NameCensus.

UK surname

Derham

An English surname possibly derived from a place name meaning 'deer farm'.

In the 1881 census there were 532 people recorded with the Derham surname, ranking it #6,457 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 708, ranked #7,645, down from #6,457 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lancaster Borough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, South Somerset and Christchurch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Derham is 789 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.1%.

1881 census count

532

Ranked #6,457

Modern count

708

2016, ranked #7,645

Peak year

1998

789 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Derham had 532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,457 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 708 in 2016, ranked #7,645.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 759 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Derham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Derham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Derham 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 408 #6,298
1881 historical 532 #6,457
1891 historical 629 #6,149
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 759 #5,695
1997 modern 767 #6,758
1998 modern 789 #6,828
1999 modern 782 #6,925
2000 modern 768 #6,976
2001 modern 752 #6,973
2002 modern 753 #7,088
2003 modern 757 #6,960
2004 modern 734 #7,135
2005 modern 707 #7,271
2006 modern 712 #7,265
2007 modern 706 #7,372
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 703 #7,753
2011 modern 683 #7,840
2012 modern 700 #7,607
2013 modern 719 #7,586
2014 modern 725 #7,571
2015 modern 714 #7,606
2016 modern 708 #7,645

Geography

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Where Derhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Curry, North and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, South Somerset, Christchurch and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Curry, North Somerset
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire
2 South Somerset 023 South Somerset
3 Christchurch 007 Christchurch
4 South Gloucestershire 003 South Gloucestershire
5 South Gloucestershire 005 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Derham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Derham

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

Derham is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Derham falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Derham

The surname Derham originates from England, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Derehams" or "Dereham," which is a town in Norfolk, England. The name itself is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "deor," meaning "deer," and "ham," meaning "homestead" or "village," indicating a settlement or homestead associated with deer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry in the Domesday Book mentions "Dereham" as a settlement in Norfolk, providing evidence of the name's existence during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named William de Dereham was recorded as a Benedictine monk and chronicler. He was born in Dereham, Norfolk, around 1210 and is known for his work titled "Historia de rebus gestis Glastoniensibus," which documented the history of Glastonbury Abbey.

Another prominent figure with the surname Derham was John Derham (1657-1735), an English philosopher, scientist, and theologian. He was born in Stoughton, Worcestershire, and made significant contributions to the study of natural philosophy and theology. Derham was a fellow of the Royal Society and authored several works, including "Physico-Theology" and "Astro-Theology," which explored the relationship between science and religion.

In the 18th century, William Derham (1701-1757) was a noted English clergyman and naturalist. He was born in Upminster, Essex, and served as the vicar of Upminster for over 50 years. Derham contributed to the field of natural history and wrote extensively on topics such as meteorology and entomology.

Another individual with the surname Derham was Sir Henry Derham (1805-1879), a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He was born in Nottinghamshire and served as the Governor of Newfoundland from 1855 to 1857, as well as the Governor of Hong Kong from 1857 to 1859.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the surname have been observed, including Dereham, Derram, and Derrame. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences in spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Derham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Derham 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 115 Derhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.89x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 115 1.89x
Somerset 76 9.18x
Wiltshire 52 11.44x
Gloucestershire 50 4.96x
Hampshire 49 4.65x
Yorkshire 34 0.67x
Middlesex 33 0.64x
Dorset 23 6.82x
Surrey 17 0.68x
Kent 12 0.68x
Lanarkshire 8 0.48x
Berkshire 7 1.81x
Glamorgan 7 0.78x
Staffordshire 7 0.40x
Norfolk 6 0.76x
Warwickshire 5 0.39x
Westmorland 5 4.43x
Worcestershire 5 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.29x
Herefordshire 4 1.90x
Essex 3 0.30x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.22x
Argyllshire 1 0.70x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Christchurch in Hampshire leads with 37 Derhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 161.93x.

Place Total Index
Christchurch 37 161.93x
North Curry 31 1099.29x
Preston 28 17.16x
Calne 19 202.99x
Leeds 17 5.91x
Morden 15 1048.95x
Skerton 15 299.40x
Devizes St John 13 381.23x
Horton 13 2000.00x
Lancaster 13 35.81x
St Pancras London 12 2.90x
Trull 11 650.89x
Tong 9 91.46x
Widnes 9 20.45x
Kidbrooke 8 808.08x
Ewell 7 132.33x
Keynsham 7 117.85x
Lambeth 7 1.56x
North Petherton 7 104.95x
Whippingham 7 87.72x
Barony 6 1.43x
Everton 6 3.09x
North Bradley 6 180.72x
Oldham 6 3.05x
Pentyrch 6 162.16x
Stanford 6 1935.48x
Winterbourne 6 107.72x
Bristol St George 5 10.72x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 5.27x
Bromsgrove 5 22.13x
Chapel Allerton 5 65.62x
Hayes 5 95.24x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 5 183.82x
Islington London 5 1.00x
Yate 5 226.24x
Ashbury 4 333.33x
Birmingham 4 0.93x
Blandford Forum 4 60.06x
Bristol St Paul In 4 14.89x
Cheltenham 4 5.14x
Cherhill 4 784.31x
Compton Bassett 4 606.06x
Devizes St Mary 4 87.15x
Little Bolton 4 5.10x
Walsall Foreign 4 4.46x
Wellington 4 370.37x
West Derby 4 2.24x
Westbury On Trym 4 11.71x
Wrington 4 143.88x
Alton 3 37.78x
Blackburn 3 1.85x
Ealing 3 6.53x
Great Bolton 3 3.71x
Great Marlow 3 35.76x
Hulme 3 2.36x
Lee 3 11.78x
Liverpool 3 0.81x
Livesey 3 28.01x
Nether Wyresdale 3 280.37x
Old Sodbury 3 238.10x
Wilpshire 3 612.24x
Bedminster 2 2.57x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.90x
Bishops Hull 2 74.91x
Govan 2 0.49x
Great Faringdon 2 36.10x
Handsworth 2 4.68x
High Ongar 2 106.95x
Holbeck 2 5.93x
Manchester 2 0.73x
Poplar London 2 2.06x
Radstock 2 36.76x
Studland 2 186.92x
Taunton St Mary 2 13.17x
Wells St Cuthbert In 2 157.48x
Yatton 2 62.11x
Chilton Candover 1 370.37x
St Marylebone London 1 0.36x
Walcot 1 2.27x
Whittingham 1 37.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 25
Annie 13
Sarah 13
Ellen 12
Ann 9
Jane 9
Emily 8
Emma 7
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Maria 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Martha 3
Priscilla 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Betty 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Agness 1
Blanch 1
Ellene 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jeannie 1
Joanna 1
John 1
Julia 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 29
George 24
James 17
Thomas 15
Charles 10
Edward 9
Joseph 9
Henry 8
Richard 7
Walter 7
Herbert 5
Peter 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Patrick 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Jacob 2
Oliver 2
Robert 2
Chas.E. 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Evan 1
Fredk.E. 1
Gilbert 1
Jamis 1
Jesse 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Nathan 1
Philip 1
Saml. 1
Saml.F. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Willm.Ch. 1

FAQ

Derham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Derham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 532 people were recorded with the Derham surname. That placed it at #6,457 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Derham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 708 in 2016. That gives Derham a modern rank of #7,645.

What does the Derham surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from a place name meaning 'deer farm'.

What does the Derham map show?

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