NameCensus.

UK surname

Denney

A locational surname derived from any of several places named Denney in England, likely meaning "Dene's island."

In the 1881 census there were 728 people recorded with the Denney surname, ranking it #5,015 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,151, ranked #5,129, down from #5,015 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Windermere and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, South Lakeland and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denney is 1,332 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.1%.

1881 census count

728

Ranked #5,015

Modern count

1,151

2016, ranked #5,129

Peak year

2000

1,332 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denney had 728 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,015 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016, ranked #5,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,143 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Denney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denney 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 530 #4,736
1861 historical 604 #4,388
1881 historical 728 #5,015
1891 historical 829 #4,899
1901 historical 830 #5,461
1911 historical 1,143 #4,085
1997 modern 1,277 #4,462
1998 modern 1,312 #4,529
1999 modern 1,312 #4,562
2000 modern 1,332 #4,470
2001 modern 1,286 #4,525
2002 modern 1,286 #4,617
2003 modern 1,220 #4,739
2004 modern 1,225 #4,723
2005 modern 1,180 #4,829
2006 modern 1,194 #4,794
2007 modern 1,188 #4,849
2008 modern 1,168 #4,947
2009 modern 1,177 #5,024
2010 modern 1,190 #5,086
2011 modern 1,145 #5,201
2012 modern 1,130 #5,168
2013 modern 1,160 #5,139
2014 modern 1,167 #5,140
2015 modern 1,153 #5,144
2016 modern 1,151 #5,129

Geography

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Where Denneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Windermere, St Pancras, Dalton-in-Furness and Dedham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, South Lakeland, Kettering and Reading. 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 Windermere Westmorland
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Dedham Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
3 Kettering 005 Kettering
4 Reading 015 Reading
5 South Lakeland 006 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denney

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

Denney 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

Denney falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Denney

The surname Denney originated in England, with its earliest known roots traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "denu," meaning a valley or dell, combined with the Old English patronymic suffix "-ey," indicating a place of origin or residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denney can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire, dated 1195, which mentions a person named Walter de Deneye. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a location in Buckinghamshire or a nearby area.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Denney appeared in various records and manuscripts, often with spelling variations such as Denny, Dennie, and Denneye. These variations were common due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 13th century, the name Denney was documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, listing a William de Deneye as a landowner in the region. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in Oxfordshire during this period.

Noteworthy individuals with the surname Denney include Sir Edward Denney (1570-1637), an English nobleman and politician who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent figure was Sir John Denney (1615-1688), an English judge and politician who held the position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

In the literary realm, the playwright and poet John Denney (1679-1767) is remembered for his contributions to the English stage during the 18th century. Additionally, the English botanist John Denney (1734-1786) made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is credited with discovering several new species.

The surname Denney also has a connection to place names in various regions of England. For instance, the village of Denney in Cambridgeshire likely derived its name from the Old English word "denu," further reinforcing the surname's origins.

Throughout history, the surname Denney has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from landowners and politicians to artists and scientists. While its spelling may have varied over time, its roots can be traced back to the fertile valleys and dells of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denney 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. Lancashire leads with 146 Denneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 146 1.74x
Yorkshire 86 1.23x
Middlesex 80 1.13x
Essex 71 5.10x
Kent 65 2.70x
Norfolk 48 4.43x
Surrey 43 1.25x
Suffolk 38 4.42x
Westmorland 21 13.55x
Durham 20 0.95x
Renfrewshire 13 2.38x
Staffordshire 12 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.79x
Northamptonshire 7 1.06x
Cheshire 6 0.39x
Lanarkshire 6 0.26x
Oxfordshire 6 1.38x
Northumberland 5 0.48x
Somerset 5 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.94x
Berkshire 3 0.57x
Devon 3 0.20x
Hampshire 3 0.21x
Sussex 3 0.25x
Wiltshire 3 0.48x
Dorset 2 0.43x
Herefordshire 2 0.69x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.43x
Leicestershire 2 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.22x
Bedfordshire 1 0.27x
Cumberland 1 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.53x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton In Furness in Lancashire leads with 39 Denneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.74x.

