NameCensus.

UK surname

Denby

A locational surname derived from a place named Denby in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,248 people recorded with the Denby surname, ranking it #3,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,356, ranked #4,446, down from #3,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bingley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Craven and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denby is 1,405 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.7%.

1881 census count

1,248

Ranked #3,258

Modern count

1,356

2016, ranked #4,446

Peak year

2002

1,405 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denby had 1,248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,356 in 2016, ranked #4,446.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,394 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Denby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Denby 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 899 #3,062
1861 historical 881 #3,147
1881 historical 1,248 #3,258
1891 historical 1,202 #3,563
1901 historical 1,295 #3,850
1911 historical 1,394 #3,466
1997 modern 1,333 #4,319
1998 modern 1,357 #4,389
1999 modern 1,396 #4,311
2000 modern 1,394 #4,296
2001 modern 1,355 #4,315
2002 modern 1,405 #4,283
2003 modern 1,363 #4,311
2004 modern 1,377 #4,285
2005 modern 1,357 #4,296
2006 modern 1,337 #4,352
2007 modern 1,325 #4,409
2008 modern 1,352 #4,368
2009 modern 1,372 #4,396
2010 modern 1,391 #4,424
2011 modern 1,402 #4,355
2012 modern 1,374 #4,370
2013 modern 1,398 #4,376
2014 modern 1,399 #4,400
2015 modern 1,380 #4,399
2016 modern 1,356 #4,446

Geography

Back to top

Where Denbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bingley, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Craven, Ashfield and Bradford. 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 3
2 Bingley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 002 Lancaster
2 Craven 001 Craven
3 Ashfield 006 Ashfield
4 Bradford 023 Bradford
5 Bradford 011 Bradford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Denby

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Denby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Denby, 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 Denby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Denby 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Denby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Denby is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Denby

The surname Denby originated in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is considered a locational name, derived from the place name Denby, which is found in various locations across England, particularly in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

The etymology of Denby is believed to be a combination of the Old English words "denu" meaning valley and "by" meaning a farmstead or village. This suggests that the name initially referred to a settlement or farmstead located in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denby appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a place called "Denebi" in Derbyshire.

During the 13th century, the name Denby appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where individuals with the surname were mentioned. For example, in 1219, a certain William de Denby was recorded as holding lands in Yorkshire.

Over time, the name Denby evolved into different spellings, including Denbie, Denebie, and Denbie. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during the medieval and early modern periods.

One notable individual with the surname Denby was Sir John Denby (c. 1438-1504), who served as a judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VII. He was born in Derbyshire and played a significant role in the legal system of his time.

Another prominent figure was Robert Denby (1612-1670), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1660 until his death. He was known for his theological works and contributions to the Church of England.

In the 18th century, the name Denby appears in connection with the Denby Pottery Company, founded in Derbyshire in 1809. This company became renowned for its high-quality stoneware and earthenware, contributing to the local economy and the pottery industry.

John Denby (1770-1853) was a notable English banker and philanthropist from Derbyshire. He established the Denby Trust, which provided financial support for various educational and charitable causes in the region.

Edward Denby (1870-1950) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1921 to 1924 under President Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Denby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denby 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. Yorkshire leads with 624 Denbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 624 5.18x
Surrey 111 1.88x
Middlesex 102 0.84x
Lancashire 97 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 57 3.48x
Kent 36 0.87x
Devon 34 1.34x
Durham 25 0.69x
Gloucestershire 23 0.97x
Lincolnshire 22 1.13x
Glamorgan 16 0.76x
Essex 12 0.50x
Somerset 12 0.61x
Leicestershire 10 0.74x
Monmouthshire 10 1.14x
Hampshire 8 0.32x
Warwickshire 7 0.23x
Radnorshire 6 6.12x
Staffordshire 6 0.15x
Berkshire 4 0.44x
Cheshire 4 0.15x
Northamptonshire 4 0.35x
Wiltshire 4 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.26x
Sussex 2 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Selkirkshire 1 0.91x
Shropshire 1 0.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bingley in Yorkshire leads with 100 Denbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.48x.

