NameCensus.

UK surname

Dennison

An English surname derived from "Dennis's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Dennis.

In the 1881 census there were 2,314 people recorded with the Dennison surname, ranking it #1,928 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,027, ranked #2,222, down from #1,928 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Birstall and Penrith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Harrogate and Isles.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dennison is 3,309 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.8%.

1881 census count

2,314

Ranked #1,928

Modern count

3,027

2016, ranked #2,222

Peak year

1999

3,309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dennison had 2,314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,928 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,027 in 2016, ranked #2,222.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,064 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dennison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dennison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dennison 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 1,257 #2,269
1861 historical 1,328 #2,156
1881 historical 2,314 #1,928
1891 historical 2,677 #1,777
1901 historical 3,059 #1,831
1911 historical 3,064 #1,697
1997 modern 3,129 #2,050
1998 modern 3,253 #2,062
1999 modern 3,309 #2,047
2000 modern 3,280 #2,054
2001 modern 3,218 #2,046
2002 modern 3,256 #2,066
2003 modern 3,149 #2,085
2004 modern 3,171 #2,068
2005 modern 3,089 #2,091
2006 modern 3,077 #2,103
2007 modern 3,120 #2,096
2008 modern 3,111 #2,123
2009 modern 3,171 #2,133
2010 modern 3,186 #2,174
2011 modern 3,097 #2,200
2012 modern 3,053 #2,189
2013 modern 3,097 #2,194
2014 modern 3,086 #2,214
2015 modern 3,068 #2,203
2016 modern 3,027 #2,222

Geography

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Where Dennisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Birstall, Penrith, Bradford and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Harrogate, Isles, Lancaster and Doncaster. 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 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Penrith Cumberland
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 097 Leeds
2 Harrogate 019 Harrogate
3 Isles Orkney Islands
4 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
5 Doncaster 004 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dennison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dennison

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

Dennison is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dennison

The surname Dennison has its origins in England, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a patronymic name derived from the personal name Dennis, which itself stems from the French name Denis or the Latin Dionysius. The name may have originated in areas like Derbyshire or Yorkshire, where historical records show early instances of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Dennison can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, which mention a "William Denisun." The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname Dennison, indicating its presence in various parts of England during the medieval period.

The name may have initially been associated with individuals who were the sons of someone named Dennis, with the suffix "-son" denoting this familial connection. Over time, the spelling evolved from variations like Denison, Denyson, and Dennysun to the more modern form of Dennison.

In the 14th century, records show individuals with the surname Dennison residing in places like Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a "Johannes Denysoun" in Nottinghamshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list a "Robertus Denyson" in Lincolnshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Dennison. One example is John Dennison (c. 1615-1682), an English Puritan clergyman and writer who served as a minister in New England during the 17th century. Another is David Dennison (1615-1663), an English soldier and politician who fought for the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Robert Dennison (1745-1820) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. William Dennison (1815-1882) was an American politician who served as the 24th Governor of Ohio from 1860 to 1862, playing a significant role during the Civil War era.

