NameCensus.

UK surname

Dewsbury

A habitational name for someone from the town of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 460 people recorded with the Dewsbury surname, ranking it #7,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 607, ranked #8,637, down from #7,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stretham, Lichfield St Michael and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Tameside and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dewsbury is 646 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

460

Ranked #7,211

Modern count

607

2016, ranked #8,637

Peak year

2002

646 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dewsbury had 460 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016, ranked #8,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dewsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dewsbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dewsbury 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 460 #7,211
1891 historical 538 #6,998
1901 historical 538 #7,640
1911 historical 525 #7,551
1997 modern 575 #8,388
1998 modern 626 #8,144
1999 modern 644 #8,021
2000 modern 632 #8,111
2001 modern 616 #8,128
2002 modern 646 #7,990
2003 modern 620 #8,124
2004 modern 615 #8,203
2005 modern 614 #8,134
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 595 #8,407
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 629 #8,475
2011 modern 616 #8,511
2012 modern 598 #8,627
2013 modern 613 #8,599
2014 modern 611 #8,681
2015 modern 605 #8,678
2016 modern 607 #8,637

Geography

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Where Dewsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stretham, Lichfield St Michael, Sheffield, Swansea and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Tameside, Lichfield and Sefton. 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 Stretham Cambridgeshire
2 Lichfield St Michael Staffordshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Swansea Glamorganshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Tameside 018 Tameside
3 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
4 Lichfield 010 Lichfield
5 Sefton 037 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dewsbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dewsbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dewsbury, 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 Dewsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dewsbury 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dewsbury 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

Dewsbury is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dewsbury 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 Dewsbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dewsbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dewsbury

The surname Dewsbury is of English origin, derived from the town of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated in the 10th century, derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "burh" meaning "fortified town or manor".

Dewsbury is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Deuresberie", indicating that the name was well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest. The town's name likely referred to a settlement or manor where deer were found in abundance.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Dewsbury was William de Deuresbiry, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. This record suggests that the surname had become hereditary by the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various spellings, including Deuresbury, Deursbury, and Deusbury, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times.

A notable figure with the surname Dewsbury was John Dewsbury (1624-1688), an English Quaker preacher and writer. He was a prominent figure in the early days of the Quaker movement and authored several religious works.

Another notable individual was William Dewsbury (1621-1688), an English Puritan clergyman and author. He served as a minister in several parishes and wrote several religious works, including "The Unlawfulness of Reading Common Prayer".

In the 18th century, Samuel Dewsbury (1730-1790) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Dewsbury, Yorkshire. He played a significant role in the town's economic development and left a lasting legacy through his philanthropic efforts.

In the 19th century, John Dewsbury (1825-1901) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in the textile industry. He founded the Dewsbury Mills Company, which became one of the largest textile manufacturers in the region.

A more recent figure with the surname Dewsbury was Sir John Dewsbury (1906-1991), a British civil servant and diplomat. He served as the Ambassador to Spain from 1961 to 1966 and played a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dewsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dewsbury 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. Staffordshire leads with 123 Dewsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.12x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 123 8.12x
Lancashire 58 1.09x
Yorkshire 55 1.24x
Cambridgeshire 53 18.65x
Warwickshire 33 2.92x
Middlesex 30 0.67x
Cheshire 27 2.73x
Nottinghamshire 19 3.14x
Glamorgan 12 1.54x
Worcestershire 11 1.88x
Derbyshire 10 1.42x
Surrey 9 0.41x
Carmarthenshire 8 4.23x
Kent 5 0.33x
Dorset 2 0.68x
Ayrshire 1 0.30x
Essex 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.83x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stretham in Cambridgeshire leads with 32 Dewsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1576.35x.

Place Total Index
Stretham 32 1576.35x
Walsall Foreign 22 28.12x
Birmingham 18 4.77x
Cannock 17 64.32x
Walsall Borough 16 136.05x
Aston 14 4.49x
Hackney London 13 5.17x
Sale 12 98.77x
Burslem 11 25.35x
Soham 11 179.74x
Wednesbury 11 29.06x
Dudley 9 12.63x
Burntwood Edial 8 82.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 8.85x
Great Crosby 8 55.10x
Llanelly 8 18.78x
Stone 8 41.30x
Timperley 8 232.56x
Acton Trussell 7 833.33x
Bilston 7 23.85x
Etton 7 921.05x
Tonge With Haulgh 7 67.57x
Wardleworth 7 23.00x
Hoyland Nether 6 55.00x
Leeds 6 2.39x
Normanton On Soar 6 1200.00x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.84x
Rotherhithe 6 10.82x
Sutton Bonnington 6 387.10x
Swansea Town 6 9.37x
Wath On Dearne 6 67.64x
Blatchinworth 5 41.25x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 40.36x
Gillingham 5 15.84x
Swansea St Thomas 5 63.69x
Habergham Eaves 4 8.22x
Milton 4 470.59x
Ockbrook 4 134.23x
Scarborough 4 9.90x
Bielby 3 882.35x
Derby St Werburgh 3 7.40x
Ditton 3 137.61x
Hornsey 3 5.29x
Hulme 3 2.70x
Ince In Makerfield 3 12.11x
Over 3 29.79x
Salford 3 1.92x
Sheffield 3 2.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.32x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.87x
Barnton 2 84.75x
Bury 2 3.29x
Colne 2 12.61x
Coppenhall Dunston 2 357.14x
Harborne 2 4.12x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 6.99x
Horton In Bradford 2 2.88x
Kidderminster Borough 2 5.83x
Kingswinford 2 3.64x
Limehouse London 2 4.06x
Melcombe Regis 2 16.38x
Moss Side 2 7.14x
Parr 2 10.50x
Rowley Regis 2 4.74x
Rushall 2 22.45x
Shoreditch London 2 1.03x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 16.63x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.53x
St Marylebone London 2 0.83x
Stretford 2 6.83x
Westminster St John 2 3.66x
Allerthorpe 1 434.78x
Blackburn 1 0.71x
Cardiff St John 1 3.92x
Derby St Alkmund 1 4.75x
Derby St Peter 1 4.47x
Lancaster 1 3.16x
Market Weighton Arras 1 34.60x
Melbourne 1 20.83x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 14
Ann 12
Ellen 11
Hannah 11
Alice 9
Annie 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Maria 4
Caroline 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Albertina 2
Anne 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Constance 1
Deborah 1
Eliza. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth 1
Hanah 1
Harriot 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Lavinia 1
Lottie 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Treaser 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 25
Thomas 19
George 17
Henry 13
James 12
Alfred 11
Edward 9
Arthur 6
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Samuel 5
Fred 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Phillip 3
Walter 3
David 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Nathan 2
Alex 1
Chas.G. 1
Chas.W. 1
Chinery 1
Dover 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredric.W. 1
Fredrick 1
H.B. 1
Harold 1
Hazelwood 1
Isac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno.Edward 1
Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Dewsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dewsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 460 people were recorded with the Dewsbury surname. That placed it at #7,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dewsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016. That gives Dewsbury a modern rank of #8,637.

What does the Dewsbury surname mean?

A habitational name for someone from the town of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Dewsbury map show?

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