie 9 81.89x
Dalgety 8 206.19x
Kemback 8 318.73x
Carriden 7 119.66x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.33x
Dunbarney 7 315.32x
Macclesfield 7 8.32x
West Greenock 7 5.87x
Wimbledon 7 14.92x
Glasgow 6 1.22x
Hawick 6 17.26x
Plumstead 6 6.15x
St Pancras London 6 0.87x
West Lilburn 6 937.50x
Abbotshall 5 26.36x
Anstruther Easter 5 136.61x
Battersea 5 1.58x
Camberwell 5 0.91x
Clackmannan 5 37.37x
Cults 5 241.55x
Dunfermline 5 6.41x
Edinburgh St Marys 5 22.39x
Edinburgh St Stephens 5 22.11x
Great Aycliffe 5 202.43x
Kiltearn 5 144.09x
Maryhill 5 9.21x
Montrose 5 10.39x
Row 5 16.77x
Southwick 5 20.70x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 13.47x
Abernethy 4 79.52x
Ashford 4 14.04x
Bishopwearmouth 4 1.83x
Carnock 4 128.62x
Dunnichen 4 95.47x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.19x
North Leith 4 7.52x
Perth East Church 4 11.03x
St Giles In Fields London 4 9.51x
Withington 4 12.20x
Collessie 3 51.37x
Crieff 3 20.96x
Eastwood 3 7.33x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 11.04x
Ferry Port On Craig 3 35.93x
Haslemere 3 91.19x
Rosskeen 3 27.08x
Rothesay 3 11.92x
Beath 2 12.47x
Bellie 2 33.22x
Boness 2 11.24x
Crail 2 38.61x
Dunse 2 20.30x
Hackney London 2 0.42x
Monifieth 2 7.13x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 11.93x
Southampton St Mary 2 1.81x
Timperley 2 30.40x
Tweedmouth 2 12.57x
Tynemouth 2 2.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Isabella 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Dora 2
Esther 2
Janet 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbra 1
Charlotte 1
Chrichena 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Ethel 1
Euphemia 1
Evelyn 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jeanet 1
Jeanie 1
Katharine 1
Margt.Bonln 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Deas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 880 people were recorded with the Deas surname. That placed it at #4,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 865 in 2016. That gives Deas a modern rank of #6,483.

What does the Deas surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "O'Deaghaidh," meaning "descendant of Deaghadh" (a personal name of unknown meaning).

What does the Deas map show?

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