NameCensus.

UK surname

Dewdney

A locational surname derived from the town of Dewdney in Kent, England.

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Dewdney surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 402, ranked #11,837, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and Capel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Brighton and Hove and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dewdney is 687 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.8%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

402

2016, ranked #11,837

Peak year

1911

687 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dewdney had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016, ranked #11,837.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 687 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dewdney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dewdney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dewdney 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 387 #6,204
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 522 #7,170
1901 historical 612 #6,963
1911 historical 687 #6,173
1997 modern 424 #10,531
1998 modern 439 #10,602
1999 modern 440 #10,648
2000 modern 439 #10,650
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 425 #10,941
2003 modern 428 #10,709
2004 modern 422 #10,838
2005 modern 400 #11,189
2006 modern 387 #11,514
2007 modern 383 #11,751
2008 modern 391 #11,675
2009 modern 396 #11,815
2010 modern 416 #11,627
2011 modern 409 #11,663
2012 modern 386 #12,037
2013 modern 412 #11,647
2014 modern 418 #11,614
2015 modern 412 #11,642
2016 modern 402 #11,837

Geography

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Where Dewdneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes, Capel, Plympton St Mary and Horsham, Sullington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Brighton and Hove, Horsham and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Capel Surrey
4 Plympton St Mary Devon
5 Horsham, Sullington Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 050 Cornwall
2 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove
3 Horsham 006 Horsham
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 016 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dewdney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dewdney

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dewdney 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

Dewdney is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dewdney falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dewdney

The surname Dewdney has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "denu" meaning "valley," suggesting a connection to a particular location or region where deer were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Deordene" in Gloucestershire. This place name is thought to be the precursor to the modern surname Dewdney.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the name such as "Durdene," "Durdene," and "Durdyn" appeared in various historical records, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time.

In the 16th century, the name Dewdney began to appear more frequently in parish records and other official documents. One notable figure from this period was William Dewdney, born in 1562 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent landowner and magistrate.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the Dewdney surname. John Dewdney (1608-1675) was a renowned English scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Steeple Ashton in Wiltshire. Another significant figure was Thomas Dewdney (1630-1692), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London who made substantial contributions to charitable causes.

In the 18th century, the Dewdney surname was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. One notable individual from this period was Samuel Dewdney (1732-1810), a respected lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

As the 19th century dawned, the Dewdney name continued to spread across England and beyond. Edgar Dewdney (1835-1916) was a prominent Canadian politician and lieutenant-governor of the Northwest Territories. He played a significant role in the development of western Canada.

Throughout history, the Dewdney surname has been associated with various professions, including law, clergy, politics, and business. While the name originated in England, it has since been carried by individuals in other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of English settlers and immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dewdney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dewdney 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. Devon leads with 102 Dewdneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.36x.

County Total Index
Devon 102 11.36x
Surrey 96 4.57x
Sussex 84 11.56x
Middlesex 54 1.25x
Dorset 15 5.30x
Kent 13 0.88x
Somerset 13 1.87x
Monmouthshire 11 3.53x
Hertfordshire 10 3.36x
Northumberland 10 1.56x
Carmarthenshire 8 4.40x
Hampshire 6 0.68x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Suffolk 4 0.76x
Bedfordshire 2 0.90x
Berkshire 2 0.62x
Essex 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 3.89x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsham in Sussex leads with 24 Dewdneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.97x.

Place Total Index
Horsham 24 169.97x
Hove 17 53.29x
Brixham 16 153.85x
Plympton St Mary 16 308.29x
Dorking 15 106.31x
Shoreditch London 15 8.03x
Withycombe Rawleigh 15 320.51x
Capel 13 656.57x
Reigate Foreign 13 57.14x
Cattistock 12 1538.46x
Chepstow 11 207.16x
St Luke London 10 14.46x
Wylam 10 709.22x
Croydon 9 7.72x
Curry Rivell 9 387.93x
Littleham 9 137.20x
Rickmansworth 9 110.02x
Steyning 9 365.85x
Pembrey 8 95.69x
Stoke Canon 8 1269.84x
Chagford 7 325.58x
Lambeth 7 1.86x
Shermanbury 7 1296.30x
Silverton 7 374.33x
Ugborough 7 322.58x
Wotton 7 686.27x
Albury 6 312.50x
Hendon 6 38.68x
Hougham 6 68.57x
Esher 5 170.07x
Limehouse London 5 10.56x
Toxteth Park 5 2.89x
Brighton 4 2.73x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.53x
Hampstead London 4 5.96x
Keymer 4 77.97x
Reigate Borough 4 82.47x
Streatham 4 12.50x
Worthing 4 500.00x
Bermondsey 3 2.34x
East Chelborough 3 1764.71x
Epsom 3 29.30x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 14.60x
Holdenhurst 3 12.94x
Islington London 3 0.72x
Mudford 3 535.71x
Oving 3 121.95x
South Molton 3 60.85x
Tottenham 3 4.37x
Trimley St Martin 3 333.33x
West Grinstead 3 136.99x
Bedford St Paul 2 13.06x
Camberwell 2 0.73x
Dawlish 2 29.90x
Ditchling 2 101.01x
East Stonehouse 2 11.31x
Great Bookham 2 124.22x
Penistone 2 60.06x
Plumstead 2 4.08x
Putney 2 10.18x
Royal Navy 2 4.55x
St Pancras London 2 0.58x
Acton 1 3.96x
Canterbury Christchurch 1 294.12x
East Ham 1 6.33x
Eastbourne 1 2.99x
Ermington 1 30.67x
Frant 1 19.42x
Fulham London 1 1.60x
Grays Thurrock 1 12.64x
Lowestoft 1 4.03x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.09x
Portsea 1 0.58x
Rusper 1 126.58x
St Marylebone London 1 0.43x
Stanford In Vale 1 77.52x
Stokefleming 1 88.50x
Thorverton 1 73.53x
Twineham 1 232.56x
Wolborough 1 8.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 22
Mary 22
Sarah 15
Emily 10
Ann 9
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Kate 7
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Jane 5
Jessie 5
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Laura 3
Maria 3
Alberta 2
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Blanche 2
Constance 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Mabel 2
Marianne 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Carloine 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Hermimie 1
Isabella 1
Jacquetta 1
Julia 1
Lilley 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
George 19
John 16
Thomas 16
Charles 12
James 8
Henry 7
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Richard 5
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Bertram 2
F. 2
Geo. 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Benjm. 1
C. 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Fras. 1
Fredererick 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Reuben 1
Sarah 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dewdney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dewdney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Dewdney surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dewdney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016. That gives Dewdney a modern rank of #11,837.

What does the Dewdney surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Dewdney in Kent, England.

What does the Dewdney map show?

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