Place Total Index
Dalton In Furness 39 120.74x
Ulverston 25 102.54x
Chatham 21 31.72x
Applethwaite 20 432.90x
Dedham 14 331.75x
Gravesend 14 68.73x
Harwich St Nicholas 14 130.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 9.16x
Pennington In Ulverston 12 288.46x
Lastingham 11 2500.00x
Liverpool 11 2.16x
Cleckheaton 10 38.84x
St Marylebone London 10 2.66x
Wicklewood 10 568.18x
Bradfield 9 33.41x
Thurgarton 9 1607.14x
Tipton 9 12.35x
Bermondsey 8 3.81x
Langham 8 493.83x
Paddington London 8 3.08x
Skerton 8 116.45x
Westminster St John 8 9.31x
Woolwich 8 9.00x
Barrow In Furness 7 6.15x
Bow London 7 7.80x
Durham St Nicholas 7 135.92x
Ipswich St Peter 7 60.55x
Kirkby Ireleth 7 167.87x
Lancaster 7 14.06x
Middlesbrough 7 7.69x
Normanby In Helmsley 7 1627.91x
Penwortham 7 176.77x
Sibton 7 593.22x
Swanscombe 7 64.75x
Toxteth Park 7 2.47x
West Greenock 7 7.13x
Witton 7 66.48x
Barony 6 1.04x
East Greenock 6 11.63x
Higham 6 184.62x
Islington London 6 0.88x
Normanby In 6 32.12x
Shoreditch London 6 1.96x
Silverstone 6 214.29x
Thorney 6 120.97x
Battersea 5 1.93x
Bromley London 5 3.22x
Chelsea London 5 2.35x
Great Yarmouth 5 5.57x
Little Bentley 5 657.89x
Pickering 5 56.82x
Roughton 5 471.70x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.94x
Thurstonland 5 206.61x
Walsham Le Willows 5 174.22x
West Ham 5 1.63x
Bawdsey 4 384.62x
Bedminster 4 3.75x
Birtley 4 46.73x
Castle Thorpe 4 506.33x
East Ham 4 15.48x
Hingham 4 106.67x
Plumstead 4 4.99x
Preston 4 1.79x
Swefling 4 571.43x
Tivetshall St Margaret 4 481.93x
Westgate 4 6.15x
York St George 4 72.60x
Aldringham 3 243.90x
Bethnal Green London 3 0.98x
Chelmsford 3 12.56x
Chester Le Street 3 18.62x
Cottisford 3 517.24x
Guisbrough Tocketts 3 344.83x
Hackney London 3 0.76x
Malmesbury St Paul 3 55.97x
North Walsham 3 38.36x
St Clement Danes London 3 20.55x
St Pancras London 3 0.53x
Streatham 3 5.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 40
Sarah 29
Ann 14
Alice 11
Hannah 10
Jane 10
Maria 10
Agnes 9
Caroline 9
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Emma 9
Margaret 9
Annie 8
Martha 8
Charlotte 7
Edith 7
Anne 6
Florence 6
Kate 6
Emily 5
Harriet 5
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Bridget 2
Celia 2
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
M. 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Elina 1
Honorah 1
Isabel 1
Jezebal 1
Joan 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 47
George 28
Thomas 25
James 21
Robert 16
Henry 8
Matthew 8
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Richard 6
Charles 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Dennis 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Michael 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Joshua 2
Patrick 2
Solomon 2
Wm. 2
Auther 1
Christian 1
Chs. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Ellen 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Hamilton 1
Jonah 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Denney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 728 people were recorded with the Denney surname. That placed it at #5,015 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016. That gives Denney a modern rank of #5,129.

What does the Denney surname mean?

A locational surname derived from any of several places named Denney in England, likely meaning "Dene's island."

What does the Denney map show?

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