NameCensus.

UK surname

Delves

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a ditch or quarry.

In the 1881 census there were 541 people recorded with the Delves surname, ranking it #6,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 861, ranked #6,510, down from #6,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Babergh and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Delves is 927 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.1%.

1881 census count

541

Ranked #6,379

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

1998

927 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Delves had 541 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 827 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Delves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Delves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Delves 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 406 #5,963
1861 historical 380 #6,726
1881 historical 541 #6,379
1891 historical 632 #6,123
1901 historical 693 #6,339
1911 historical 827 #5,337
1997 modern 857 #6,203
1998 modern 927 #6,015
1999 modern 919 #6,100
2000 modern 901 #6,169
2001 modern 881 #6,170
2002 modern 886 #6,255
2003 modern 884 #6,170
2004 modern 890 #6,155
2005 modern 859 #6,259
2006 modern 882 #6,127
2007 modern 890 #6,139
2008 modern 870 #6,297
2009 modern 878 #6,392
2010 modern 907 #6,352
2011 modern 902 #6,315
2012 modern 884 #6,328
2013 modern 891 #6,384
2014 modern 898 #6,382
2015 modern 878 #6,430
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

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Where Delves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Lambeth, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Madeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Babergh, Wealden, Powys and Telford and Wrekin. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Madeley Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
2 Babergh 001 Babergh
3 Wealden 011 Wealden
4 Powys 007 Powys
5 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Delves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Delves

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

Delves is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Delves

The surname Delves has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "delf," meaning a quarry or a pit dug into the ground. It is believed that the name was originally given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near or worked in a quarry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, which mentions a William de la Delve. The prefix "de la" suggests that the surname was originally a locational name, referring to a person from a specific place known for its quarry or pit.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as de la Delve, de Delve, and Delve, reflecting the evolution of surnames during that time. Some early bearers of the name include Robert de la Delve, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272, and William de la Delve, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The Delves surname is closely associated with the village of Delves Hall in Staffordshire, which was once the seat of the Delves family. This place-name connection further reinforces the locational origin of the surname.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Delves throughout history include:

1. Sir Henry Delves (c. 1495-1573), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire. 2. Sir Thomas Delves (1530-1600), an English politician who served as Sheriff of Staffordshire. 3. Sir John Delves (1570-1636), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire. 4. Sir Thomas Delves (1597-1639), an English nobleman and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire. 5. Sir Brian Delves (1633-1723), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire.

The Delves surname has been well-represented in historical records, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire, where the name originated. Its connection to quarries and pits, as well as its association with the village of Delves Hall, provide valuable insights into the origins and history of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Delves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Delves 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. Sussex leads with 127 Delves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.46x.

County Total Index
Sussex 127 14.46x
Lancashire 57 0.92x
Staffordshire 48 2.73x
Surrey 48 1.89x
Yorkshire 46 0.89x
Kent 39 2.19x
Shropshire 39 8.67x
Cheshire 25 2.17x
Middlesex 23 0.44x
Norfolk 23 2.87x
Worcestershire 21 3.09x
Devon 9 0.83x
Warwickshire 9 0.69x
Derbyshire 5 0.61x
Montgomeryshire 5 4.19x
Suffolk 5 0.79x
Northamptonshire 2 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.32x
Durham 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 2.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 26 Delves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.72x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 26 5.72x
Bromsgrove 20 87.34x
Keighley 15 27.26x
Madeley 15 90.91x
Tonbridge 15 23.40x
Hawkhurst 13 235.51x
Wadhurst 13 225.30x
Manchester 12 4.32x
Brighton 11 6.21x
Burslem 11 21.84x
Frant 11 176.85x
Eastbourne 10 24.75x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 10 205.34x
Waldron 10 418.41x
Aston 9 2.49x
Clapham 9 13.82x
Congleton 9 45.29x
Heigham 9 20.94x
Hellingly 9 306.12x
Pendleton In Salford 9 12.22x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 4.83x
Bradford 8 6.40x
Heathfield 8 224.72x
Pennington In Leigh 8 67.45x
Wolstanton 8 14.98x
Newton 7 14.69x
Sandbach 7 71.36x
West Derby 7 3.87x
Arlington 6 571.43x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 33.99x
Exeter St Petrock 6 1764.71x
Hailsham 6 112.78x
Herstmonceaux 6 227.27x
Newick 6 310.88x
Tudeley 6 612.24x
Camberwell 5 1.50x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 28.12x
Litchurch 5 15.23x
Madeley 5 114.16x
Newtown 5 65.53x
Shawbury 5 289.02x
St George In East London 5 10.20x
Wolstanton Knutton 5 46.55x
Accrington 4 7.12x
Allerton 4 60.79x
Long Preston 4 317.46x
Preston 4 26.08x
Rotherfield 4 51.75x
Warbleton 4 152.67x
Bilston 3 8.80x
Cranleigh 3 80.86x
Hastings St Leonards 3 23.24x
Hodnet 3 85.23x
Hove 3 7.78x
Lilleshall 3 43.60x
Lingfield 3 60.61x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 3 22.68x
Ratcliffe London 3 10.43x
Shoreditch London 3 1.33x
St Pancras London 3 0.72x
Wellington 3 11.86x
Wolverhampton 3 2.22x
Bingley 2 6.08x
Bromley London 2 1.75x
Church Coppenhall 2 38.91x
Devonport 2 16.05x
Draughton 2 625.00x
Ercall Magna 2 62.11x
Hastings St Andrew 2 63.49x
Heaton Norris 2 5.69x
Hulme 2 1.55x
Norwich St Andrew 2 145.99x
Norwich St Augustine 2 61.92x
Peterborough 2 5.64x
Rye 2 23.95x
Toxteth Park 2 0.96x
Wartling 2 186.92x
Wolstanton Chesterton 2 22.25x
Wrockwardine 2 20.20x
Westminster St James 1 1.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 27
Thomas 22
George 17
Joseph 16
James 15
Henry 12
Samuel 11
Edward 10
Alfred 7
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
David 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Enoch 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Thos. 2
Trayton 2
Walter 2
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Greenwood 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Jesiah 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Jonas 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Nimrod 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Delves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Delves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 541 people were recorded with the Delves surname. That placed it at #6,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Delves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Delves a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Delves surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a ditch or quarry.

What does the Delves map show?

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