NameCensus.

UK surname

Dewsnap

A topographic surname referring to one who lived near a moist or damp place.

In the 1881 census there were 454 people recorded with the Dewsnap surname, ranking it #7,280 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, down from #7,280 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sheffield, Glossop and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Sheffield and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dewsnap is 612 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.3%.

1881 census count

454

Ranked #7,280

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

1911

612 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dewsnap had 454 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,280 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 612 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dewsnap surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dewsnap surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dewsnap 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 331 #7,044
1861 historical 296 #8,532
1881 historical 454 #7,280
1891 historical 463 #7,902
1901 historical 565 #7,393
1911 historical 612 #6,734
1997 modern 437 #10,299
1998 modern 442 #10,547
1999 modern 438 #10,695
2000 modern 460 #10,245
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 464 #10,181
2003 modern 449 #10,313
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 413 #10,918
2006 modern 411 #10,998
2007 modern 414 #11,072
2008 modern 407 #11,310
2009 modern 424 #11,179
2010 modern 439 #11,121
2011 modern 444 #10,902
2012 modern 429 #11,078
2013 modern 427 #11,325
2014 modern 431 #11,308
2015 modern 417 #11,532
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

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Where Dewsnaps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sheffield, Glossop, Ashton-under-Lyne and Stockport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Sheffield and Tameside. 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 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
4 Stockport Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 003 High Peak
2 High Peak 001 High Peak
3 Sheffield 017 Sheffield
4 High Peak 002 High Peak
5 Tameside 007 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dewsnap

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dewsnap

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Dewsnap surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dewsnap household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Dewsnap 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

Dewsnap 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

Dewsnap 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 Dewsnap is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dewsnap

The surname Dewsnap has its origins in England, likely emerging during the medieval period. It is considered a locational surname, derived from a particular place or geographic feature.

One theory suggests that the name Dewsnap may have originated from the Old English words "deaw" meaning "dew" and "snæp" meaning "a nook or corner of land." This could indicate that the name was initially associated with a specific location or settlement characterized by a dewy, secluded area or corner of land.

Another possibility is that the name is derived from the Old English word "snæpp," which referred to a promontory or projecting point of land. In this case, the name may have originated from a place near a prominent geographical feature, such as a headland or cliff.

Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention variations of the name, including "de Dewsnape" and "Dewsnape," suggesting its early presence in England. However, no specific references to individuals bearing this surname have been found in significant historical documents like the Domesday Book.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dewsnap can be traced back to John Dewsnap, who was born in Lancashire, England, around 1510. He was a farmer and landowner in the village of Eccleston.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Dewsnap (1670-1747), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Liverpool. He played a significant role in the city's economic development during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Dewsnap family was well-established in the county of Lancashire, with several members holding positions of prominence. One such individual was Richard Dewsnap (1808-1889), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the town of Accrington.

James Dewsnap (1834-1912) was a renowned architect from Lancashire, responsible for designing several notable buildings, including churches and public structures.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname Dewsnap also found its way to other parts of England, as well as to Wales and Scotland, likely due to migration and relocation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dewsnap families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dewsnap 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. Yorkshire leads with 133 Dewsnaps recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 133 3.04x
Derbyshire 105 15.21x
Lancashire 96 1.83x
Cheshire 41 4.21x
Middlesex 19 0.43x
Staffordshire 18 1.21x
Cumberland 9 2.37x
Selkirkshire 9 22.56x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.35x
Surrey 7 0.33x
Hertfordshire 3 0.99x
Dorset 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.11x
Kent 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glossop Dale in Derbyshire leads with 96 Dewsnaps recorded in 1881 and an index of 296.94x.

Place Total Index
Glossop Dale 96 296.94x
Sheffield 53 38.10x
Ashton Under Lyne 42 36.73x
Great Bolton 18 25.97x
Disley Stanley 16 319.36x
Nether Hallam 14 23.68x
Hollingworth 12 299.25x
Brightside Bierlow 11 12.84x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 11.25x
Sutton Stoneferry 10 80.00x
Dukinfield 9 20.01x
Farnworth 9 28.71x
Dewsbury 8 17.85x
Holme Abbey 8 563.38x
Worksop 8 45.38x
Wolstanton 7 15.49x
Wolstanton Knutton 7 77.01x
Camberwell 6 2.13x
Heap 6 21.62x
Kirkdale 6 6.82x
Saddleworth 6 17.80x
Darfield 5 125.63x
Islington London 5 1.17x
Manchester 5 2.13x
Melrose 5 49.80x
Pendleton In Salford 5 8.02x
St Pancras London 5 1.41x
Staveley 5 40.82x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.84x
Doncaster 4 12.53x
Galashiels 4 27.12x
Hackney London 4 1.62x
Mottram 4 90.70x
Wednesbury 4 10.75x
Bushey 3 41.44x
Thurgoland 3 101.69x
Barnsley 2 4.44x
Mirfield 2 8.34x
Wakefield 2 5.96x
Wavertree 2 11.94x
Whittington 2 20.94x
Beswick 1 7.47x
Blackburn 1 0.72x
Broadwater 1 5.87x
Cobham 1 28.33x
Gorton 1 2.03x
Kimberworth 1 4.12x
Ludworth 1 30.77x
North South Anston 1 52.36x
Sebergham 1 119.05x
Sevenoaks 1 8.20x
Silkstone 1 46.30x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.29x
Totley 1 99.01x
Walthamstow 1 3.19x
Wimborne Minster 1 21.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 15
Martha 14
Hannah 13
Ann 10
Alice 8
Emma 8
Harriet 8
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Betty 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Lydia 4
Edith 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Deborah 2
Eleanor 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Nancy 2
Rosina 2
Ruth 2
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Eugene 1
Eveline 1
Evelyn 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Helena 1
Jesse 1
Kathleen 1
Kitty 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Mgt.Ann 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 19
George 16
Thomas 14
James 13
Joseph 13
Arthur 8
Walter 7
Henry 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Simeon 4
Frank 3
Harry 3
Wright 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Ellis 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Hugh 2
Joshua 2
Robert 2
Allen 1
Ambrose 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnald 1
Eleazar 1
Ellen 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.William 1
Isaac 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joseps 1
Lee 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Micah 1
Rd. 1
Swann 1
Valentine 1
Vernon 1

FAQ

Dewsnap surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dewsnap surname in 1881?

In 1881, 454 people were recorded with the Dewsnap surname. That placed it at #7,280 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dewsnap surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Dewsnap a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Dewsnap surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to one who lived near a moist or damp place.

What does the Dewsnap map show?

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