NameCensus.

UK surname

Dennie

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'deibhinnse' meaning impetuous or violent.

In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Dennie surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #29,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Vale of White Horse and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dennie is 130 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 280.8%.

1881 census count

26

Ranked #29,911

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1891

130 bearers

Map years

1

1891 to 1891

Key insights

  • Dennie had 26 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dennie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dennie surname density by area, 1891 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dennie 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 26 #29,911
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 70 #26,383
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Dennies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Govan Combination and Stanton All Saints and Stanton St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Vale of White Horse, Croydon, Lewisham and Stafford. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Stanton All Saints and Stanton St John Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Vale of White Horse 003 Vale of White Horse
3 Croydon 002 Croydon
4 Lewisham 008 Lewisham
5 Stafford 005 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dennie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dennie

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Dennie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dennie 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dennie 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

Dennie is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dennie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dennie

The surname Dennie originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English personal name "Denni" or "Dennic." This name is believed to have roots in the Germanic language, where it meant "brave" or "valiant." The earliest known instances of the Dennie surname can be traced back to the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in the 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, several variations of the name appear, including "Denni," "Dennig," and "Dennisc." This suggests that the surname was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Dennie surname was John Dennie, a landowner in the village of Waddingham, Lincolnshire, who lived in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Dennie, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dennie surname spread across England, with notable concentrations in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. In some areas, the name evolved into variations such as "Denny" or "Denby," often reflecting local dialects or spellings.

A prominent figure with the Dennie surname was Sir Walter Dennie (1572-1634), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1628 and was knighted by King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Dennie family established themselves in the county of Yorkshire, with several members becoming influential landowners and industrialists. One notable figure was John Dennie (1718-1795), a successful entrepreneur and landowner who was instrumental in the development of the textile industry in Yorkshire.

Another individual of note was Thomas Dennie (1779-1856), a renowned scholar and author from Norfolk. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and published several works on mathematics and astronomy.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Dennie surname continued to be present in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties. Some individuals with this surname achieved recognition in fields such as law, medicine, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dennie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dennie 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. Angus leads with 4 Dennies recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.72x.

County Total Index
Angus 4 17.72x
Yorkshire 4 1.66x
Cambridgeshire 3 19.44x
Berkshire 2 10.93x
Durham 2 2.76x
Norfolk 2 5.34x
Surrey 2 1.68x
Argyllshire 1 14.75x
Hampshire 1 2.00x
Lanarkshire 1 1.27x
Lancashire 1 0.35x
Midlothian 1 3.06x
West Lothian 1 27.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brechin in Angus leads with 3 Dennies recorded in 1881 and an index of 337.08x.

Place Total Index
Brechin 3 337.08x
Wicken 3 4285.71x
Basildon 2 4000.00x
Middleton 2 2857.14x
Pickering 2 666.67x
Sutton 2 714.29x
Arbirlot 1 1428.57x
Bermondsey 1 13.79x
Boness 1 196.08x
Croydon 1 15.17x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 232.56x
Lasswade 1 133.33x
Liverpool 1 5.69x
Maryhill 1 64.94x
Ryde 1 93.46x
Seaham 1 384.62x
Sunderland 1 78.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Margret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
Alfred 1
Henry 1
James 1
Lawerence 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Dennie households.

FAQ

Dennie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dennie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Dennie surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dennie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Dennie a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Dennie surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'deibhinnse' meaning impetuous or violent.

What does the Dennie map show?

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