NameCensus.

UK surname

Dellar

A locational surname of obscure origin, possibly referring to someone from a dell or valley.

In the 1881 census there were 372 people recorded with the Dellar surname, ranking it #8,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 538, ranked #9,457, down from #8,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Oakington and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Bassetlaw and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dellar is 604 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.6%.

1881 census count

372

Ranked #8,399

Modern count

538

2016, ranked #9,457

Peak year

1901

604 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dellar had 372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016, ranked #9,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 604 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dellar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dellar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dellar 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 372 #8,399
1891 historical 431 #8,330
1901 historical 604 #7,038
1911 historical 602 #6,820
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 565 #8,738
1999 modern 559 #8,872
2000 modern 557 #8,860
2001 modern 548 #8,820
2002 modern 549 #8,989
2003 modern 545 #8,902
2004 modern 559 #8,764
2005 modern 538 #8,933
2006 modern 537 #8,983
2007 modern 529 #9,160
2008 modern 538 #9,115
2009 modern 542 #9,269
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 525 #9,609
2012 modern 521 #9,589
2013 modern 536 #9,535
2014 modern 537 #9,565
2015 modern 540 #9,465
2016 modern 538 #9,457

Geography

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Where Dellars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Oakington, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Melbourn, Meldreth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Bassetlaw, Central Bedfordshire, Broxbourne and Cornwall. 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 Oakington Cambridgeshire
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 Melbourn, Meldreth Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 019 South Cambridgeshire
2 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
3 Central Bedfordshire 013 Central Bedfordshire
4 Broxbourne 002 Broxbourne
5 Cornwall 053 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dellar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dellar

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dellar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dellar 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dellar 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

Dellar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dellar

The surname Dellar is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'dæl', meaning 'valley' or 'dale'. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in or near a valley or dale.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Dellar can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de la Dale'. This entry indicates that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to a place of residence rather than an occupation or personal characteristic.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as 'Deller', 'Dellar', and 'Dealer' appearing in historical documents. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Dellar was Richard Dellar, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in the mid-14th century. Another notable bearer of the name was John Dellar, a merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dellar surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon in the west of England. This suggests that the name may have originated or been concentrated in these regions.

In the 19th century, several individuals with the Dellar surname achieved notable accomplishments. For example, William Dellar (1800-1876) was a renowned English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Another notable figure was Edward Dellar (1828-1904), a British engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early telegraph systems. He worked for the Electric Telegraph Company and was instrumental in the expansion of telegraph networks across Europe and Asia.

Additionally, Thomas Dellar (1854-1912) was a prominent English journalist and author who wrote extensively on topics related to history, literature, and social issues of his time.

Throughout its history, the Dellar surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, professionals, and artists. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical records of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dellar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dellar 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 142 Dellars recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.78x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 142 61.78x
Middlesex 93 2.56x
Essex 45 6.28x
Hertfordshire 30 11.99x
Surrey 19 1.07x
Bedfordshire 13 6.92x
Yorkshire 6 0.17x
Berkshire 5 1.84x
Kent 5 0.40x
Leicestershire 4 0.99x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.61x
Staffordshire 2 0.16x
Derbyshire 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire leads with 45 Dellars recorded in 1881 and an index of 1331.36x.

Place Total Index
Bassingbourn 45 1331.36x
Tottenham 16 27.69x
Oakington 14 2058.82x
St Andrewthe Less 14 53.31x
Melbourn 12 535.71x
Islington London 10 2.84x
Enfield 9 37.80x
Mile End Old Town London 9 11.65x
Sawston 9 405.41x
West Ham 9 5.69x
Arrington 8 2666.67x
Harpenden 8 209.97x
Shoreditch London 8 5.09x
Wimblington 8 588.24x
Mortlake 7 88.83x
St Marylebone London 7 3.61x
St Pancras London 7 2.40x
Ashwell 6 306.12x
Guilden Morden 6 491.80x
Latton 6 2068.97x
Waltham Holy Cross 6 89.69x
Wendy 6 3529.41x
Whitwood 6 117.42x
Chelsea London 5 4.57x
Cheshunt 5 57.21x
Nazeing 5 543.48x
St Giles Cambridge 5 168.35x
Stoke Newington London 5 17.69x
Walthamstow 5 19.39x
Wrestlingworth 5 617.28x
Castle Donnington 4 119.76x
Fulham London 4 7.60x
Lambeth 4 1.26x
Luton 4 12.30x
New Windsor 4 43.67x
St George Hanover Square 4 6.26x
Biggleswade 3 48.78x
Elmdon 3 394.74x
Ickleton 3 365.85x
Mansfield 3 17.73x
Navestock 3 288.46x
Newington 3 2.24x
Bermondsey 2 1.85x
Birchanger 2 338.98x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.09x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 19.96x
Hackney London 2 0.98x
Hatfield 2 39.45x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 2 80.32x
Orwell 2 200.00x
St Albans St Peter 2 23.70x
Stafford St Mary 2 11.53x
Standon 2 77.82x
Steeple Morden 2 163.93x
Aldershot 1 4.01x
All Saints Cambridge 1 62.11x
Bishop Stortford 1 11.98x
Brentwood 1 22.88x
Burnham Westgate 1 83.33x
Camberwell 1 0.43x
Canterbury St Gregory 1 61.35x
Clapham 1 2.20x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.17x
Clewer 1 8.96x
Great Hadham 1 62.11x
Hatfield Broad Oak 1 41.32x
Hendon 1 7.66x
Hertford St Andrew 1 32.36x
Little Chester 1 140.85x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.88x
Pampisford 1 232.56x
Potton 1 40.16x
Royal Navy 1 2.71x
Royston 1 46.95x
Saffron Walden 1 13.21x
St Anne Soho London 1 4.83x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.60x
Staines 1 17.39x
Swanscombe 1 17.99x
Weybridge 1 26.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 16
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Susan 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Charlotte 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Catherine 1
Christella 1
Daisy 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Kezia 1
Kitty 1
Lilley 1
Lucy 1
Margaretta 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Millie 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1
Theadina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 19
James 14
John 14
Charles 12
Thomas 11
Alfred 7
David 7
Frank 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Simeon 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Andrew 1
Ben 1
Bertnal 1
C.T. 1
Chas. 1
Earnst 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Harrold 1
Hubert 1
Isaiah 1
Jonah 1
King 1
Lantaff 1
Leonard 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1
Simon 1
Thos.Alfd. 1
Thos.Joshua 1
Tommy 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dellar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dellar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 372 people were recorded with the Dellar surname. That placed it at #8,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dellar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016. That gives Dellar a modern rank of #9,457.

What does the Dellar surname mean?

A locational surname of obscure origin, possibly referring to someone from a dell or valley.

What does the Dellar map show?

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