NameCensus.

UK surname

Deed

A surname representing an action or achievement.

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Deed surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, Whepstead and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brentwood, Maldon and Denbighshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deed is 246 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.9%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

1911

246 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deed had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 246 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Deed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deed surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Deed 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 207 #17,267
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

Back to top

Where Deeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, Whepstead, St Pancras, Stanford-le-Hope and Rhuddlan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brentwood, Maldon, Denbighshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Mayfield. 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 Southminster, Mayland, Steeple Essex
2 Whepstead Suffolk
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Stanford-le-Hope Essex
5 Rhuddlan Denbighshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brentwood 004 Brentwood
2 Maldon 007 Maldon
3 Denbighshire 010 Denbighshire
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 003 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Mayfield Midlothian

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Deed

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Deed

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Deed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Deed 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Deed is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deed is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Deed falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Deed

The surname DEED is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "ded" or "dede," which means "action" or "deed." The earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in various historical documents from that era.

One of the earliest known references to the name DEED appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have held land or positions of significance during the Norman conquest of England.

During the Middle Ages, the name DEED was primarily concentrated in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, where many families with this surname resided. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in administrative or legal roles, as their surname reflected the idea of "deeds" or official actions.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Deede, Dede, and Dyed. These variations can be found in historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname DEED include:

1. Robert DEED (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, known for his involvement in trade with the Low Countries.

2. Elizabeth DEED (c. 1570-1640), a renowned herbalist and healer from Yorkshire, whose remedies and treatments were widely sought after in her community.

3. John DEED (1625-1684), a Puritan minister and author who served as a chaplain during the English Civil War and later became a prominent figure in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

4. William DEED (1710-1783), a skilled clockmaker from Yorkshire, whose intricate timepieces were highly prized among the gentry and nobility of the time.

5. Anne DEED (1762-1832), a renowned educator and philanthropist from Lincolnshire, who founded several schools for underprivileged children and advocated for improved educational opportunities for girls.

While the surname DEED has its roots in England, it eventually spread to other parts of the world as families migrated and established new communities. Today, individuals bearing this name can be found in various countries, each with their unique family histories and stories.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Deed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deed 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. Middlesex leads with 47 Deeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 47 3.13x
Essex 38 12.81x
Suffolk 14 7.65x
Hertfordshire 13 12.56x
Kent 12 2.34x
Denbighshire 11 19.39x
Wiltshire 8 6.02x
Flintshire 4 9.91x
Lincolnshire 3 1.25x
Gloucestershire 1 0.34x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Surrey 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Albans St Peter in Hertfordshire leads with 13 Deeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 372.49x.

Place Total Index
St Albans St Peter 13 372.49x
Islington London 10 6.87x
St Asaph Cil Owen 10 4761.90x
Hampstead London 9 38.46x
Stanford Le Hope 9 2093.02x
Whepstead 8 2500.00x
Northfleet 7 154.87x
Prittlewell 7 170.32x
Brentwood 6 331.49x
St Pancras London 6 4.96x
Lee 5 67.20x
Bethnal Green London 4 6.13x
Edington 4 833.33x
Kensington London 4 4.79x
Shoreditch London 4 6.14x
Southminster 4 615.38x
St Asaph 4 500.00x
St Stephen Coleman Street 4 754.72x
Steeple 4 1481.48x
Sudbury St Gregory 4 272.11x
Earl Stoke 3 2142.86x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 79.37x
St Lawrence Newland 2 1818.18x
Burnham 1 90.91x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 29.15x
Chiswick 1 12.18x
Clifton 1 6.72x
Denbigh 1 43.86x
East Bedfont 1 133.33x
Finchingfield 1 107.53x
Hendon 1 18.52x
Hockley 1 312.50x
Lamarsh 1 714.29x
Lambeth 1 0.76x
Maldon All Sts 1 169.49x
Newmarket St Mary 1 71.43x
Pedmore 1 384.62x
Preshute 1 121.95x
Purleigh 1 227.27x
Spitalfields London 1 8.85x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.78x
Stanwell 1 90.09x
West Derby 1 1.92x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Deed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Deed surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Deed a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Deed surname mean?

A surname representing an action or achievement.

What does the Deed map show?

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