NameCensus.

UK surname

Deller

A variant German occupational surname for a quarryman or stonecutter.

In the 1881 census there were 586 people recorded with the Deller surname, ranking it #5,952 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,013, ranked #5,748, up from #5,952 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, North Hertfordshire and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deller is 1,081 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.9%.

1881 census count

586

Ranked #5,952

Modern count

1,013

2016, ranked #5,748

Peak year

1999

1,081 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deller had 586 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,952 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,013 in 2016, ranked #5,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 953 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Deller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deller surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deller 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 403 #6,004
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 586 #5,952
1891 historical 703 #5,583
1901 historical 753 #5,922
1911 historical 953 #4,729
1997 modern 1,022 #5,385
1998 modern 1,063 #5,395
1999 modern 1,081 #5,359
2000 modern 1,069 #5,381
2001 modern 1,036 #5,427
2002 modern 1,060 #5,433
2003 modern 1,057 #5,355
2004 modern 1,049 #5,391
2005 modern 1,030 #5,415
2006 modern 1,049 #5,351
2007 modern 1,048 #5,403
2008 modern 1,038 #5,474
2009 modern 1,067 #5,466
2010 modern 1,072 #5,553
2011 modern 1,056 #5,559
2012 modern 1,040 #5,549
2013 modern 1,025 #5,712
2014 modern 1,033 #5,705
2015 modern 1,007 #5,776
2016 modern 1,013 #5,748

Geography

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Where Dellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Marylebone and Tottenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, North Hertfordshire and Lewes. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 014 Huntingdonshire
2 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
3 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire
4 Lewes 006 Lewes
5 Lewes 007 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deller

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Deller, 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 Deller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Deller 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Deller is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deller 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

Deller falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Deller

The surname Deller is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "dell," which referred to a small valley or dell. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a topographic name to someone who lived near or in a dell or small valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deller can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England, dating back to 1296. In this record, the name appears as "Gilbert de la Delle," which translates to "Gilbert of the Dell." This early spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 14th century, the surname Deller is also mentioned in the Feet of Fines records for Yorkshire, England. In these legal documents, the name is spelled as "Dellour," further showcasing the various forms it took in different regions.

Notably, the surname Deller appears in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This inclusion suggests that the name had already established itself as a hereditary surname by the late 11th century.

One prominent individual bearing the Deller surname was Thomas Deller, a 17th-century English architect and surveyor born in 1635. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and the Ashmolean Museum, which he completed in 1683.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Deller, a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1789 to 1798. His tenure coincided with the tumultuous period of the French Revolutionary Wars, and he played a crucial role in maintaining British control over the Caribbean colonies.

In the literary realm, the name Deller is associated with the English writer and poet Mary Deller (1613-1688). Her works, which often explored religious and spiritual themes, were widely read and appreciated during her lifetime.

The Deller surname also has a connection to the arts through the renowned English conductor and musicologist, Sir John Deller (1914-1997). He was a pioneer in the field of early music performance and is credited with reviving interest in the works of composers such as Purcell and Handel.

Finally, in the field of sports, the name Deller is associated with the English cricketer, Thomas Deller (1828-1886). He played first-class cricket for various teams, including the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club, and was known for his exceptional batting skills.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deller 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 167 Dellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 167 2.92x
Surrey 102 3.66x
Cambridgeshire 57 15.72x
Essex 55 4.87x
Hertfordshire 38 9.63x
Kent 28 1.43x
Berkshire 24 5.58x
Bedfordshire 16 5.40x
Devon 16 1.34x
Nottinghamshire 16 2.07x
Hampshire 13 1.11x
Somerset 13 1.41x
Staffordshire 10 0.52x
Lancashire 8 0.12x
Dorset 6 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.44x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Lincolnshire 4 0.44x
Sussex 3 0.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 34 Dellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.13x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 34 6.13x
Kensington London 21 6.60x
Battersea 20 9.49x
Guilden Morden 20 1036.27x
New Windsor 17 117.65x
Harlow 16 328.54x
Lambeth 16 3.20x
Shoreditch London 14 5.64x
Tottenham 14 15.35x
St Pancras London 13 2.82x
St Andrewthe Less 11 26.55x
St Marylebone London 11 3.60x
Hackney London 10 3.12x
Harpenden 10 166.11x
Lewisham 10 9.60x
Wandsworth 10 18.14x
Bulwell 9 53.64x
Carshalton 9 84.27x
Chesterton 9 80.50x
Edmonton 9 19.51x
Luton 9 17.54x
Newington 9 4.25x
Paddington London 9 4.27x
West Ham 9 3.61x
Beddington 8 74.14x
Bishop Stortford 8 60.70x
Hampstead London 8 8.97x
Lichfield St Chad 8 183.91x
Paignton 8 88.20x
Abbas Temple Coombe 7 1458.33x
Brixham 7 50.69x
Hertford St Andrew 7 143.74x
Penge 7 19.14x
Rusholme 7 38.63x
Chrishall 6 530.97x
Egham 6 35.03x
Pinxton 6 131.58x
Yeovil 6 32.03x
Bengeo 5 109.17x
Bermondsey 5 2.93x
Borden 5 201.61x
Camberwell 5 1.37x
Clewer 5 28.39x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 5 164.47x
Foxton 5 602.41x
Great Shelford 5 261.78x
North Frodingham 5 373.13x
Roydon 5 301.20x
South Weald 5 51.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 20.17x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.61x
Eton 4 50.96x
Marston 4 666.67x
Rickling 4 449.44x
Sittingbourne 4 25.92x
South Stoneham 4 15.71x
Aldershot 3 7.63x
Caddington 3 69.12x
Cooling 3 638.30x
Croydon 3 1.94x
Greenwich 3 3.29x
Hertford St John 3 51.02x
Kempston 3 44.58x
Portsea 3 1.30x
St Clement Danes London 3 25.32x
Walthamstow 3 7.37x
Bassingbourn 2 37.52x
Bourn 2 125.79x
Chichester St Pancras 2 69.20x
Greywell 2 333.33x
Hitchin 2 11.23x
Leyton Low 2 8.70x
Nazeing 2 137.93x
Speen 2 28.45x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.98x
St George In East London 2 3.71x
St Paul Walden 2 100.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 0.98x
Wanstead 2 10.11x
Southwark St Saviour 1 3.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
James 25
Thomas 23
George 21
John 19
Alfred 14
Henry 13
Joseph 10
Arthur 9
Charles 9
David 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Alfd. 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Samuel 3
Sidney 3
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Wm. 2
Arnold 1
Chas. 1
Daiel 1
Ethelbert 1
Franck 1
Franklyn 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
H.S. 1
Isaac 1
Issac 1
Jesse 1
Josh. 1
Kimpton 1
Langley 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Norman 1
Silas 1
Steven 1
Sydney 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Deller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 586 people were recorded with the Deller surname. That placed it at #5,952 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,013 in 2016. That gives Deller a modern rank of #5,748.

What does the Deller surname mean?

A variant German occupational surname for a quarryman or stonecutter.

What does the Deller map show?

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