UK surname
A variant of the surname Dennis, derived from the medieval personal name Denisius.
In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Dence surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #19,999 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Frittenden, Linstead and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dence is 120 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.0%.
1881 census count
98
Ranked #19,999
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1901
120 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dence surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dence surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 56 | #26,864 |
| 1881 | historical | 98 | #19,999 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 120 | #20,545 |
| 1911 | historical | 115 | #20,951 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 46 | #35,155 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Frittenden, Linstead, St Werburgh, Beckenham and Malling, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frittenden | Kent |
| 2 | Linstead | Kent |
| 3 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Beckenham | Kent |
| 5 | Malling, East | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dence surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dence, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dence surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dence household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dence is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dence is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dence, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dence is of English origin, and it is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dene," which means a valley or a hollow. This surname is thought to have originated in the 13th century, with the earliest recorded instances being found in areas such as Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Dence can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named John atte Dene is listed. This name likely evolved into the modern spelling of Dence over time.
In the 14th century, the surname Dence appeared in various records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which list a John Dence. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1327 mention a Thomas de la Dene, which could be an early variation of the surname.
During the late 15th century, a notable figure with the surname Dence was William Dence, who was born around 1470 in Hertfordshire. He was a prominent churchman and served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1501 until his death in 1503.
In the 16th century, the surname Dence appeared in various records across England, including the Parish Registers of London, where a baptism of a child named Elizabeth Dence was recorded in 1587.
Another notable figure with the surname Dence was Sir John Dence, who lived in the 17th century. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Kent in the English Parliament from 1640 to 1653.
In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the surname Dence was Samuel Dence, who was born in 1716 in Gloucestershire. He was a renowned mathematician and astronomer, and he made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.
The surname Dence has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Dencombe in Somerset, Denton in Kent, and Denchworth in Berkshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word "dene" and may have influenced the development of the surname.
It is important to note that the surname Dence has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Dence, Dence, Dennce, and De Dence, among others. However, the core meaning and origin of the surname have remained relatively consistent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dence surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 67 Dences recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 67 | 20.54x |
| Surrey | 11 | 2.36x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.73x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 2.17x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 3.34x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lynsted in Kent leads with 12 Dences recorded in 1881 and an index of 2857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lynsted | 12 | 2857.14x |
| East Malling | 8 | 1025.64x |
| Clapham | 7 | 58.58x |
| Kingswinford | 7 | 59.73x |
| Deptford St Paul | 6 | 23.85x |
| Faversham | 6 | 192.93x |
| Derby St Peter | 5 | 104.82x |
| Frittenden | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Gillingham | 5 | 74.40x |
| Sheldwich | 5 | 2380.95x |
| Battersea | 3 | 8.53x |
| Hoo | 3 | 697.67x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.24x |
| Maidstone | 3 | 30.90x |
| Boughton Under Blean | 2 | 363.64x |
| Cranbrook | 2 | 144.93x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 2 | 37.04x |
| Molash | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Preston Next Faversham | 2 | 259.74x |
| Beddington | 1 | 55.56x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.08x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 6.57x |
| Herne | 1 | 69.44x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 8.27x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 5.75x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.85x |
| St Botolph Aldersgate | 1 | 90.91x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.96x |
| Teynham | 1 | 169.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dence surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dence surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dence households.
FAQ
In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Dence surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Dence a modern rank of #35,069.
A variant of the surname Dennis, derived from the medieval personal name Denisius.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dence bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.