NameCensus.

UK surname

Debenham

A locational surname derived from the town of Debenham in Suffolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 549 people recorded with the Debenham surname, ranking it #6,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 914, ranked #6,236, up from #6,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Hartest and Barking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Waveney and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Debenham is 1,053 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.5%.

1881 census count

549

Ranked #6,284

Modern count

914

2016, ranked #6,236

Peak year

2000

1,053 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Debenham had 549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 914 in 2016, ranked #6,236.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 790 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Debenham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Debenham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Debenham 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 327 #7,119
1861 historical 317 #8,031
1881 historical 549 #6,284
1891 historical 600 #6,384
1901 historical 696 #6,314
1911 historical 790 #5,520
1997 modern 992 #5,544
1998 modern 1,033 #5,530
1999 modern 1,046 #5,504
2000 modern 1,053 #5,457
2001 modern 1,014 #5,522
2002 modern 1,033 #5,549
2003 modern 1,004 #5,573
2004 modern 981 #5,682
2005 modern 956 #5,752
2006 modern 963 #5,727
2007 modern 956 #5,823
2008 modern 951 #5,873
2009 modern 955 #5,978
2010 modern 973 #6,001
2011 modern 961 #6,013
2012 modern 919 #6,144
2013 modern 949 #6,084
2014 modern 959 #6,081
2015 modern 934 #6,155
2016 modern 914 #6,236

Geography

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Where Debenhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Hartest, Barking and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Waveney, Babergh and Ipswich. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Hartest Suffolk
3 Barking Essex
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
2 Waveney 013 Waveney
3 Babergh 005 Babergh
4 Babergh 001 Babergh
5 Ipswich 014 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Debenham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Debenham

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Debenham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Debenham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Debenham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Debenham is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Debenham falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Debenham

The surname DEBENHAM has its origins in the English county of Suffolk. It is a locational surname derived from the town of Debenham, which dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Depreham". The name is thought to come from the Old English words "deor" meaning deer and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement, suggesting it was once a place where deer were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DEBENHAM can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk from 1182, where a Hugo de Debenham is mentioned. Another early bearer of the name was Walter de Debenham, who is recorded in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1240.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname DEBENHAM was Richard de Debenham, who served as the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk from 1345 to 1361. He was involved in a dispute with the town over taxation and had to appeal to the King for protection.

Moving into the 15th century, William Debenham (born around 1420) was a wealthy cloth merchant and landowner from Suffolk. He bequeathed funds to establish a grammar school in his hometown of Debenham, which still exists today as Sir Robert Hitcham's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School.

In the 16th century, John Debenham (born around 1530) was a prominent figure in the English Reformation. He was a Protestant clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Suffolk and was involved in the translation of the Geneva Bible.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Ralph Debenham (1619-1693), who was a wealthy merchant and politician in London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1689 and was knighted by King William III for his support during the Glorious Revolution.

The DEBENHAM surname has also been found in various spellings over the centuries, such as Debenham, Debnam, Debenhame, and Debnham, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling in different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Debenham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Debenham 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. Suffolk leads with 206 Debenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.24x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 206 31.24x
Surrey 81 3.07x
Middlesex 77 1.42x
Norfolk 32 3.84x
Hampshire 30 2.70x
Essex 28 2.62x
Hertfordshire 21 5.63x
Yorkshire 21 0.39x
Lancashire 13 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 11 3.21x
Channel Islands 5 3.12x
Derbyshire 5 0.59x
Radnorshire 5 11.45x
Durham 3 0.19x
Sussex 3 0.33x
Berkshire 2 0.49x
Kent 2 0.11x
Somerset 2 0.23x
Wiltshire 2 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Devon 1 0.09x
Fife 1 0.31x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Monmouthshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glemsford in Suffolk leads with 40 Debenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 863.93x.

Place Total Index
Glemsford 40 863.93x
Lambeth 26 5.51x
Hartest 19 1666.67x
Godalming 16 96.33x
Horringer 14 1138.21x
Bungay St Mary 13 397.55x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 12 96.93x
Kensington London 12 3.99x
St Pancras London 12 2.75x
Barnham 11 1294.12x
Cheshunt 11 84.36x
Croydon 11 7.51x
South Elmham St Margaret 10 3703.70x
St Marylebone London 10 3.46x
Bermondsey 9 5.58x
Holdenhurst 9 30.92x
Mile End Old Town London 9 7.81x
Redgrave 9 873.79x
Rickinghall Superior 9 849.06x
Rumburgh 9 1343.28x
Sturmere 9 1304.35x
Comberton 8 747.66x
Edmonton 8 18.34x
Ryde 8 33.56x
Woodbridge 8 94.90x
Great Wigborough 7 1428.57x
Great Yarmouth 7 10.15x
Hawstead 7 1111.11x
Clapham 6 8.87x
Ravensworth 6 1200.00x
Rawdon 6 94.94x
St Albans St Peter 6 47.66x
Walton In Wetherby 6 1621.62x
Alton 5 59.81x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 28.39x
Cratfield 5 543.48x
Felsham 5 819.67x
Hackney London 5 1.65x
Lawshall 5 337.84x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 5 92.59x
Presteigne 5 180.51x
Skerton 5 94.88x
St Sampson 5 69.16x
Unstone 5 150.15x
Binsted 4 94.56x
Newington 4 2.00x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 4 191.39x
Scole Cum Frenze 4 330.58x
Willesden 4 7.84x
Caterham 3 25.73x
Everton 3 1.47x
Gateshead 3 2.49x
Hornsey 3 4.38x
Theydon Bois 3 185.19x
Thorpe Abbotts 3 714.29x
Woodford 3 24.79x
Albury 2 172.41x
Barking 2 58.65x
Betchworth 2 61.54x
Earsham 2 176.99x
Fordham 2 90.50x
Gestingthorpe 2 168.07x
Great Amwell 2 53.48x
Hunslet 2 2.39x
Islington London 2 0.38x
Lowestoft 2 6.42x
Mendham 2 142.86x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 2 130.72x
Shimpling 2 219.78x
St Anne Soho London 2 6.47x
Wanstead 2 10.68x
Abergavenny 1 6.82x
Beddington 1 9.80x
Chevington 1 97.09x
Ealing 1 2.07x
Kirkdale 1 0.93x
Selborne 1 44.25x
South Lopham 1 100.00x
St Luke London 1 1.15x
Sudbury St Peter 1 27.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 26
Mary 25
Sarah 18
Emma 11
Ellen 9
Hannah 9
Alice 8
Eliza 8
Jane 8
Ann 7
Emily 7
Harriet 7
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Lucy 6
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Isabella 5
Ada 4
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Adelaide 3
Agnes 3
Anna 3
Caroline 3
Flora 3
Frances 3
Julia 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Augusta 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lucretia 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Elizaebeth 1
Elizebeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
George 26
Charles 17
Arthur 16
Henry 13
James 13
John 13
Thomas 12
Alfred 10
Robert 9
Albert 8
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Harry 7
Frank 6
Walter 5
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Horace 3
Jesse 3
Willie 3
Archibald 2
Cornelius 2
Edwin 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Abm. 1
Athaling 1
Authur 1
Bertie 1
Francis 1
Fredira 1
Fredk. 1
Gerald 1
Isaac 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Obed 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Stanly 1
W. 1

FAQ

Debenham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Debenham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 549 people were recorded with the Debenham surname. That placed it at #6,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Debenham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 914 in 2016. That gives Debenham a modern rank of #6,236.

What does the Debenham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Debenham in Suffolk, England.

What does the Debenham map show?

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