NameCensus.

UK surname

Deere

An English occupational surname referring to a deer keeper or hunter.

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Deere surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 412, ranked #11,627, up from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lantwit Major and St Athan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, The Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deere is 451 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.3%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

2009

451 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deere had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 339 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Deere surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deere surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deere 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 305 #11,525
1911 historical 339 #10,510
1997 modern 412 #10,759
1998 modern 427 #10,825
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 397 #11,299
2002 modern 420 #11,041
2003 modern 416 #10,941
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 431 #10,558
2006 modern 427 #10,683
2007 modern 432 #10,682
2008 modern 436 #10,710
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 447 #10,966
2011 modern 436 #11,053
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 410 #11,693
2014 modern 409 #11,808
2015 modern 417 #11,532
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Deeres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lantwit Major, St Athan, Roath and Merthyr Dovan, Highlight. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, The Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Ryedale. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Lantwit Major Glamorganshire
3 St Athan Glamorganshire
4 Roath Glamorganshire
5 Merthyr Dovan, Highlight Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 011 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Bridgend 005 Bridgend
4 Bridgend 002 Bridgend
5 Ryedale 003 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deere

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deere

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Deere surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Deere household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Deere is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Deere 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

Deere 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 Deere 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 Deere, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Deere

The surname Deere is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "deor," meaning "deer" or "wild animal," suggesting that the name's bearers may have been foresters, hunters, or resided near wooded areas where deer roamed.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Richard le Dere in Cambridgeshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Dere, Deere, and Deer, reflecting the linguistic variations of the time. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Dere in Leicestershire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a William Dere in Yorkshire.

The name Deere has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir John Deere, born in 1481 in Lincolnshire, who served as a member of Parliament and held the position of Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1535.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Ralph Deere, born in 1623 in Kent, who was a respected lawyer and served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1684 to 1688.

In the 17th century, the name Deere gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Thomas Deere, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later settled in Maryland.

The Deere family name is also associated with the renowned John Deere, born in 1804 in Vermont. He was a skilled blacksmith and inventor, known for revolutionizing the agricultural industry with his innovative steel plow designs, which led to the establishment of the iconic John Deere Company.

In the 19th century, the name Deere was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Joseph Deere, born in 1828 in Lincolnshire, who was a prominent politician and industrialist.

While the surname Deere is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deere families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deere 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. Glamorgan leads with 99 Deeres recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.98x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 99 35.98x
Middlesex 48 3.04x
Kent 5 0.93x
Shropshire 4 2.93x
Lincolnshire 2 0.79x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.41x
Suffolk 1 0.52x
Sussex 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 21 Deeres recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.71x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 21 13.71x
Llantwit Major 21 3888.89x
St Athan 14 6666.67x
Ystradyfodwg 14 58.00x
Limehouse London 9 51.87x
Porthkerry 9 12857.14x
Cwmdu 8 238.81x
Fulham London 7 30.54x
Roath 7 56.00x
Cardiff St Mary 6 39.58x
Bonvilston 5 5000.00x
Clerkenwell London 4 10.72x
Drayton In Hales 4 142.35x
Llandaff 4 43.72x
St George Hanover Square 4 14.37x
Cardiff St John 3 33.37x
Bromley 2 24.33x
Cudham 2 363.64x
Eglwysilan 2 41.93x
Leake 2 172.41x
Llanwonno 2 20.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.44x
Barry 1 2000.00x
Ealing 1 7.08x
Eglwys Brewis 1 5000.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.97x
Kensington London 1 1.14x
Llandough Near 1 1666.67x
Milton In Gravesend 1 12.38x
Penmark 1 384.62x
Preston 1 21.51x
Raydon 1 344.83x
Shoreditch London 1 1.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Edward 5
David 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Ernest 3
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Sidney 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
Dl. 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Illtyd 1
Iltid 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Morgan 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Sydney 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Deere surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deere surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Deere surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deere surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Deere a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Deere surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a deer keeper or hunter.

What does the Deere map show?

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