NameCensus.

UK surname

Denison

An English locational surname derived from any of various places called Denison, meaning "Dane's son" or "Dennis's son."

In the 1881 census there were 1,146 people recorded with the Denison surname, ranking it #3,495 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 974, ranked #5,930, down from #3,495 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wakefield and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denison is 1,243 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.0%.

1881 census count

1,146

Ranked #3,495

Modern count

974

2016, ranked #5,930

Peak year

1911

1,243 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denison had 1,146 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,495 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 974 in 2016, ranked #5,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,243 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Denison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denison 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 791 #3,373
1861 historical 729 #3,734
1881 historical 1,146 #3,495
1891 historical 941 #4,400
1901 historical 1,220 #4,047
1911 historical 1,243 #3,814
1997 modern 926 #5,832
1998 modern 954 #5,879
1999 modern 971 #5,840
2000 modern 973 #5,821
2001 modern 960 #5,775
2002 modern 975 #5,808
2003 modern 977 #5,699
2004 modern 972 #5,731
2005 modern 985 #5,616
2006 modern 973 #5,673
2007 modern 961 #5,790
2008 modern 975 #5,759
2009 modern 991 #5,801
2010 modern 995 #5,899
2011 modern 1,005 #5,799
2012 modern 998 #5,741
2013 modern 984 #5,902
2014 modern 990 #5,904
2015 modern 977 #5,919
2016 modern 974 #5,930

Geography

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Where Denisons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Leeds and Wakefield. 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 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 014 Leeds
2 Leeds 010 Leeds
3 Leeds 011 Leeds
4 Wakefield 020 Wakefield
5 Leeds 027 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denison

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Denison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Denison is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Denison

The surname DENISON has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name Dennis, which means "from Dionysius" or "follower of Dionysus". The name Denison was originally a patronymic, meaning "son of Denis".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DENISON can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Dionys". This suggests that the name was already in use by this time, though the spelling had not yet been standardized.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Denysoun" and "Denyson" in records from Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The spelling "Denison" became more common by the 15th century.

The DENISON surname has been linked to several place names in England, including Denison Terrace in Durham and Denison Farm in Northumberland. These place names likely derived from early bearers of the surname who settled in those areas.

One notable early bearer of the DENISON surname was John Denison (c.1515-1589), an English scholar and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1589 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Daniel Denison (1613-1682), a colonial military officer and one of the founders of Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was born in England and immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631.

In the 18th century, William Denison (1716-1768) was a British naval officer who served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1765 to 1768.

John Denison (1785-1842) was an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1835 to 1842.

Sir William Thomas Denison (1804-1871) was an Australian colonial governor who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1855 to 1861 and Governor of Madras from 1861 to 1866.

The surname DENISON has a long and distinguished history, with bearers making significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England, and it has been associated with several notable figures over the course of its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denison 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 691 Denisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.28x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 691 6.28x
Middlesex 87 0.78x
Lancashire 78 0.59x
Surrey 46 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 26 1.74x
Hampshire 22 0.97x
Hertfordshire 15 1.96x
Lanarkshire 15 0.42x
Essex 13 0.59x
Kent 13 0.34x
Lincolnshire 12 0.68x
Midlothian 11 0.74x
Glamorgan 10 0.52x
Cheshire 9 0.37x
Staffordshire 8 0.21x
Durham 7 0.21x
Northumberland 7 0.42x
Banffshire 6 2.60x
Cornwall 6 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.74x
Devon 5 0.22x
Orkney 5 4.09x
Somerset 5 0.28x
Ayrshire 4 0.48x
Cumberland 4 0.42x
Derbyshire 4 0.23x
Westmorland 4 1.64x
Bedfordshire 3 0.52x
Berkshire 2 0.24x
Channel Islands 2 0.61x
Gloucestershire 2 0.09x
Oxfordshire 2 0.29x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Angus 1 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.41x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.76x
Rutland 1 1.23x
Stirlingshire 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yeadon in Yorkshire leads with 115 Denisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 462.59x.

Place Total Index
Yeadon 115 462.59x
Leeds 56 9.01x
Manningham 32 23.59x
Horton In Bradford 31 18.03x
Rigton 19 1310.34x
Bradford 18 6.75x
Wortley In Bramley 18 20.64x
Bermondsey 17 5.14x
Guiseley 17 120.57x
Shipley 17 29.75x
Armley 16 32.95x
Normanton 15 45.34x
Rawdon 15 115.65x
Hunslet 14 8.15x
Lambeth 14 1.45x
Patrck Brmptn Newton 14 710.66x
Pudsey 14 23.79x
Burton Leonard 12 731.71x
Bovingdon 11 274.31x
Hackney London 11 1.77x
Liverpool 11 1.37x
Methley 11 70.97x
Pinner 10 102.77x
St George Hanover Square 10 5.11x
Wakefield 10 11.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.50x
Gillingham 9 11.51x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 9 67.06x
Manchester 9 1.52x
Altofts 8 65.84x
Elland Cum Greetland 8 16.13x
Holy Trinity 8 3.02x
Kensington London 8 1.30x
Leyton Low 8 17.95x
Arnold 7 32.02x
Barony 7 0.77x
Bowling 7 6.42x
Doncaster 7 8.70x
Enfield 7 9.60x
Holbeck 7 9.60x
Morley 7 12.23x
Moss Side 7 10.09x
Richmond 7 40.70x
Smallthorne 7 50.29x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 15.93x
Dunkeswick 6 937.50x
Fowey 6 103.99x
Glasgow 6 0.94x
Gomersal 6 11.68x
Holy Trinity St Mary 6 35.80x
Keith 6 24.42x
Lockwood 6 15.15x
Mortlake 6 24.87x
Newton 6 5.90x
Nottingham St Mary 6 1.55x
Scarborough 6 6.00x
Spennithorne 6 789.47x
St Luke London 6 3.37x
Whitley 6 112.36x
Worsley 6 7.38x
Alverstoke 5 6.07x
Basford 5 7.24x
Bramhope 5 714.29x
Bramley In Bramley 5 11.86x
Cardiff St Mary 5 4.69x
Chadderton 5 7.76x
Eccleshill 5 18.66x
Farnborough 5 20.90x
Ferry Fryston 5 116.55x
Finghall Akebar 5 862.07x
Huddersfield 5 3.12x
Llandaff 5 7.77x
Lyndhurst 5 80.13x
North Forty Foot Bank 5 657.89x
North Petherton 5 34.65x
Stronsay Eday 5 62.58x
Sutton 5 11.31x
Toxteth Park 5 1.12x
West Ardsley 5 37.74x
Whitwell Selside 4 421.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 58
John 56
Thomas 27
James 26
Joseph 26
George 20
Charles 19
Henry 18
Edward 15
Samuel 13
Alfred 11
Benjamin 11
Robert 11
Arthur 10
Isaac 10
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Albert 8
Abraham 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Fred 5
Wm. 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Willm. 4
Andrew 3
Matthew 3
Patrick 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Frederic 2
H. 2
Harold 2
Jno. 2
Lancelot 2
Maurice 2
Peter 2
Simeon 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Egerton 1
Ellis 1
Emanuel 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Denison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,146 people were recorded with the Denison surname. That placed it at #3,495 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 974 in 2016. That gives Denison a modern rank of #5,930.

What does the Denison surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from any of various places called Denison, meaning "Dane's son" or "Dennis's son."

What does the Denison map show?

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