NameCensus.

UK surname

Delacy

A surname likely originating from the French city, Lacey.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Delacy surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, St James Clerkenwell and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Welwyn Hatfield, Sutton and Wokingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Delacy is 195 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.3%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

1997

195 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Delacy had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Delacy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Delacy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Delacy 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 125 #19,932
1997 modern 195 #17,912
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Delacys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, St James Clerkenwell, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Welwyn Hatfield, Sutton, Wokingham and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
3 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Welwyn Hatfield 007 Welwyn Hatfield
2 Sutton 022 Sutton
3 Wokingham 019 Wokingham
4 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
5 Welwyn Hatfield 008 Welwyn Hatfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Delacy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Delacy

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

Challenged Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Delacy 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

Delacy is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Delacy falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Delacy 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Delacy

The surname DeLacy originated in England, derived from the Norman French de Lassy or de Lascy. It dates back to the 11th century, when it was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a place name referring to the Normandy town of Lassy.

The earliest known bearer of the surname was Walter de Lacy, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. He was rewarded with lands in Herefordshire and Shropshire for his loyal service.

By the 12th century, the DeLacy family had become one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman dynasties in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy, born around 1135, was granted the lordship of Meath by King Henry II in 1172, establishing the family's stronghold at Trim Castle.

Another notable figure was Roger de Lacy, who served as Constable of Chester and fought in the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart in the late 12th century. He played a crucial role in the conquest of Cyprus and the eventual capture of Acre.

In the 13th century, Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath, was a prominent supporter of King John and later King Henry III during the Barons' War. He was also involved in the construction of several abbeys, including those at Bective and Fore.

During the Tudor period, the DeLacy family faced challenges due to their adherence to the Catholic faith. Sir Hugh DeLacy, born around 1510, was executed in 1558 for his involvement in a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I.

Other notable figures with the surname include the 17th-century Irish soldier and landowner, Sir Hugh DeLacy, who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War, and the 18th-century British naval officer, Sir Francis DeLacy, who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War.

The DeLacy surname has also been recorded with various spellings over the centuries, such as de Lacy, de Lacey, Delacie, and Delacy, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Delacy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Delacy 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 24 Delacys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 24 3.37x
Cheshire 10 6.36x
Yorkshire 8 1.13x
Kent 7 2.88x
Durham 5 2.36x
Devon 4 2.70x
Lancashire 4 0.47x
Suffolk 4 4.61x
Lincolnshire 2 1.76x
Surrey 2 0.58x
Glamorgan 1 0.81x
Inverness-shire 1 4.70x
Staffordshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranmere in Cheshire leads with 10 Delacys recorded in 1881 and an index of 173.01x.

Place Total Index
Tranmere 10 173.01x
Hackney London 9 22.55x
Gillingham 7 139.72x
Islington London 7 10.14x
Sculcoates 6 53.62x
Chelsea London 4 18.65x
Darlington 4 48.90x
Ipswich St Peter 4 341.88x
Tormoham 3 47.85x
Grantham 2 135.14x
Holy Trinity 2 11.79x
Hulme 2 11.34x
Lambeth 2 3.22x
St George In East London 2 29.85x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 15.72x
Bishopwearmouth 1 5.50x
Cardiff St Mary 1 14.64x
Chorley 1 21.10x
Cresswell 1 10000.00x
Hampstead London 1 9.02x
Inverness 1 18.69x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 8.76x
Shoreditch London 1 3.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Mary 3
Amy 2
Bridget 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
A. 1
A.J. 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
B. 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
F.E. 1
Grace 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
L.A. 1
M. 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rosamond 1
Susannah 1
Valerie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Henry 3
James 3
Christopher 2
Robert 2
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Ernest 1
George 1
H.K. 1
Harold 1
J. 1
J.J. 1
Oscar 1
Percival 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Victor 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Delacy households.

FAQ

Delacy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Delacy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Delacy surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Delacy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Delacy a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Delacy surname mean?

A surname likely originating from the French city, Lacey.

What does the Delacy map show?

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