NameCensus.

UK surname

Deasy

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Déise" meaning from the territory of the Déisi tribe.

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Deasy surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 400, ranked #11,879, up from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, St Mary Whitechapel and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Reading and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deasy is 410 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 344.4%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

400

2016, ranked #11,879

Peak year

2014

410 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deasy had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016, ranked #11,879.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Deasy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deasy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deasy 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 159 #17,219
1997 modern 352 #12,117
1998 modern 384 #11,727
1999 modern 380 #11,907
2000 modern 386 #11,718
2001 modern 375 #11,774
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 351 #12,389
2004 modern 355 #12,326
2005 modern 349 #12,390
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 345 #12,839
2009 modern 358 #12,736
2010 modern 385 #12,353
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 382 #12,127
2013 modern 395 #12,035
2014 modern 410 #11,788
2015 modern 397 #11,973
2016 modern 400 #11,879

Geography

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Where Deasys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, St Mary Whitechapel, Eccles, Manchester and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, Reading, Exeter and IZ15. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 001 South Oxfordshire
2 Reading 003 Reading
3 Reading 002 Reading
4 Exeter 015 Exeter
5 IZ15 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deasy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deasy

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Deasy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Deasy 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Deasy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Deasy is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Deasy falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Deasy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Deasy

The surname Deasy is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the County Cork region of southwestern Ireland. It emerged during the Middle Ages, derived from the Gaelic-Irish Ó Déisí, meaning "descendant of Déisi." The Déisi were an ancient Irish clan based in the present-day County Waterford area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Deasy can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the late 12th century. The annals mention individuals with the surname Deasy living in the Cork and Waterford regions during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Deasy surname appeared in various historical documents, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Patent Rolls of the English Crown in Ireland. These records often listed land grants and appointments to positions of authority for members of the Deasy family.

One notable figure bearing the Deasy name was Sir Maurice Deasy (c. 1570-1636), a wealthy landowner and member of the Irish Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent individual was Rickard Deasy (c. 1612-1668), who served as the High Sheriff of County Cork in 1662.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Deasy surname became more widespread across Ireland, particularly in the counties of Cork, Waterford, and Tipperary. Some variations in spelling emerged, including Deasey, Deassy, and Deecy, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in that era.

In the literary realm, Thomas Deasy (1818-1883) gained recognition as an Irish poet and journalist, publishing several volumes of poetry throughout his lifetime. Another notable figure was Richard Deasy (1838-1915), a renowned educator and founder of several schools in Ireland.

As the Deasy family dispersed across Ireland and beyond, the surname continued to appear in various historical records and accounts. John Deasy (1856-1932), a prominent Irish Nationalist and Member of Parliament, was a key figure in the struggle for Irish independence in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deasy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deasy 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. Lancashire leads with 32 Deasys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 32 3.00x
Middlesex 22 2.45x
Essex 6 3.39x
Kent 6 1.96x
Yorkshire 6 0.67x
Derbyshire 4 2.85x
Durham 4 1.50x
Cornwall 2 1.97x
Devon 2 1.07x
Royal Navy 2 18.71x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.76x
Glamorgan 1 0.64x
Gloucestershire 1 0.57x
Hampshire 1 0.54x
Midlothian 1 0.83x
Surrey 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. Wardleworth in Lancashire leads with 17 Deasys recorded in 1881 and an index of 279.15x.

Place Total Index
Wardleworth 17 279.15x
Westminster St James 8 86.67x
West Ham 6 15.34x
Farnworth 5 78.37x
Normanby In 5 210.08x
Whitechapel London 5 56.50x
Woolwich 5 44.21x
Mile End Old Town London 4 20.94x
Spotland 4 33.78x
Sunderland 4 84.75x
Glossop Dale 3 45.59x
Bethnal Green London 2 5.13x
Burnley 2 22.30x
Leagram 2 6666.67x
Liskeard 2 117.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 13.90x
Royal Navy 2 21.88x
St Giles In Fields London 2 45.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 4.30x
Blackburn 1 3.53x
Croydon 1 4.12x
Edinburgh Old 1 136.99x
Leeds 1 1.99x
Michaelstone Super Ely 1 10000.00x
Minster In Sheppey 1 19.72x
Ryde 1 25.32x
St George Bloomsbury 1 19.42x
St Giles Cambridge 1 136.99x
Tidenham 1 370.37x
Whitwell 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Catherine 6
Ellen 6
Margaret 5
Alice 2
Ann 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Hannah 1
Honora 1
Honour 1
Johanna 1
Louise 1
Margret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Michael 4
James 3
Patrick 3
Denis 2
Martin 2
Thomas 2
Timothy 2
William 2
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Corneilius 1
Cornelius 1
Danl. 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Luke 1
M.D. 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Deasy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deasy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Deasy surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deasy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016. That gives Deasy a modern rank of #11,879.

What does the Deasy surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Déise" meaning from the territory of the Déisi tribe.

What does the Deasy map show?

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