NameCensus.

UK surname

Denniston

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Dennis' town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Denniston surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, down from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmunnock South, Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Denniston is 174 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.4%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

1999

174 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Denniston had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Denniston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Denniston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Denniston 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 152 #18,163
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Dennistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, London parishes, Govan Combination and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmunnock South, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Trafford and Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill. 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 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 London parishes London 3
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmunnock South Glasgow City
2 Wandsworth 006 Wandsworth
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 016 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Trafford 011 Trafford
5 Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Denniston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Denniston

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Denniston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Denniston 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Denniston 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

Denniston 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

Denniston 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 Denniston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Denniston

The surname Denniston has its roots in Scotland, originating in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "Dene" meaning valley and "tun" meaning farm or settlement, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name lived in a valley settlement.

Denniston is believed to be a locational surname, referring to the lands of Dennistoun, a parish in the county of Renfrewshire, Scotland. The earliest recorded spelling of this place name was "Danenceystun" in the 12th century, which evolved into "Danzestoun" and eventually "Dennistoun" by the 16th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Denniston surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Dennistons held a prominent position in Scottish society during that period.

In the 14th century, Sir Robert Denniston, a Scottish knight, was noted for his bravery and military prowess in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English. He fought alongside the legendary William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, playing a significant role in securing Scotland's sovereignty.

Another noteworthy bearer of the Denniston name was John Denniston, born in 1615 in Camiseskan, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a renowned Presbyterian minister and a staunch supporter of the Covenanters, a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 18th century, Archibald Denniston, born in 1733 in Glasgow, Scotland, gained recognition as a prominent merchant and shipowner. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes between Scotland and the colonies in North America, significantly contributing to the city's economic growth.

The Denniston surname also has a presence in literary history. James Denniston, born in 1829 in Renfrewshire, Scotland, was a respected scholar and author. He wrote extensively on Scottish literature and folklore, preserving the rich cultural heritage of his homeland.

Throughout the centuries, the Denniston name has been associated with various professions, from military leaders and clergymen to merchants and scholars, reflecting the diverse contributions of this Scottish family to the nation's history and cultural fabric.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Denniston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Denniston 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. Lanarkshire leads with 46 Dennistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.34x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 46 10.34x
Renfrewshire 19 17.83x
Yorkshire 15 1.10x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 55.25x
Dunbartonshire 10 27.06x
Middlesex 10 0.73x
Midlothian 8 4.34x
Argyllshire 4 10.45x
Kent 4 0.85x
Northumberland 4 1.95x
Wigtownshire 4 21.91x
Stirlingshire 2 3.94x
Hampshire 1 0.35x
Inverness-shire 1 2.43x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Sussex 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 29 Dennistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.76x.

Place Total Index
Barony 29 25.76x
Glasgow 10 12.66x
Kirkintilloch 10 199.20x
Inverkip 9 358.57x
Cockpen 7 325.58x
Govan 7 6.36x
Kensington London 6 7.85x
Kirkgunzeon 6 1935.48x
Leeds 6 7.80x
West Greenock 6 31.36x
Islington London 4 3.00x
Lewisham 4 15.99x
Whithorn 4 287.77x
Dunoon Kilmun 3 100.33x
East Greenock 3 29.79x
Kirkcudbright 3 181.82x
Chirton 2 43.20x
Cowpen 2 42.46x
Halifax 2 10.00x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 96.62x
Knottingley 2 83.33x
Skircoat 2 37.24x
Alverstoke 1 9.80x
Campbeltown 1 21.65x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 26.18x
Everton 1 1.92x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 20.20x
Huddersfield 1 5.04x
Inverness 1 9.68x
Kelton 1 60.98x
Renfrew 1 28.41x
Slamannan 1 35.97x
Strathblane 1 158.73x
Urr 1 38.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Jean 1
Jessie 1
Phyllis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Alexander 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Harvy 1
Louis 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos.F. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.E. 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 Denniston households.

FAQ

Denniston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Denniston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Denniston surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Denniston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Denniston a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Denniston surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Dennis' town" in Old English.

What does the Denniston map show?

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