NameCensus.

UK surname

Devenish

An English surname derived from a place name referring to an area near Dunster, Somerset.

In the 1881 census there were 388 people recorded with the Devenish surname, ranking it #8,141 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, down from #8,141 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Waltham, Great and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Chelmsford and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Devenish is 576 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.9%.

1881 census count

388

Ranked #8,141

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

2002

576 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Devenish had 388 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,141 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 482 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Devenish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Devenish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Devenish 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 181 #12,997
1881 historical 388 #8,141
1891 historical 419 #8,551
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 482 #8,054
1997 modern 532 #8,887
1998 modern 560 #8,793
1999 modern 549 #8,996
2000 modern 569 #8,709
2001 modern 562 #8,664
2002 modern 576 #8,674
2003 modern 557 #8,758
2004 modern 541 #8,964
2005 modern 498 #9,467
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 520 #9,284
2008 modern 520 #9,358
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 529 #9,640
2011 modern 520 #9,681
2012 modern 527 #9,497
2013 modern 540 #9,483
2014 modern 547 #9,426
2015 modern 541 #9,451
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Devenishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Waltham, Great, Portsmouth, Portsea and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Chelmsford, Bolton, Portsmouth and Teignbridge. 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 1
2 Waltham, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 047 Liverpool
2 Chelmsford 006 Chelmsford
3 Bolton 033 Bolton
4 Portsmouth 014 Portsmouth
5 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Devenish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Devenish

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Devenish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Devenish 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Devenish is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Devenish is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Devenish falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Devenish

The surname Devenish originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Ulster. It is derived from the Old Irish Gaelic word "Damh-inis," which translates to "Ox Island" or "Meadow Island." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived on an island or near a meadow where cattle grazed.

The earliest known recorded reference to the name Devenish can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The entry, dated 1169, mentions a "Donatus de Insula Damhinis," which is believed to refer to a person named Donatus from the Island of Devenish.

The Devenish surname is closely associated with Devenish Island, a small island located in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The island was home to an ancient monastic settlement founded by St. Molaise in the 6th century. Records indicate that the Devenish family held lands on or near the island for several centuries.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Devenish was Cornelius Devenish, who lived in the late 16th century and was a member of the Gaelic nobility in Ulster. Another notable figure was Sir Christopher Devenish (1613-1681), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who acquired estates in County Fermanagh through his marriage to Elizabeth Devenish.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Devenish name appeared in various records and documents related to land ownership and legal proceedings in County Fermanagh and surrounding areas. Some prominent individuals from this period include Reverend John Devenish (1630-1703), a Church of Ireland clergyman, and William Devenish (1732-1802), a landowner and Justice of the Peace.

In more recent history, one of the most well-known individuals with the Devenish surname was Sir Walter Devenish (1827-1905), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Mauritius and the Bahamas in the late 19th century.

Other notable figures with the Devenish surname include Sir Richard Devenish (1840-1917), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, and Reverend Ralph Devenish (1895-1976), a Church of England clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theology and spirituality.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Devenish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Devenish 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. Essex leads with 120 Devenishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.66x.

County Total Index
Essex 120 15.66x
Middlesex 72 1.85x
Dorset 63 24.73x
Surrey 29 1.53x
Hampshire 20 2.51x
Sussex 13 1.99x
Bedfordshire 12 5.97x
Somerset 11 1.76x
Channel Islands 9 7.82x
Devon 9 1.11x
Gloucestershire 9 1.18x
Kent 7 0.53x
Wiltshire 6 1.75x
Suffolk 5 1.06x
Cornwall 4 0.91x
Renfrewshire 3 1.00x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.41x
Durham 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Waltham in Essex leads with 39 Devenishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.

Place Total Index
Great Waltham 39 1250.00x
Broomfield 13 1083.33x
Rayleigh 13 738.64x
St Pancras London 13 4.16x
Brighton 12 9.09x
Leighton Buzzard 12 138.73x
Islington London 11 2.92x
Maldon St Peter 11 282.05x
Hinton Martel 10 1960.78x
Maiden Newton 10 934.58x
Southminster 9 535.71x
St Luke London 9 14.45x
St Marylebone London 9 4.34x
St Helier 8 21.36x
Swanage 8 253.97x
Kensington London 7 3.24x
Portsea 7 4.49x
Purleigh 7 614.04x
St Andrew Holborn London 7 41.64x
Cerne Abbas 6 487.80x
Chelsea London 6 5.13x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 32.41x
Newington 6 4.18x
Witham 6 151.90x
Bourton 5 450.45x
Henbury 5 134.41x
Moulton 5 746.27x
Sandon 5 806.45x
Southwark St Saviour 5 25.06x
Wyke Regis 5 136.61x
Camberwell 4 1.61x
Donhead St Mary 4 229.89x
Hackney London 4 1.84x
Kingston On Thames 4 8.80x
Madron Penzance 4 25.03x
Walthamstow 4 14.50x
Whitchurch 4 158.73x
Woodham Walter 4 571.43x
Bathwick 3 43.35x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.94x
East Greenock 3 10.56x
Holdenhurst 3 14.37x
Lambeth 3 0.89x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 4.82x
Puncknowle 3 476.19x
Rotherhithe 3 6.25x
Stanton Drew 3 491.80x
Weymouth 3 62.11x
Wimborne Minster 3 72.82x
Backwell 2 156.25x
Charminster 2 98.52x
Charterhouse London 2 109.29x
Chatham 2 5.49x
Chelmsford 2 15.21x
Christchurch 2 11.59x
Clapham 2 4.12x
Clifton 2 5.20x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 2 97.09x
Everton 2 1.36x
Fisherton Anger 2 31.50x
Fordington 2 36.43x
Melcombe Regis 2 18.94x
Walcot 2 6.01x
Battersea 1 0.70x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.59x
Bradwell By Coggleshall 1 303.03x
Chetnole 1 312.50x
Croydon 1 0.95x
East Ham 1 7.03x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 20.75x
Little Waltham 1 129.87x
Millbrook 1 4.99x
Northfleet 1 8.57x
Portsmouth 1 5.46x
Romford 1 8.26x
Seaham 1 23.75x
Springfield 1 29.76x
St Peter Port 1 4.70x
Watford 1 4.82x
Yeovil 1 7.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 15
Annie 9
Emily 9
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Ann 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Charlotte 6
Caroline 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Maria 4
Florence 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Eleanor 2
Elizath. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
May 2
Rosalie 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Elizbth. 1
Evelyn 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Hester 1
Hilda 1
Infant 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Lissie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
Thomas 17
James 15
George 13
Henry 12
John 11
Charles 8
Richard 7
Frederick 6
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Matthew 3
Alfred 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Levi 2
Peter 2
Randle 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Everton 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Jonah 1
Robt. 1
Russell 1

FAQ

Devenish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Devenish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 388 people were recorded with the Devenish surname. That placed it at #8,141 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Devenish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Devenish a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Devenish surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to an area near Dunster, Somerset.

What does the Devenish map show?

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