NameCensus.

UK surname

Dennard

From the Old English "Dēor-nærd," meaning "deer-brave," referring to a deer hunter or one who tends deer.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Dennard surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Plumstead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Gravesham and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dennard is 169 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 220.0%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

2011

169 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dennard had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 106 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dennard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dennard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dennard 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 148 #21,841
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 169 #21,499
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Dennards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Plumstead, London parishes, Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh and Woolwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Gravesham, Sevenoaks and Dartford. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Plumstead London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent
5 Woolwich London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 010 Carmarthenshire
2 Gravesham 003 Gravesham
3 Sevenoaks 003 Sevenoaks
4 Dartford 008 Dartford
5 Dartford 012 Dartford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dennard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dennard

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dennard is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dennard is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dennard

The surname Dennard has its origins in England, dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "denu" meaning "valley" and "ard" meaning "high ground," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a valley or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Denard." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England.

The spelling of the name evolved over time, with variations such as "Dennarde," "Denarde," and "Dennerde" appearing in various historical records throughout the Middle Ages. Some of these records include the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1199, where a "William Denarde" is mentioned, and the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire from 1207, which reference a "Robert Dennerde."

In the 14th century, the surname Dennard began to appear more frequently in historical documents, particularly in the regions of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. One notable individual from this period was John Dennard, born in 1325 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, who served as a member of the local council.

Another prominent figure bearing the Dennard surname was Sir Thomas Dennard (1515-1583), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dennard family established themselves in various parts of England, with some members migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One notable example is Robert Dennard (1620-1690), who was born in Gloucestershire but later emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Virginia.

As the centuries passed, the Dennard surname continued to be found in various regions of England, with some individuals achieving notable status. For example, John Dennard (1745-1819) was a renowned architect from Warwickshire, responsible for designing several churches and other notable buildings in the area.

While the surname Dennard has its roots firmly planted in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and early history remain closely tied to the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire, where it first emerged as a distinctive surname in the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dennard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dennard 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. Kent leads with 27 Dennards recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.64x.

County Total Index
Kent 27 17.64x
Sussex 14 18.51x
Gloucestershire 2 2.27x
Middlesex 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 18.69x
Surrey 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hythe St Leonard in Kent leads with 9 Dennards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
Hythe St Leonard 9 1666.67x
Hastings St Clement 8 1126.76x
Woolwich 6 106.01x
Bexhill 4 1052.63x
Plumstead 4 78.43x
Beckenham 3 150.00x
Horfield 2 224.72x
Kennington 2 1818.18x
Sandwich St Clement 2 1538.46x
Battle 1 196.08x
Brighton 1 6.55x
Camberwell 1 3.49x
Folkestone 1 33.67x
Royal Navy 1 21.88x
Westminster St John 1 18.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 3
Mary 3
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Ditta 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Johannah 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Henry 3
John 3
Thomas 3
George 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Daniel 1
Frederick 1
J. 1

Top occupations

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 Dennard households.

FAQ

Dennard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dennard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Dennard surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dennard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Dennard a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Dennard surname mean?

From the Old English "Dēor-nærd," meaning "deer-brave," referring to a deer hunter or one who tends deer.

What does the Dennard map show?

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