NameCensus.

UK surname

Dees

An English surname derived from the given name Dennis, or from a place name meaning "deity" or "god."

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Dees surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 224, ranked #18,164, up from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Whitworth and Newcastle St Nicholas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Hartlepool and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dees is 237 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 151.7%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

224

2016, ranked #18,164

Peak year

2010

237 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dees had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016, ranked #18,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dees surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dees surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dees 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 134 #19,777
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 185 #19,212
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 188 #18,866
2006 modern 187 #19,079
2007 modern 196 #18,737
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 227 #17,544
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 235 #17,328
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 224 #18,164

Geography

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Where Dees' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Whitworth, Newcastle St Nicholas, St Athan and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Hartlepool and Winchester. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Whitworth Durham
3 Newcastle St Nicholas Northumberland
4 St Athan Glamorganshire
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 029 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
3 Winchester 011 Winchester
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 025 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dees

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dees

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dees, 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 Dees surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dees 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dees is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dees is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dees falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dees

The surname Dees has its origins in the Netherlands, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "dees," which means "this." This could suggest that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a particular landmark or location.

One of the earliest known references to the name Dees can be found in a Dutch census record from the town of Leiden in the year 1572. The record mentions a Pieter Dees, who was a merchant and landowner in the area.

The Dees surname also appears in various historical documents from the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. In the 17th century, a notable figure named Jan Dees (1603-1673) was a prominent lawyer and magistrate in the city of Leeuwarden, Friesland.

In the 18th century, the Dees name spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany and France. In 1732, a German philosopher and mathematician named Johann Martin Dees (1705-1759) was born in Hanover. He made significant contributions to the field of calculus and wrote several influential works on mathematics.

Another individual of note was the French artist and painter, Jacques-Louis Dees (1760-1832). Born in Paris, he was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works can be found in various museums across Europe.

In the 19th century, the Dees surname also made its way to the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of William Dees (1812-1888), who was born in Ohio and later became a successful businessman and landowner in Illinois.

Another notable American with the Dees surname was Sarah Dees (1857-1925), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools in Alabama and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for women and girls in the South.

Throughout its history, the Dees surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from law and philosophy to art and education. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various cultures and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dees families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dees 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. Northumberland leads with 41 Dees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.75x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 41 31.75x
Durham 17 6.58x
Lancashire 11 1.07x
Middlesex 8 0.92x
Kent 6 2.03x
Midlothian 3 2.58x
Anglesey 1 6.50x
Lanarkshire 1 0.36x
Roxburghshire 1 6.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elswick in Northumberland leads with 21 Dees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.69x.

Place Total Index
Elswick 21 203.69x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 9 529.41x
Wallsend 8 195.12x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 62.61x
Greenwich 6 43.42x
Kensington London 6 12.43x
East Broughton 5 1724.14x
Westoe 5 34.15x
Hartlepool 4 108.99x
Toxteth Park 4 11.47x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 124.48x
Byker 1 15.67x
Cheetham 1 13.02x
Gateshead 1 5.17x
Govan 1 1.44x
Hobkirk 1 500.00x
Llangristiolus 1 434.78x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 14.95x
Paddington London 1 3.13x
Shevington 1 212.77x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 26.60x
Tynemouth 1 14.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 7
James 5
John 5
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Tho. 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Dees surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dees surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Dees surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dees surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016. That gives Dees a modern rank of #18,164.

What does the Dees surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name Dennis, or from a place name meaning "deity" or "god."

What does the Dees map show?

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