NameCensus.

UK surname

Dec

A surname derived from the French word "duc" meaning leader or duke.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Dec surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Worcester, Oldham and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dec is 137 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3325.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2016

137 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dec had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Dec surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dec surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dec 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
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 34 #34,282
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 35 #34,418
2000 modern 34 #34,517
2001 modern 32 #34,537
2002 modern 33 #34,717
2003 modern 37 #34,432
2004 modern 43 #34,149
2005 modern 49 #33,859
2006 modern 67 #32,532
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Decs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Worcester, Oldham, Wakefield and Newark and Sherwood. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Worcester 013 Worcester
2 Oldham 017 Oldham
3 Wakefield 021 Wakefield
4 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood
5 Oldham 015 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dec

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dec

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dec 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

Dec 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

Dec 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 Dec is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dec

The surname DEC is believed to have originated in Poland, where it is thought to have derived from the Polish word "dec" meaning "breath" or "breeze." The earliest records of the name date back to the 16th century, with references found in historical documents from the region.

One of the earliest known bearers of the DEC surname was Jan DEC, a Polish nobleman who lived in the late 1500s. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Sigismund III Vasa and played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish war of the early 17th century.

In the 17th century, the DEC name also appears in various records from the town of Krakow, where it is believed that a branch of the family had settled. One notable individual from this time was Tomasz DEC (1620-1689), a respected scholar and professor of philosophy at the Jagiellonian University.

As the DEC family spread throughout Poland, variations in the spelling of the name began to emerge, with forms such as "Dets" and "Detz" appearing in some historical documents. This was likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that era.

The DEC surname eventually made its way beyond Poland's borders, with records indicating that members of the family migrated to other parts of Europe, including Germany and Russia. One notable figure from this period was Mikhail DEC (1748-1823), a Russian military officer who served under Catherine the Great and played a significant role in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792.

Another prominent individual bearing the DEC surname was Stanisław DEC (1876-1939), a Polish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Poland in the 1920s. He played a crucial role in shaping Poland's foreign policy during the interwar period.

While the DEC name may not be as widespread today as some other surnames, it has a rich history that spans centuries and crosses borders, reflecting the movement and influence of those who carried this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dec surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dec surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Dec surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dec surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Dec a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Dec surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "duc" meaning leader or duke.

What does the Dec map show?

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