NameCensus.

UK surname

Degale

A Latinized form of the French surname de Galles meaning "from Wales".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Degale is 126 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2011

126 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Degale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Degale surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Degale 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Degales 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 Brent, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham and Haringey. 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 Brent 025 Brent
2 Wandsworth 019 Wandsworth
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 001 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Haringey 002 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Degale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Degale

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Degale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Degale 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Degale 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

Degale 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

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

Meaning and origin of Degale

The surname DEGALE is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "galer," meaning "to amuse" or "to make merry." It is believed to have first emerged in the late 12th century in the northern regions of France.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval documents from the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One notable example is a reference to a "Robert de Gale" in the tax records of the village of Rouen in 1195.

The name DEGALE is thought to have initially been an occupational surname, given to jesters, minstrels, or entertainers who provided amusement and merriment during celebrations or festivals. As the name spread throughout France, various spellings emerged, including DeGale, De Gale, and Degalle.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record of landowners in England during the reign of King Edward I. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname DEGALE had already migrated to England by that time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Jean DeGale, a French troubadour and poet who lived in the late 12th century and is known for his satirical works critiquing the nobility and clergy of his time.

Another notable figure was Sir William DeGale, an English knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was awarded lands in Normandy for his service and is believed to have been the progenitor of many DeGale families in England.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, suggesting that some individuals bearing the surname had migrated to Spain during that period, possibly due to religious persecution or economic opportunities.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes, whose original surname was written as "Des Cartes" or "Descartes," which is thought to be a variant of DEGALE.

Throughout the centuries, the name has spread across various parts of Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing the surname DEGALE making significant contributions in fields such as literature, art, science, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Degale surname: questions and answers

How common is the Degale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Degale a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Degale surname mean?

A Latinized form of the French surname de Galles meaning "from Wales".

What does the Degale map show?

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