NameCensus.

UK surname

Delph

A surname derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" or "pit" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Delph surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradwell, Marsham and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Broadland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Delph is 123 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.7%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2002

123 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Delph had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Delph surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Delph surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Delph 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 108 #21,736
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Delphs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradwell, Marsham, Manchester, Wicken and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Broadland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Dacorum. 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 Bradwell Suffolk
2 Marsham Norfolk
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Wicken Cambridgeshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 007 South Norfolk
2 Broadland 002 Broadland
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 010 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Dacorum 018 Dacorum

Forenames

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First names often paired with Delph

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Delph

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Delph, 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 Delph surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Delph 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Delph 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

Delph 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

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

Meaning and origin of Delph

The surname Delph has its roots in medieval England, originating from the Old English words "delf" or "delfe," which mean a quarry, mine, or pit. This suggests that the name was likely derived from a topographic feature or a place name associated with such a location. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various counties of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which recorded the names of landowners and tenants. In this document, the name appears as "de la Delph," indicating that it was a locative surname referring to a person from a place called Delph or a similar name.

During the Middle Ages, the name Delph was often associated with those who lived near or worked in quarries or mines, as these were important industries in many regions of England. The name may have also been used to identify individuals who lived near or owned land near a specific quarry or mine.

In the 16th century, variations of the name began to appear, such as Delphe, Delfe, and Delffe. These spellings were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of spelling during that period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the surname Delph. One example is John Delph, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Chester, England, who lived in the late 16th century. Another is William Delph, a respected clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Wingham in Kent during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name was recorded in various parish records across England, including those of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. One notable bearer of the name during this time was Richard Delph, a successful businessman and landowner from Lancashire, who lived from 1720 to 1795.

As the centuries progressed, the name Delph continued to be found in various parts of England, with some families migrating to other regions or countries. In the 19th century, for instance, Thomas Delph, a skilled engineer from Yorkshire, made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and industrial machinery.

It is important to note that while the name Delph has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and has taken on various spellings and forms in different languages and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Delph families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Delph 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. Norfolk leads with 48 Delphs recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.05x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 48 34.05x
Cambridgeshire 19 32.72x
Middlesex 15 1.64x
Kent 4 1.28x
Yorkshire 3 0.33x
Lancashire 2 0.18x
Essex 1 0.55x
Surrey 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsham St Faith in Norfolk leads with 11 Delphs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4583.33x.

Place Total Index
Horsham St Faith 11 4583.33x
Hilgay 9 1698.11x
Wicken 9 3333.33x
Norwich St Clement 6 368.10x
St Andrewthe Less 5 75.41x
Norwich St Augustine 4 701.75x
Norwich St Paul 4 476.19x
St Pancras London 4 5.42x
Tottenham 4 27.40x
Chesterton 3 167.60x
Holy Trinity 3 13.73x
Marsham 3 1764.71x
Bethnal Green London 2 5.02x
Canterbury St Mary 2 95.24x
Chatteris 2 135.14x
Docking 2 454.55x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 47.28x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 2 500.00x
St Mary Staining London 2 20000.00x
Upwell 2 303.03x
Worsley 2 29.81x
Bradfield 1 1428.57x
Brancaster 1 416.67x
Brighton 1 3.21x
Buckland In Dover 1 96.15x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.15x
Hackney London 1 1.95x
Lambeth 1 1.25x
Little Oakley 1 1000.00x
Methwold 1 217.39x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 25.19x
Twickenham 1 25.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 9
George 5
Thomas 4
Henry 3
Frederic 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Smith 1

FAQ

Delph surname: questions and answers

How common was the Delph surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Delph surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Delph surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Delph a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Delph surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" or "pit" in Old English.

What does the Delph map show?

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