NameCensus.

UK surname

Dibble

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of fishing spears or iron-tipped staffs.

In the 1881 census there were 859 people recorded with the Dibble surname, ranking it #4,404 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,290, ranked #4,643, down from #4,404 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dorking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, The Vale of Glamorgan and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dibble is 1,395 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.2%.

1881 census count

859

Ranked #4,404

Modern count

1,290

2016, ranked #4,643

Peak year

1999

1,395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dibble had 859 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,404 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,290 in 2016, ranked #4,643.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dibble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dibble surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dibble 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 611 #4,220
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 859 #4,404
1891 historical 924 #4,475
1901 historical 1,083 #4,464
1911 historical 1,153 #4,051
1997 modern 1,323 #4,335
1998 modern 1,368 #4,354
1999 modern 1,395 #4,317
2000 modern 1,362 #4,398
2001 modern 1,360 #4,300
2002 modern 1,387 #4,327
2003 modern 1,351 #4,348
2004 modern 1,370 #4,305
2005 modern 1,339 #4,332
2006 modern 1,329 #4,372
2007 modern 1,339 #4,384
2008 modern 1,333 #4,418
2009 modern 1,350 #4,455
2010 modern 1,361 #4,515
2011 modern 1,352 #4,487
2012 modern 1,288 #4,611
2013 modern 1,306 #4,637
2014 modern 1,316 #4,621
2015 modern 1,307 #4,610
2016 modern 1,290 #4,643

Geography

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Where Dibbles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dorking, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, The Vale of Glamorgan, Cannock Chase, West Dorset and Bristol. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Dorking Surrey
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 013 Mendip
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 004 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Cannock Chase 012 Cannock Chase
4 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
5 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dibble

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dibble

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

Dibble 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dibble

The surname Dibble is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dibbe," meaning a small pit or hollow. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small depression or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a Robertus Dibble is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of people living in various counties at that time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Dibble surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. It is likely that the name originated in one of these regions, where the geographical features and local dialects influenced the development of the name.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Dybble, Dibbell, and Dybyll, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. One notable figure from this era was John Dybyll, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1538 for his religious beliefs.

As the centuries progressed, the Dibble surname continued to be found throughout England, with several individuals leaving their mark on history. One such person was Sir Lewis Dibdin Dibble (1684-1761), a prominent British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

Another notable figure was Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776-1847), an English bibliographer and writer who made significant contributions to the study of rare books and manuscripts. His work, "Bibliomania, or Book-Madness," published in 1809, is considered a classic in the field of bibliophilia.

In the 19th century, the Dibble name found its way to America, where several individuals of note emerged. One such person was Shelving Rock Dibble (1809-1876), a prominent lawyer and politician from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Another notable American with the Dibble surname was Arthur Brown Dibble (1859-1935), a pioneering aviator and one of the first individuals to design and build successful aircraft in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the Dibble surname has been associated with various occupations and social strata, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried the name. While its origins may be humble, the name has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from literature and aviation to politics and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dibble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dibble 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. Somerset leads with 291 Dibbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.50x.

County Total Index
Somerset 291 21.50x
Surrey 115 2.81x
Gloucestershire 89 5.40x
Middlesex 57 0.68x
Lancashire 52 0.52x
Devon 44 2.51x
Staffordshire 33 1.16x
Glamorgan 31 2.12x
Monmouthshire 18 2.96x
Warwickshire 16 0.75x
Yorkshire 16 0.19x
Derbyshire 14 1.06x
Berkshire 13 2.06x
Lanarkshire 12 0.44x
Lincolnshire 11 0.82x
Sussex 9 0.63x
Worcestershire 9 0.82x
Wiltshire 8 1.08x
Hampshire 6 0.35x
Kent 5 0.17x
Cheshire 3 0.16x
Dorset 3 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.00x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.37x
Shropshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 46 Dibbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.63x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 46 29.63x
Bridgewater 33 89.82x
St Pancras London 27 3.99x
Lambeth 20 2.73x
Stogursey 20 550.96x
Barrow In Furness 18 13.26x
Clapham 18 17.12x
Odcombe 16 888.89x
Dorking 15 54.53x
Nether Stowey 15 707.55x
Birmingham 14 1.98x
Kirkdale 13 7.75x
Wednesbury 13 18.33x
Cheddar 12 176.21x
North Petherton 12 109.89x
Bedminster 11 8.65x
Blyton 11 541.87x
Llandaff 11 22.58x
Osmotherley 10 377.36x
Barony 9 1.31x
Burghfield 9 241.29x
Cannock 9 18.17x
East Brent 9 439.02x
Litchurch 9 16.99x
Milborne Port 9 166.05x
Almondsbury 8 126.98x
Croydon 8 3.52x
West Bagborough 8 583.94x
Aberystruth 7 13.06x
Ashcott 7 338.16x
Bicknoller 7 744.68x
Darlaston 7 17.84x
Mortlake 7 38.34x
Roath 7 10.53x
Shoreditch London 7 1.92x
Banwell 6 121.46x
Barnstaple 6 21.84x
Blagdon 6 210.53x
Bleadon 6 337.08x
Bristol St George 6 7.87x
Burlescombe 6 252.10x
Camberwell 6 1.12x
Cannington 6 149.25x
Egham 6 23.86x
Glastonbury 6 54.30x
Henbury 6 74.53x
Kidderminster Borough 6 9.34x
Liddiard Tregooze 6 315.79x
Lympsham 6 458.02x
Otterhampton 6 869.57x
Send Ripley 6 112.36x
Taunton St Mary 6 24.14x
West Teignmouth 6 44.81x
Bradford 5 10.71x
Bromley London 5 2.70x
Llanfoist 5 118.76x
Monksilver 5 657.89x
Spaxton 5 189.39x
West Anstey 5 746.27x
West Coker 5 181.82x
Weston Super Mare 5 14.63x
Wilton 5 142.05x
Wotton 5 251.26x
Broughton In Salford 4 4.38x
Burnham 4 38.76x
Chipping Sodbury 4 130.29x
Dalton In Furness 4 10.39x
Eglwysilan 4 15.75x
Fulham London 4 3.28x
Hulme 4 1.92x
Michaelstone Super Avon 4 25.24x
Moreton Hampstead 4 88.50x
Newport 4 13.79x
Penge 4 7.45x
South Molton 4 41.58x
Steyning 4 83.16x
Stogumber 4 112.04x
Stoke St Gregory 4 97.32x
Wandsworth 4 4.94x
Willenhall 4 7.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 41
James 37
George 36
Thomas 30
Henry 24
Charles 15
Samuel 13
Daniel 11
Robert 10
Edwin 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
David 4
Edward 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Clifford 3
Francis 3
Gilbert 3
Isaac 3
Robt. 3
Tom 3
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Hezekiah 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Zackarias 2
Cecil 1
Chamberlain 1
Edgar 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Jno. 1
Fredk.Sl. 1
Gabriel 1
Geo.Chaffy 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Dibble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dibble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 859 people were recorded with the Dibble surname. That placed it at #4,404 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dibble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,290 in 2016. That gives Dibble a modern rank of #4,643.

What does the Dibble surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of fishing spears or iron-tipped staffs.

What does the Dibble map show?

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