NameCensus.

UK surname

Denmark

A locational surname indicating the person's ancestral origin in the country of Denmark.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Denmark surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 301, ranked #14,696, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Melton, Great and Hethersett. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Norwich and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denmark is 318 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.8%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

301

2016, ranked #14,696

Peak year

2000

318 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denmark had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016, ranked #14,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Denmark surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denmark surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denmark 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 210 #14,677
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 315 #13,452
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 318 #13,415
2001 modern 315 #13,291
2002 modern 307 #13,805
2003 modern 288 #14,192
2004 modern 288 #14,254
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 276 #14,700
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 268 #15,311
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 285 #15,050
2013 modern 288 #15,192
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 301 #14,696

Geography

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Where Denmarks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Melton, Great, Hethersett, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Norwich, South Norfolk, Wiltshire and Tollcross. 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 Melton, Great Norfolk
3 Hethersett Norfolk
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 011 Breckland
2 Norwich 006 Norwich
3 South Norfolk 003 South Norfolk
4 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
5 Tollcross Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denmark

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denmark

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Denmark, 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 Denmark surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Denmark 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, Denmark 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

Denmark 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

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

Meaning and origin of Denmark

The surname DENMARK is an English locational name derived from the placename Denmark, which referred to the Scandinavian country of Denmark. This surname likely originated during the Middle Ages, when many individuals began adopting hereditary surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

DENMARK as a surname can trace its roots back to the 12th or 13th century, when it first started appearing in English records. The name was likely adopted by individuals who had migrated from Denmark to England, or by those who lived in areas associated with Danish settlers or influences.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DENMARK can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated around 1273. This document mentions a person named William de Denmark, indicating the presence of the surname in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the surname DENMARK appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, which documented legal proceedings and transactions in Yorkshire. A man named John Denmark was mentioned in these records, suggesting the surname's use in northern England during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname DENMARK include William Denmark (c. 1540-1589), an English merchant and sea captain who was involved in early English voyages to the West Indies and North America. Another prominent figure was Richard Denmark (1591-1653), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the surname DENMARK was found in various English parish records, such as those of St. Mary's Church in Beddington, Surrey, which recorded the baptism of a child named Thomas Denmark in 1661.

During the 18th century, the surname DENMARK appeared in several historical documents, including the Vectis Scenery, a publication about the Isle of Wight, which mentioned a person named Richard Denmark (1720-1789), a landowner and member of the local gentry.

Another notable individual with the surname DENMARK was John Denmark (1766-1846), an English Baptist minister and author who wrote several religious works and served as the pastor of the Baptist Church in Worstead, Norfolk.

Throughout its history, the surname DENMARK has been associated with various locations and place names, particularly those with Danish influences or connections. While the name originated as a locational surname, it has since become a distinctive English surname with a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denmark families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denmark 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. Norfolk leads with 101 Denmarks recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.01x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 101 33.01x
Suffolk 27 11.14x
Surrey 15 1.55x
Hertfordshire 13 9.48x
Essex 11 2.80x
Lanarkshire 10 1.55x
Lancashire 7 0.30x
Bedfordshire 6 5.82x
Durham 3 0.51x
Middlesex 3 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 6.94x
Ayrshire 1 0.67x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Glamorgan 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Ross-shire 1 1.83x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westleton in Suffolk leads with 20 Denmarks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3508.77x.

Place Total Index
Westleton 20 3508.77x
Cringleford 14 9333.33x
Melton Parva 12 4800.00x
Newington 12 16.33x
Heigham 10 60.90x
Hethersett 10 1298.70x
Old Monkland 10 39.15x
Lakenham 9 206.90x
West Ham 9 10.38x
Great Yarmouth 7 27.62x
Barton In Clay 6 833.33x
North Mimms 6 697.67x
Norwich St James 6 250.00x
St Albans St Peter 5 107.99x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 4 259.74x
Over Darwen 4 21.21x
Toftrees 4 10000.00x
Bawburgh 3 1034.48x
Kyo 3 107.53x
Metfield 3 750.00x
Bengeo 2 125.79x
Eaton St Andrew 2 235.29x
Great Ellingham 2 444.44x
Great Melton 2 952.38x
Hardingham 2 555.56x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 66.01x
Kirkcudbright 2 84.03x
Laxfield 2 333.33x
Prestwich 2 33.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.00x
Tasburgh 2 666.67x
Yoxford 2 277.78x
Attleborough 1 64.52x
Bowthorpe 1 2500.00x
Coylton 1 47.39x
Croydon 1 1.86x
Droxford 1 64.10x
Flamborough 1 105.26x
Fundenhall 1 454.55x
Hoveton St John 1 500.00x
Marsham 1 263.16x
Norwich St Giles 1 102.04x
Norwich St Helen 1 263.16x
Norwich St John Timberhill 1 121.95x
Norwich St Saviour 1 93.46x
Norwich St Stephen 1 35.59x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 19.80x
Salford 1 1.44x
Shipdham 1 96.15x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.40x
St Marylebone London 1 0.94x
Strumpshaw 1 357.14x
Swansea Town 1 3.52x
Tain 1 48.31x
Whitechapel London 1 5.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 10
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Alice 7
Elizabeth 6
Frances 4
Laura 4
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Anna 2
Annie 2
Louisa 2
Sarahann 2
Agnes 1
Albertha 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Frederick 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Juliet 1
Margery 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1
Una 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 11
John 10
Charles 9
William 8
Robert 7
Samuel 7
George 5
James 4
Frederick 3
Hamlet 3
Edward 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harvey 1
Horatio 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Denmark surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denmark surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Denmark surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denmark surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016. That gives Denmark a modern rank of #14,696.

What does the Denmark surname mean?

A locational surname indicating the person's ancestral origin in the country of Denmark.

What does the Denmark map show?

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