NameCensus.

UK surname

Dempsie

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Dempsie surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Glasgow and Dalry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carrick South, Milton West and Milton East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dempsie is 155 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2002

155 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dempsie had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 105 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Dempsie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dempsie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dempsie 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 145 #21,951
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Dempsies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Glasgow, Dalry, Dalmellington and Cambusnethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carrick South, Milton West, Milton East, Drumpellier and Langloan and Cairnhill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bothwell Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Dalry Ayr
4 Dalmellington Ayr
5 Cambusnethan Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carrick South South Ayrshire
2 Milton West Glasgow City
3 Milton East Glasgow City
4 Drumpellier and Langloan North Lanarkshire
5 Cairnhill North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dempsie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dempsie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Dempsie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Dempsie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dempsie is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dempsie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dempsie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dempsie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Dempsie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dempsie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 42 Dempsies recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.85x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 42 15.85x
Ayrshire 17 27.73x
Stirlingshire 13 43.03x
Renfrewshire 5 7.88x
Midlothian 2 1.82x
Dunbartonshire 1 4.54x
East Lothian 1 9.22x
Lancashire 1 0.10x
Middlesex 1 0.12x
Surrey 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cambusnethan in Lanarkshire leads with 15 Dempsies recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.10x.

Place Total Index
Cambusnethan 15 255.10x
Campsie 12 722.89x
Barony 9 13.42x
Dalry 9 312.50x
Dalmellington 8 444.44x
Hamilton 5 67.66x
East Greenock 4 66.78x
Old Monkland 4 38.06x
Avondale 3 193.55x
Shotts 2 63.09x
Bothwell 1 13.93x
East Kilbride 1 88.50x
Edinburgh Tron Church 1 196.08x
Govan 1 1.53x
Kirkintilloch 1 33.44x
Kirknewton 1 312.50x
Maryhill 1 19.27x
Pilkington 1 27.10x
Prestonkirk 1 185.19x
St Stephen Coleman Street 1 344.83x
Stirling 1 26.25x
Wandsworth 1 12.67x
West Greenock 1 8.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dempsie households.

FAQ

Dempsie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dempsie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Dempsie surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dempsie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Dempsie a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Dempsie map show?

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