NameCensus.

UK surname

Derby

A locational surname referring to someone from the city of Derby, England, derived from the Old Norse "djúr-bý" meaning "village of deer."

In the 1881 census there were 554 people recorded with the Derby surname, ranking it #6,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 783, ranked #7,047, down from #6,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Bute and Rothesay, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Bolton and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Derby is 787 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

554

Ranked #6,228

Modern count

783

2016, ranked #7,047

Peak year

2010

787 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Derby had 554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 783 in 2016, ranked #7,047.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 634 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Derby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Derby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Derby 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 615 #4,330
1881 historical 554 #6,228
1891 historical 634 #6,101
1901 historical 595 #7,117
1911 historical 466 #8,281
1997 modern 642 #7,729
1998 modern 665 #7,777
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 685 #7,618
2001 modern 675 #7,569
2002 modern 677 #7,711
2003 modern 672 #7,634
2004 modern 664 #7,716
2005 modern 676 #7,548
2006 modern 680 #7,540
2007 modern 691 #7,497
2008 modern 700 #7,485
2009 modern 754 #7,217
2010 modern 787 #7,124
2011 modern 775 #7,123
2012 modern 748 #7,246
2013 modern 769 #7,199
2014 modern 781 #7,135
2015 modern 779 #7,082
2016 modern 783 #7,047

Geography

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Where Derbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Bute and Rothesay, London parishes, Manchester, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Bolton, Wycombe, Knowsley and Basildon. 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 North Bute and Rothesay Bute
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 013 Mendip
2 Bolton 018 Bolton
3 Wycombe 017 Wycombe
4 Knowsley 020 Knowsley
5 Basildon 011 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Derby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Derby

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Derby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Derby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Derby 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

Derby 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

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

Meaning and origin of Derby

The surname Derby originated in England, deriving from the place name Derby, which is a town in Derbyshire in the East Midlands region. The name Derby is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "deor" meaning deer and "by" meaning town or village, indicating that the area was likely known for its deer population.

The earliest recorded mention of the place name Derby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Derebise." This suggests that the surname Derby may have been in use by the late 11th century, as surnames began to emerge and become hereditary around this time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Derby was Robert de Derby, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. The "de" prefix indicates that he hailed from the town of Derby itself.

In the 13th century, Roger de Derby, a wealthy landowner, was noted in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1284. Around the same time, John de Derby, a cleric, was recorded in the Patent Rolls of 1292.

During the 14th century, the surname Derby appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed Richard Derby and John Derby.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Derby was Thomas Derby, a 15th-century English merchant and diplomat. Born around 1430, he served as a merchant adventurer and was later appointed as an ambassador to the Duchy of Burgundy.

In the 16th century, Edward Derby, a renowned English actor and playwright, was born in 1542. He is credited with co-authoring several plays with the famous dramatist Thomas Norton.

The surname Derby has also been associated with various place names and their older spellings, such as Derbys, Darbys, and Darby, which may have contributed to the variations in the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Derby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Derby 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 161 Derbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 161 2.51x
Lanarkshire 60 3.43x
Middlesex 60 1.11x
Cheshire 24 2.01x
Durham 24 1.49x
Yorkshire 22 0.41x
Northamptonshire 19 3.74x
Surrey 17 0.65x
Buteshire 15 45.82x
Cambridgeshire 15 4.38x
Ayrshire 12 2.97x
Warwickshire 12 0.88x
Dumfriesshire 11 9.22x
Angus 10 2.00x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.24x
Worcestershire 9 1.28x
Staffordshire 8 0.44x
Derbyshire 7 0.83x
Essex 6 0.56x
Glamorgan 6 0.64x
Kent 5 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 6.39x
Monmouthshire 5 1.28x
Gloucestershire 4 0.38x
Sussex 4 0.44x
Isle of Man 3 2.99x
Somerset 3 0.34x
Cumberland 2 0.43x
Leicestershire 2 0.33x
Norfolk 2 0.24x
Suffolk 2 0.30x
Wiltshire 2 0.42x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Brecknockshire 1 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.30x

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 Derbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.56x.

Place Total Index
Barony 29 6.56x
Manchester 23 7.98x
Salford 20 10.60x
Kensington London 18 5.99x
Govan 17 3.93x
Rothesay 15 94.58x
Great Bolton 14 16.48x
St Andrewthe Less 11 28.13x
Blackley 9 80.07x
Dundee 9 4.82x
Holywood 9 452.26x
Hulme 9 6.72x
Monks Coppenhall 9 20.00x
Northampton St Giles 9 46.49x
Camberwell 8 2.32x
Chilton 8 159.36x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 30.94x
West Derby 8 4.26x
Bury 7 9.56x
Hamilton 7 14.36x
Lower Darwen 7 83.14x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.09x
Pilkington 7 28.74x
Tranmere 7 15.97x
West Herrington 7 124.33x
Abram 6 121.95x
Batley 6 11.79x
Everton 6 2.94x
Gorton 6 9.95x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 53.91x
Whittington 6 51.24x
Aston 5 1.33x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 10.02x
Auckinleck 5 39.94x
Barnes 5 44.88x
Birmingham 5 1.10x
Dukinfield 5 9.07x
Irvine 5 44.52x
Islington London 5 0.95x
Kelton 5 77.76x
Ratcliffe London 5 16.76x
Sheffield 5 2.93x
Stretford 5 14.17x
Wollescote 5 88.03x
Bothwell 4 8.44x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.81x
Clase 4 11.43x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.14x
Leyton 4 21.77x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.12x
Toxteth Park 4 1.84x
Westoe 4 4.39x
Basford 3 8.94x
Bedwellty 3 4.35x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 5.89x
Broughton In Salford 3 5.12x
Cherry Hinton 3 186.34x
Hetton Le Hole 3 14.73x
Onchan 3 10.38x
Paddington London 3 1.51x
Poplar London 3 2.94x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.43x
Atherton 2 8.57x
Bishops Hull 2 71.17x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.00x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 2 16.19x
Chorley 2 5.56x
Glasgow 2 0.64x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.37x
Mathon 2 96.62x
North Wheatley 2 277.78x
Northampton All Sts 2 11.59x
Over Darwen 2 3.90x
Preston 2 1.17x
Sevenoaks 2 13.38x
St Woollos 2 4.59x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.03x
Worsley 2 5.06x
Yardley 2 11.07x
Yate Pickup Bank 2 157.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 21
Ellen 10
Ann 9
Alice 8
Jane 8
Catherine 7
Eliza 6
Emma 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Isabella 4
Rebecca 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Rachel 2
Amy 1
Becker 1
Bessie 1
Bodelia 1
Bridget 1
Daisy 1
Elizebth 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Honor 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
June 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Luilla 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 26
William 26
John 25
Henry 14
James 14
Charles 12
George 9
Edward 8
Robert 8
Joseph 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Hugh 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Harold 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Ambrose 1
Chris. 1
Clarence 1
Cobbert 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Bruno 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Isaiah 1
J. 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Michael 1
Michel 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Patrick 1
Rich. 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Terence 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Derby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Derby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 554 people were recorded with the Derby surname. That placed it at #6,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Derby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 783 in 2016. That gives Derby a modern rank of #7,047.

What does the Derby surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the city of Derby, England, derived from the Old Norse "djúr-bý" meaning "village of deer."

What does the Derby map show?

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