Lastly, Lyle Denniston (1923-2022) was an American journalist and legal analyst who covered the Supreme Court of the United States for over six decades, gaining recognition as one of the nation's preeminent experts on the Court's workings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dennison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dennison 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. Yorkshire leads with 912 Dennisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 912 4.08x
Middlesex 234 1.04x
Lancashire 176 0.66x
Essex 131 2.94x
Durham 130 1.94x
Cumberland 77 3.96x
Surrey 69 0.63x
Kent 68 0.88x
Westmorland 66 13.30x
Lincolnshire 56 1.55x
Lanarkshire 42 0.58x
Midlothian 38 1.26x
Cheshire 28 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 27 0.89x
Northumberland 26 0.77x
Orkney 25 10.06x
Renfrewshire 25 1.43x
Hampshire 24 0.52x
Derbyshire 19 0.54x
Staffordshire 19 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 13 0.91x
Argyllshire 10 1.59x
Rutland 10 6.03x
Brecknockshire 8 1.77x
Warwickshire 8 0.14x
Northamptonshire 7 0.33x
Suffolk 7 0.25x
Angus 6 0.29x
East Lothian 6 2.01x
Devon 5 0.11x
Fife 5 0.37x
Glamorgan 5 0.13x
Cornwall 4 0.16x
Gloucestershire 4 0.09x
Somerset 4 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.22x
Norfolk 3 0.09x
Royal Navy 3 1.11x
Berkshire 2 0.12x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Caithness 1 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.14x
Stirlingshire 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 92 Dennisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.98x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 92 16.98x
Pudsey 49 40.96x
Penrith 47 65.43x
Tong 39 90.22x
Islington London 38 1.74x
Kendal 33 36.32x
Manningham 33 11.97x
Horton In Bradford 30 8.58x
Bowling 29 13.08x
Henham 29 457.41x
Leeds 27 2.14x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 24 132.16x
Shoreditch London 24 2.45x
Idle 23 22.17x
Southowram 22 32.21x
Westoe 22 5.78x
Bethnal Green London 21 2.14x
Gillingham 19 11.96x
Barony 18 0.97x
Hunslet 18 5.16x
Sculcoates 18 5.07x
Inveresk 17 20.75x
Otley 17 31.29x
Hipperholme Cum 16 16.27x
Holy Trinity 16 2.97x
Thornton In Bradford 16 21.48x
Chelsea London 15 2.20x
Chirton 15 19.73x
Debden 15 237.72x
St Marylebone London 15 1.24x
Batley 14 6.58x
East Ham 14 16.92x
Halifax 14 4.26x
Kingswinford 14 5.06x
Kirkwall St Ola 14 37.62x
Oldham 14 1.62x
West Ham 14 1.42x
Bishop Monkton 13 348.53x
Derby St Alkmund 13 12.27x
Govan 13 0.72x
Lambeth 13 0.66x
Liverpool 13 0.80x
Wakefield 13 7.57x
Wortley In Bramley 13 7.33x
Deptford St Paul 12 2.02x
Eccleshill 12 22.03x
Lewisham 12 2.92x
Newport 12 154.84x
Brightside Bierlow 11 2.51x
Kensington London 11 0.88x
Lamesley 11 30.42x
Newington 11 1.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 2.42x
St Pancras London 11 0.61x
Widdington 11 376.71x
Arnold 10 22.51x
Broughton In Salford 10 4.08x
Cockpen 10 28.28x
Conside Knitsley 10 19.14x
Crosby Ravensworth 10 165.02x
Mile End Old Town London 10 2.08x
Newington 10 16.23x
Oakham Deanshold 10 135.14x
Shipley 10 8.61x
Shocklach Church 10 478.47x
Stanhope 10 14.42x
Thornton In Fylde 10 17.06x
West Ardsley 10 37.13x
Wisbech St Peter 10 13.94x
Cathcart 9 9.50x
Dalston 9 59.88x
Hampstead London 9 2.56x
Holme 9 149.50x
Keighley 9 3.77x
Leyton Low 9 9.93x
Old Monkland 9 3.11x
Sherburn 9 48.94x
Willesden 9 4.23x
Failsworth 8 13.05x
Plumstead 8 3.11x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 151
William 113
Thomas 91
James 71
George 63
Robert 47
Charles 42
Joseph 42
Henry 35
Arthur 24
Alfred 16
Herbert 15
Samuel 14
Walter 14
Frederick 13
Richard 13
Edward 12
Fred 12
Albert 11
Matthew 10
Harry 9
Abraham 8
Benjamin 8
Ernest 8
Isaac 8
Thos. 8
Frank 7
Nathan 7
Philip 7
Tom 7
Peter 6
Robt. 6
Wm. 6
Alexander 5
Christopher 5
David 5
Sam 5
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Michael 4
Abram 3
Fredk. 3
Jesse 3
Joshua 3
Oliver 3
Willm. 3
Chas. 2
D. 2
Frederic 2
Patrick 2

FAQ

Dennison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dennison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,314 people were recorded with the Dennison surname. That placed it at #1,928 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dennison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,027 in 2016. That gives Dennison a modern rank of #2,222.

What does the Dennison surname mean?

An English surname derived from "Dennis's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Dennis.

What does the Dennison map show?

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