NameCensus.

UK surname

Denner

A surname of German or Central European origin denoting someone from a valley or canyon.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Denner surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 307, ranked #14,508, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cullompton, Eccles and Abergavenny. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, West Dorset and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denner is 432 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

1911

432 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denner had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 432 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Denner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denner 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 328 #10,348
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 432 #8,779
1997 modern 319 #13,000
1998 modern 327 #13,126
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 326 #13,188
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 331 #13,115
2003 modern 319 #13,263
2004 modern 332 #12,951
2005 modern 324 #13,108
2006 modern 323 #13,205
2007 modern 328 #13,196
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 312 #14,040
2010 modern 312 #14,314
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 306 #14,536
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Denners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cullompton, Eccles, Abergavenny, Bedwelty and Uffculme. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, West Dorset, Mid Devon, Cardiff and Wolverhampton. 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 Cullompton Devon
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Abergavenny Monmouthshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Uffculme Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly
2 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
3 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon
4 Cardiff 039 Cardiff
5 Wolverhampton 034 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denner

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

Denner 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

Denner falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Denner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Denner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Denner

The surname Denner is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "denen," meaning "to stretch or extend." It first emerged in the 14th century in the regions of Bavaria and Austria, where it was likely an occupational name for someone who worked as a stretcher of materials like cloth or leather.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denner can be found in a 1397 document from the town of Augsburg, which mentions a "Heinricus Denner." In the 15th century, the name appears in various records from cities like Nuremberg and Munich, often spelled as "Denner" or "Thenner."

The Denner surname is not found in the Domesday Book of 1086, as it originated in a different region of Europe. However, it does appear in other historical records, such as the Augsburg City Archives from the 14th century and the Nuremberg Bürgerbuch (Citizen Book) from the 15th century.

Among notable individuals with the surname Denner throughout history are:

1. Johann Christoph Denner (1655-1707), a German woodwind instrument maker and inventor credited with developing the clarinet. 2. Balthasar Denner (1685-1749), a German portrait painter known for his realistic and detailed works. 3. Jakob Denner (1681-1735), a German woodwind instrument maker and the son of Johann Christoph Denner. 4. Johann Andreas Denner (1736-1805), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Jena. 5. Johann Christian Denner (1750-1817), a German composer and organist active in the Classical period.

The Denner name can also be traced to various place names in Germany, such as the town of Dennenlohe in Bavaria, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denner 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. Devon leads with 107 Denners recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.35x.

County Total Index
Devon 107 20.35x
Somerset 33 8.11x
Monmouthshire 26 14.24x
Cornwall 18 6.29x
Lancashire 17 0.57x
Dorset 16 9.65x
Wiltshire 13 5.82x
Glamorgan 6 1.36x
Kent 6 0.70x
Middlesex 4 0.16x
Worcestershire 4 1.21x
Sussex 3 0.70x
Warwickshire 3 0.47x
Gloucestershire 2 0.40x
Surrey 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cullompton in Devon leads with 26 Denners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1130.43x.

Place Total Index
Cullompton 26 1130.43x
Abergavenny 23 336.26x
Calstock 18 320.86x
Honiton 11 378.01x
Wellington 11 199.64x
Sidmouth 10 332.23x
Yeovil 9 108.96x
Habergham Eaves 8 29.20x
Highworth 8 279.72x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 19.75x
Salcombe Regis 8 1632.65x
Worsley 8 43.29x
Burnham 7 225.81x
Bradninch 6 405.41x
Broadhembury 6 1034.48x
Halberton 6 487.80x
Portland 6 67.26x
Roath 6 30.03x
Burlescombe 5 704.23x
Crediton 4 80.32x
Fisherton Anger 4 96.62x
Ilton 4 1052.63x
Poole St James 4 64.21x
Seasalter 4 366.97x
Shipston On Stour 4 266.67x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 4 434.78x
Lamerton 3 300.00x
Llanover 3 48.08x
Ottery St Mary 3 86.96x
Totnes 3 97.40x
Birmingham 2 0.94x
Chideock 2 344.83x
Greenwich 2 4.97x
Payhembury 2 526.32x
Plymouth Charles The 2 8.63x
Bradford 1 250.00x
Brighton 1 1.16x
Caterham 1 18.38x
Clifton 1 3.99x
Ealing 1 4.43x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 31.55x
Feniton 1 322.58x
Islington London 1 0.41x
Limehouse London 1 3.60x
Longborough 1 181.82x
Ruishton 1 243.90x
Sedlescombe 1 178.57x
Sidbury 1 88.50x
Stretford 1 6.06x
Sutton Under Brailes 1 625.00x
Ticehurst 1 38.31x
Tormoham 1 4.49x
Tottenham 1 2.49x
Westbury 1 19.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 9
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Harriett 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Jessie 2
Maud 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Eilen 1
Eliz.Ly.E. 1
Elizth. 1
Elvira 1
Emmeline 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florrie 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriott 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Julianne 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 17
Thomas 11
James 9
Henry 7
Charles 5
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Harry 2
Linsey 2
Richard 2
Willie 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Elfred 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Jonathan 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Denner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Denner surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Denner a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Denner surname mean?

A surname of German or Central European origin denoting someone from a valley or canyon.

What does the Denner map show?

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