NameCensus.

UK surname

Deveney

Irish surname meaning "descendant of Naoi" and originating from the Irish Gaelic Ó Daimhín.

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Deveney surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 458, ranked #10,679, up from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock West and Central, Paisley Ferguslie and Inverkip and Wemyss Bay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deveney is 460 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 284.9%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

458

2016, ranked #10,679

Peak year

2013

460 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deveney had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 458 in 2016, ranked #10,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Deveney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deveney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deveney 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 412 #10,759
1998 modern 410 #11,143
1999 modern 409 #11,264
2000 modern 424 #10,919
2001 modern 409 #11,032
2002 modern 422 #11,002
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 402 #11,244
2005 modern 401 #11,165
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 426 #10,911
2009 modern 443 #10,821
2010 modern 447 #10,966
2011 modern 444 #10,902
2012 modern 451 #10,640
2013 modern 460 #10,661
2014 modern 459 #10,731
2015 modern 456 #10,715
2016 modern 458 #10,679

Geography

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Where Deveneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Pontefract, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock West and Central, Paisley Ferguslie, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay, Black Isle South and Greenock East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde
2 Paisley Ferguslie Renfrewshire
3 Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Inverclyde
4 Black Isle South Highland
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deveney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deveney

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Deveney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Deveney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Deveney is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deveney is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Deveney

The surname Deveney has its origins in Ireland, with the name first appearing in historical records during the 12th century. It is believed to be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Diamhain" or "Ó Diomuain," which means "descendant of Diamhan" or "descendant of Diomuain."

The name is thought to have its roots in County Sligo, a region in the northwest of Ireland. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In these annals, the name is spelled in various ways, including "O'Devinny," "O'Devenny," and "O'Devany."

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Deveney was Tadhg O'Devenny, who was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the year 1337. He was described as a prominent member of the O'Devenny clan, which held lands in County Sligo at the time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Deveney family was involved in several conflicts with other Irish clans and the English forces that were attempting to establish control over Ireland. In 1601, a man named Terence Deveney was recorded as leading a group of soldiers in a battle against the English.

As the Deveney family spread throughout Ireland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling changes. One notable variation was "Devine," which became more common in some regions. In the 18th century, a man named Patrick Devine (1678-1751) was an Irish poet and playwright who achieved some renown for his works.

Another individual of note was Michael Devine (1803-1868), a Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and worked to promote education among the Irish population. He was born in County Sligo, the traditional homeland of the Deveney clan.

In the 19th century, the Deveney surname began to appear more frequently in other parts of the world as Irish emigrants sought new opportunities abroad. For example, James Deveney (1841-1915) was an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, in the late 1800s.

Over the centuries, the Deveney name has been associated with various occupations and professions, from soldiers and poets to educators and politicians. While the spelling may have evolved, the name's Irish roots and connection to County Sligo remain an essential part of its history and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deveney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deveney 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 45 Deveneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 45 3.29x
Lanarkshire 16 4.30x
Staffordshire 10 2.57x
Middlesex 9 0.78x
Yorkshire 9 0.79x
Cheshire 8 3.15x
Angus 5 4.69x
Durham 5 1.46x
Cornwall 4 3.07x
Hampshire 2 0.85x
Kent 2 0.51x
Devon 1 0.42x
Northumberland 1 0.58x
Sussex 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 15 Deveneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.08x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 15 18.08x
Govan 10 10.86x
Spotland 10 65.88x
Wolverhampton 10 33.48x
Huddersfield 9 54.15x
Bradford 8 125.20x
Birkenhead 7 34.57x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 64.52x
Gorbals 6 271.49x
Dundee 5 12.56x
Kirkdale 5 21.76x
Throston 5 757.58x
Islington London 4 3.59x
Maker 4 333.33x
Fulham London 2 11.98x
Gillingham 2 24.69x
Portsmouth 2 36.83x
Altrincham 1 22.52x
East Stonehouse 1 21.19x
Herstmonceaux 1 172.41x
Kensington London 1 1.56x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 9.78x
St Marylebone London 1 1.63x
Westminster St Margaret 1 18.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Bridget 5
Catherine 3
Margaret 3
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Maggie 1
Margarett 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 8
Patrick 6
James 5
Joseph 3
William 3
Herbert 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Christp. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Lawrence 1
Porter 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Deveney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deveney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Deveney surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deveney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 458 in 2016. That gives Deveney a modern rank of #10,679.

What does the Deveney surname mean?

Irish surname meaning "descendant of Naoi" and originating from the Irish Gaelic Ó Daimhín.

What does the Deveney map show?

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