NameCensus.

UK surname

Denbow

A topographic surname referring to someone living on a curved or bending hill.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Denbow surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Totnes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, West Oxfordshire and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denbow is 108 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

77

2016, ranked #33,236

Peak year

1901

108 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 1998

Key insights

  • Denbow had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016, ranked #33,236.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Denbow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denbow surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denbow 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 100 #22,717
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 74 #32,190
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 73 #32,923
2010 modern 73 #33,249
2011 modern 80 #32,652
2012 modern 72 #33,502
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 76 #33,351
2016 modern 77 #33,236

Geography

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Where Denbows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Totnes, Southampton St Mary and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redbridge, West Oxfordshire, Bromley, Torbay and Bedford. 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 Totnes Devon
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redbridge 034 Redbridge
2 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire
3 Bromley 016 Bromley
4 Torbay 011 Torbay
5 Bedford 007 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denbow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denbow

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Denbow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Denbow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Denbow is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Denbow 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

Denbow falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Denbow

The surname Denbow has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from an old English placename, possibly from the village of Denby in Derbyshire or the town of Denby Dale in West Yorkshire. The prefix "Den" is thought to come from the Old English word "denu," meaning a valley or a hollow, while the suffix "bow" may refer to a ridge or hill.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Denby, Derbyshire, where a William Denbow was christened in 1598. Another early record shows a John Denbow residing in the village of Denby Dale in 1612.

In the 17th century, the Denbow family seemed to have spread across various parts of northern England. A notable mention is that of Thomas Denbow, a merchant from York, who was involved in the wool trade and is recorded in the city's archives in the late 1600s.

As the years progressed, the name appeared in various historical documents across different regions. In the 18th century, a Robert Denbow from Lancashire served as a captain in the British Army during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His military records and letters provide valuable insights into his life and service.

Another prominent figure was Sir George Denbow (1788-1867), a successful industrialist and landowner from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his contributions to the local community.

In the 19th century, the Denbow name gained recognition in the literary world with the poet and author Emily Denbow (1820-1891) from Cheshire. Her published works, including a collection of poems titled "Meadow Musings," received critical acclaim during her lifetime.

The 20th century saw the name Denbow spread further across the globe due to migration and travel. One notable figure was Sir John Denbow (1912-1998), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to several countries, including India and Pakistan, during his distinguished career.

Throughout its history, the surname Denbow has maintained its roots in northern England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the old English placenames and geographical features of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denbow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denbow 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. Devon leads with 40 Denbows recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.46x.

County Total Index
Devon 40 23.46x
Lancashire 11 1.13x
Hampshire 9 5.36x
Middlesex 9 1.10x
Surrey 9 2.25x
Somerset 3 2.28x
Kent 1 0.36x
Renfrewshire 1 1.58x
Royal Navy 1 10.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 22 Denbows recorded in 1881 and an index of 167.43x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 22 167.43x
Cheetham 10 137.93x
Bethnal Green London 6 16.86x
Southampton St Mary 6 56.82x
Loddiswell 5 2173.91x
Diptford 4 2105.26x
Southwark Christchurch 4 104.17x
Lambeth 3 4.20x
Stoke Damerel 3 25.15x
Taunton St Mary 3 123.97x
Plymouth Charles The 2 26.63x
Totnes 2 200.00x
Wandsworth 2 25.35x
Alverstoke 1 16.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 4.71x
Gillingham 1 17.36x
Greenock Oldor West 1 588.24x
Millbrook 1 23.64x
Modbury 1 227.27x
Monken Hadley 1 303.03x
Norwood 1 53.48x
Paddington London 1 3.32x
Plympton Maurice 1 312.50x
Portsmouth 1 25.84x
Royal Navy 1 11.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Alice 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Harriet 2
Rosini 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Dinah 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Grace 1
Helena 1
Irene 1
Jane 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Priscilla 1
Rebcc 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Denbow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denbow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Denbow surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denbow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Denbow a modern rank of #33,236.

What does the Denbow surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living on a curved or bending hill.

What does the Denbow map show?

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