NameCensus.

UK surname

Delany

A locational surname derived from the place name of Delany in Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 488 people recorded with the Delany surname, ranking it #6,898 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 357, ranked #12,953, down from #6,898 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Wakefield and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Delany is 563 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.8%.

1881 census count

488

Ranked #6,898

Modern count

357

2016, ranked #12,953

Peak year

1861

563 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Delany had 488 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,898 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016, ranked #12,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 563 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Delany surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Delany surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Delany 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 560 #4,524
1861 historical 563 #4,680
1881 historical 488 #6,898
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 328 #10,943
1911 historical 464 #8,307
1997 modern 364 #11,827
1998 modern 371 #12,027
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 368 #12,130
2001 modern 351 #12,349
2002 modern 359 #12,383
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 333 #12,941
2007 modern 337 #12,950
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 370 #12,416
2010 modern 378 #12,508
2011 modern 366 #12,667
2012 modern 372 #12,374
2013 modern 372 #12,570
2014 modern 369 #12,745
2015 modern 363 #12,793
2016 modern 357 #12,953

Geography

Back to top

Where Delanys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Wakefield, Stafford, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 004 North Somerset
2 Wakefield 018 Wakefield
3 Stafford 015 Stafford
4 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Westminster 018 Westminster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Delany

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Delany

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Delany surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Delany household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Delany is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Delany 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

Delany falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Delany 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Delany

The surname DELANY originated in Ireland, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Ó Diolúin, which means "descendant of Diolún." Diolún is a diminutive form of the Irish word "diol," meaning "pay" or "reward."

The DELANY name first appeared in County Westmeath, located in the province of Leinster. Historical records show variations in the spelling, such as Delaney, Delany, Delany, Dolany, and Dillane. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Thomas DELANY (1548-1628) was an Irish Jesuit priest and educator who served as the rector of the Irish College in Rome. He played a significant role in preserving Irish culture and education during a time of religious upheaval.

Another prominent individual was Mary DELANY (1700-1788), an English artist and writer known for her intricate paper cut-outs and botanical illustrations. Her memoir, "The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany," provides insight into 18th-century English society.

In the realm of literature, Samuel DELANY (1842-1909) was an Irish poet and writer who is best known for his work "The Cup and the Falcon." His poems often reflected on Irish identity and nationalism.

Later, in the 20th century, Samuel R. DELANY (1942-) gained recognition as an influential science fiction author and literary critic. His novels, such as "Dhalgren" and "Triton," explored themes of sexuality, race, and society.