Place Total Index
Bingley 100 130.48x
Bradford 73 25.06x
Keighley 61 47.55x
Shipley 48 76.86x
Bowling 30 25.17x
Sutton In Ashfield 30 84.46x
Hackney London 27 3.97x
Haworth 26 90.88x
Idle 20 35.84x
Baildon 18 79.44x
Manningham 17 11.47x
Sheffield 17 4.44x
Ilkley 16 81.34x
Newington 14 3.12x
Goole 13 64.45x
Lambeth 13 1.23x
Leeds 13 1.91x
Heaton Norris 12 14.63x
Woolwich 12 7.84x
Camberwell 11 1.42x
Darlington 11 7.89x
Islington London 11 0.93x
Horton In Bradford 10 5.32x
Kensington London 10 1.48x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.87x
Sidmouth 10 69.11x
Snaith Cowick 10 138.89x
Battersea 9 2.01x
Bedwellty 9 5.81x
Bury 9 5.47x
East Molesey 9 65.55x
Loughborough 9 14.73x
Lydney 9 73.17x
Rawcliffe In Goole 9 131.39x
Spitalfields London 9 9.85x
Stoke Damerel 9 5.09x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 7.14x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.52x
Cheltenham 8 4.35x
Colsterworth 8 194.65x
Esholt 8 496.89x
Hook 8 30.22x
Mansfield 8 14.12x
Walton On Thames 8 29.44x
West Ham 8 1.51x
Whalley 8 38.10x
Doncaster 7 7.96x
Epsom 7 24.27x
Escomb 7 42.17x
Houghton Le Spring 7 28.02x
Manchester 7 1.08x
Nesfield Cum Langbar 7 945.95x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 7 135.14x
Snenton 7 10.88x
Thornton In Bradford 7 17.47x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 1.91x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.54x
Burnham 6 40.27x
Cannock 6 8.39x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 13.89x
Hammersmith London 6 2.01x
Ilsington 6 135.75x
Llanelwedd 6 705.88x
Llanfabon 6 54.25x
Moss Side 6 7.91x
Plumstead 6 4.34x
Send Ripley 6 77.82x
West Clayton 6 100.50x
Ystradyfodwg 6 3.23x
Barrow On Humber 5 44.37x
Bentley Cum Arksey 5 79.49x
Bermondsey 5 1.38x
Broughton In Salford 5 3.79x
Dewsbury 5 4.05x
Liverpool 5 0.57x
Mickleham 5 150.15x
Newton 5 4.50x
Portsea 5 1.02x
Preston 5 1.30x
South Kirkby 5 189.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 89
Sarah 52
Elizabeth 47
Ann 32
Hannah 23
Martha 23
Annie 19
Ellen 19
Jane 19
Eliza 17
Emma 17
Alice 16
Edith 16
Margaret 14
Clara 11
Fanny 10
Harriet 10
Emily 9
Frances 8
Ada 7
Grace 7
Maria 6
Rebecca 6
Anne 5
Catherine 5
Florence 5
Harriett 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Henrietta 4
Lucy 4
Margret 4
May 4
Susan 4
Susannah 4
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Isabella 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Nancy 3
Rose 3
Rosina 3
Bessy 2
Eliz. 2
Marion 2
Merinda 2
Minnie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 66
Thomas 38
Henry 29
James 29
George 28
Joseph 26
Samuel 16
Charles 15
Edward 14
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
Edwin 12
Richard 12
Albert 9
Fred 9
Herbert 9
Jonas 9
Walter 9
Abraham 8
Isaac 8
Benjamin 7
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Jacob 6
Tom 6
Ernest 5
Robert 5
Geo. 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Arther 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Fredc. 2
Johnathan 2
Johnson 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Squire 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Alexader 1
Binns 1
Ellis 1
Everett 1
Wood 1

FAQ

Denby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,248 people were recorded with the Denby surname. That placed it at #3,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,356 in 2016. That gives Denby a modern rank of #4,446.

What does the Denby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Denby in Yorkshire.

What does the Denby map show?

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