NameCensus.

UK surname

Dench

An English surname derived from the Old English word "denu" meaning a valley or vale.

In the 1881 census there were 569 people recorded with the Dench surname, ranking it #6,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 809, ranked #6,850, down from #6,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Englishcombe, Tiverton, London parishes and Worth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Aylesbury Vale and Epsom and Ewell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dench is 876 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

569

Ranked #6,108

Modern count

809

2016, ranked #6,850

Peak year

1999

876 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dench had 569 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016, ranked #6,850.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 858 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dench surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dench surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dench 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 367 #6,469
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 569 #6,108
1891 historical 574 #6,631
1901 historical 780 #5,756
1911 historical 858 #5,172
1997 modern 862 #6,169
1998 modern 873 #6,305
1999 modern 876 #6,336
2000 modern 840 #6,519
2001 modern 812 #6,567
2002 modern 810 #6,703
2003 modern 813 #6,568
2004 modern 795 #6,703
2005 modern 768 #6,823
2006 modern 763 #6,890
2007 modern 775 #6,873
2008 modern 764 #6,999
2009 modern 781 #7,018
2010 modern 806 #6,984
2011 modern 795 #6,992
2012 modern 819 #6,706
2013 modern 833 #6,730
2014 modern 836 #6,746
2015 modern 818 #6,807
2016 modern 809 #6,850

Geography

Back to top

Where Denchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Englishcombe, Tiverton, London parishes, Worth, Brighton and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Aylesbury Vale, Epsom and Ewell, Wolverhampton and Huntingdonshire. 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 Englishcombe, Tiverton Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Worth Sussex
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 001 Rother
2 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
3 Epsom and Ewell 005 Epsom and Ewell
4 Wolverhampton 018 Wolverhampton
5 Huntingdonshire 007 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dench

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dench

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Dench 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

Dench 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

Dench falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dench

The surname Dench is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "denc," which means a deep wooded valley or hollow. This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who resided in or near such geographical features.

The earliest known record of the Dench surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Dence" or "de Denche." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants throughout England and parts of Wales.

During the medieval period, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. Some of the earliest recorded instances include William de Dench, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1203, and Robert de Denche, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

The name Dench is also believed to have connections to various place names, such as Denham and Denchworth, which further reinforces its geographical origins. For example, the village of Denchworth, located in Oxfordshire, was previously known as "Dencheswrthe" in the Domesday Book, meaning "Dench's homestead" or "farm."

Notable individuals who bore the Dench surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Dench (1588-1658), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wallingford and Berkshire. 2. Thomas Dench (1677-1767), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Two Covenants." 3. William Dench (1784-1854), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal. 4. Judi Dench (born 1934), the renowned English actress known for her roles in films such as "Shakespeare in Love," "Skyfall," and "Philomena," for which she received an Academy Award. 5. Sir Richard Dench (1915-1997), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg from 1973 to 1977.

While the Dench surname has evolved over time, with variations like Densh, Denche, and Denchez appearing in historical records, it has maintained its strong English heritage and associations with rural landscapes and settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dench families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dench 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 125 Denchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.52x.

County Total Index
Sussex 125 13.52x
Surrey 120 4.49x
Middlesex 114 2.08x
Dorset 29 8.06x
Essex 28 2.59x
Hertfordshire 20 5.29x
Cambridgeshire 18 5.18x
Hampshire 17 1.51x
Somerset 15 1.70x
Kent 14 0.75x
Northamptonshire 12 2.33x
Cornwall 10 1.61x
Norfolk 8 0.95x
Lincolnshire 7 0.80x
Yorkshire 6 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.68x
Warwickshire 5 0.36x
Berkshire 4 0.97x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.30x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.92x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worth in Sussex leads with 39 Denchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 581.22x.

Place Total Index
Worth 39 581.22x
Melcombe Regis 25 167.67x
Hove 19 46.84x
St Pancras London 16 3.63x
Twerton 15 164.84x
Northaw 14 1284.40x
Balcombe 13 787.88x
Barking 13 41.06x
Shoreditch London 13 5.47x
Hornsey 12 17.31x
Twickenham 12 51.04x
Brighton 11 5.90x
Lambeth 11 2.30x
Ticehurst 11 194.35x
Battersea 10 4.96x
Camberwell 10 2.86x
Islington London 10 1.88x
Bermondsey 9 5.51x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 9 59.45x
Northampton Priory St 9 29.09x
Rotherhithe 9 13.29x
Cuckfield 8 85.65x
Effingham 8 727.27x
Littleport 8 120.66x
Wandsworth 8 15.16x
Waterloo 8 1739.13x
Clee With Weelsby 7 36.48x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 27.66x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.00x
Bow London 6 8.60x
Clapham 6 8.75x
East Horsley 6 1090.91x
St Enoder 6 284.36x
St Marylebone London 6 2.05x
West Horsley 6 535.71x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.10x
East Stoke 5 1282.05x
Horsham 5 27.84x
Leigh 5 132.98x
Lewisham 5 5.01x
Richmond 5 13.36x
West Ham 5 2.09x
Willesden 5 9.67x
Burstow 4 176.21x
Chiswick 4 13.35x
Crawley 4 470.59x
Headley 4 625.00x
Leyton Low 4 18.18x
New Windsor 4 28.92x
Watford 4 13.65x
Chelsea London 3 1.82x
Edgbaston 3 7.00x
Little Bowden 3 166.67x
Newington 3 1.48x
North Cray 3 252.10x
Poplar London 3 2.90x
South Mimms 3 39.89x
Walton On Thames 3 24.45x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 30.86x
Birmingham 2 0.43x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.88x
Castle Church 2 17.99x
Chertsey 2 11.59x
Cheshunt 2 15.14x
East Grinstead 2 15.29x
Godalming 2 11.89x
Gravesend 2 12.63x
Hackney London 2 0.65x
Kenwyn 2 12.32x
Poling 2 588.24x
Portsea 2 0.91x
Probus 2 78.74x
Slaugham 2 66.89x
South Stoneham 2 8.20x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.83x
Southwark St Saviour 2 7.10x
St George In East London 2 3.88x
St Luke London 2 2.27x
Weymouth 2 29.33x
Wonersh 2 60.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 18
Emily 14
Annie 12
Emma 11
Ellen 10
Alice 9
Eliza 9
Ann 7
Charlotte 7
Fanny 7
Jane 6
Ada 4
Eleanor 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Matilda 4
Agnes 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Selenda 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Ette 1
G. 1
Georginia 1
Gertrude 1
Lettice 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Wilen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
George 26
John 24
James 20
Richard 16
Charles 15
Henry 14
Thomas 14
Edward 12
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Albert 6
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Edgar 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Wallace 2
Andrew 1
C.W. 1
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frdrick 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Granville 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Lambert 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dench surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dench surname in 1881?

In 1881, 569 people were recorded with the Dench surname. That placed it at #6,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dench surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016. That gives Dench a modern rank of #6,850.

What does the Dench surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "denu" meaning a valley or vale.

What does the Dench map show?

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