The DELANY surname has also been associated with notable places, such as Delany Street in Dublin, Ireland, named after a prominent local family. Additionally, the town of Delany, Pennsylvania, was founded in the late 18th century and likely derived its name from an early settler bearing the DELANY surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Delany families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Delany 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. Lancashire leads with 163 Delanys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 163 2.86x
Surrey 37 1.58x
Cheshire 36 3.39x
Yorkshire 35 0.73x
Middlesex 34 0.71x
Carmarthenshire 19 9.37x
Warwickshire 18 1.48x
Durham 17 1.19x
Northumberland 17 2.38x
Glamorgan 16 1.91x
Lanarkshire 14 0.90x
Derbyshire 12 1.59x
Monmouthshire 11 3.16x
Staffordshire 10 0.62x
Isle of Man 9 10.08x
Angus 7 1.57x
Kent 7 0.43x
Somerset 6 0.78x
Buteshire 3 10.30x
Cumberland 3 0.72x
Hampshire 3 0.30x
Devon 2 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 3.49x
Wiltshire 2 0.47x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.22x
Ayrshire 1 0.28x
Essex 1 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 0.51x
Inverness-shire 1 0.70x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.16x
Renfrewshire 1 0.27x
Sussex 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 48 Delanys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.85x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 48 13.85x
Manchester 27 10.52x
Birmingham 16 3.96x
Llanelly 16 35.05x
Byker 14 39.58x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 15.44x
Salford 14 8.34x
Battersea 11 6.22x
Derby St Michael 11 696.20x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 8.02x
Camberwell 9 2.93x
Christchurch 9 83.72x
Northowram 9 26.93x
Tranmere 9 23.07x
Oxton 8 133.33x
Chester St John Baptist 7 36.69x
Darlington 7 12.67x
Llanguick 7 46.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 7.23x
St Marylebone London 7 2.73x
Warrington 7 10.35x
Whitechapel London 7 14.77x
Dundee 6 3.61x
Leeds 6 2.23x
Barrow In Furness 5 6.44x
Bishopwearmouth 5 4.07x
Bradford 5 4.33x
Hulme 5 4.20x
Llantwit Vairdre 5 53.14x
Marown 5 306.75x
Stretford 5 15.92x
Accrington 4 7.71x
Birkenhead 4 4.73x
Blackburn 4 2.63x
Conside Knitsley 4 35.94x
Govan 4 1.04x
Hackney London 4 1.48x
Hamilton 4 9.22x
Toxteth Park 4 2.07x
Bilston 3 9.54x
Carluke 3 21.25x
Doncaster 3 8.62x
Great Budworth 3 159.57x
Kingarth 3 143.54x
Kirkdale 3 3.13x
Llanedy 3 78.53x
Newington 3 1.69x
Rotherhithe 3 5.05x
St Pancras London 3 0.78x
Tickenham 3 545.45x
Westminster St James 3 6.07x
Wolverhampton 3 2.40x
Arlecdon 2 18.17x
Cardiff St Mary 2 4.34x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.58x
Gate Fulford 2 17.97x
Glasgow 2 0.72x
Lambeth 2 0.48x
Lidford 2 44.44x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 6.96x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 19.10x
Portsea 2 1.04x
Preston 2 1.31x
Royal Navy 2 4.08x
Southwark St Saviour 2 8.09x
St Bride London 2 71.43x
Swansea Town 2 2.91x
Wakefield 2 5.47x
West Derby 2 1.20x
Westminster St John 2 3.41x
Westminster St Margaret 2 8.62x
Wraxall 2 135.14x
Bromley London 1 0.95x
Eltham 1 10.40x
Keighley 1 1.97x
Liff Benvie 1 1.48x
Lower Bullingham 1 128.21x
Malew 1 12.82x
Salisbury St Martin 1 22.57x
Uttoxeter 1 12.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Catherine 20
Elizabeth 20
Margaret 15
Ann 11
Ellen 9
Bridget 8
Sarah 8
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Kate 5
Alice 4
Maria 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Hannah 3
Johanna 3
Julia 3
Rachel 3
Agnes 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Margret 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Catharine 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Cordelin 1
Dinah 1
Elchart 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Fanney 1
Gertrude 1
Henry 1
Isabella 1
Jenny 1
Judith 1
Katherine 1
Lizzie 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Maud 1
Polly 1
Veronica 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 21
James 20
Thomas 20
George 10
Patrick 10
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Michael 7
Charles 6
Jeremiah 5
Daniel 4
Martin 4
Matthew 4
Peter 4
Robert 4
Denis 3
Henry 3
Timothy 3
Andrew 2
Bernard 2
Frederick 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Austin 1
B. 1
Barnard 1
Benjamin 1
Calaub 1
Chistopher 1
David 1
Eliza 1
Francis 1
Fuitan 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Johanna 1
Kieran 1
Luke 1
Micheal 1
Neal 1
Nicholas 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Oliver 1

FAQ

Delany surname: questions and answers

How common was the Delany surname in 1881?

In 1881, 488 people were recorded with the Delany surname. That placed it at #6,898 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Delany surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016. That gives Delany a modern rank of #12,953.

What does the Delany surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the place name of Delany in Ireland.

What does the Delany map show?

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