NameCensus.

UK surname

Diffey

An Anglicized form of the French surname d'Iffé or de Feuilly.

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Diffey surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 389, ranked #12,109, up from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Poole St James and Wool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Poole and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diffey is 408 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.9%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

389

2016, ranked #12,109

Peak year

2011

408 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Diffey had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016, ranked #12,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Diffey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diffey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Diffey 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 363 #11,849
1998 modern 368 #12,096
1999 modern 378 #11,935
2000 modern 382 #11,792
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 377 #11,962
2003 modern 379 #11,714
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 355 #12,243
2006 modern 369 #11,965
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 389 #11,980
2010 modern 405 #11,874
2011 modern 408 #11,681
2012 modern 370 #12,417
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 398 #12,048
2015 modern 400 #11,909
2016 modern 389 #12,109

Geography

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Where Diffeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Poole St James, Wool, Corfe Castle and Canford Magna. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Poole, Wolverhampton and Wiltshire. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Wool Dorset
4 Corfe Castle Dorset
5 Canford Magna Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Poole 016 Poole
3 Wolverhampton 033 Wolverhampton
4 Wiltshire 059 Wiltshire
5 Poole 008 Poole

Forenames

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First names often paired with Diffey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Diffey

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Diffey is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Diffey is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Diffey falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Diffey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Diffey

The surname DIFFEY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the place name Duffey or Duffeyfe, which means "deep river valley" in Old English. The name was likely adopted by families who resided near such a geographical feature.

The earliest recorded reference to the DIFFEY surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dufeye." This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname was sometimes spelled as "Duffey" or "Duffie," reflecting variations in pronunciation and local dialects. In the 14th century, records show instances of the spelling "Diffey" emerging, which eventually became the more common form.

One of the earliest known individuals with the DIFFEY surname was Sir William Diffey, a knight who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was John Diffey, a wealthy merchant from York who was recorded in tax records from the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the DIFFEY family had a strong presence in the county of Wiltshire, where the name was often associated with landowners and gentry. Sir Thomas Diffey, born in 1523, was a prominent local figure who served as a magistrate and justice of the peace.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain Robert Diffey gained recognition for his service in the Parliamentarian forces led by Oliver Cromwell. He was recorded as participating in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

In the 18th century, the DIFFEY surname spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable individual was Samuel Diffey, a renowned clockmaker born in 1712 in the town of Keighley, Yorkshire, whose clocks were highly sought after by the gentry of the time.

Throughout its history, the DIFFEY surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Diffey Hill in Gloucestershire and Diffey Bridge in Wiltshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Diffey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Diffey 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. Dorset leads with 102 Diffeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.75x.

County Total Index
Dorset 102 84.75x
Hampshire 53 14.10x
Kent 16 2.56x
Surrey 9 1.01x
Middlesex 8 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worth Matravers in Dorset leads with 17 Diffeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8947.37x.

Place Total Index
Worth Matravers 17 8947.37x
Corfe Castle 14 1250.00x
Wouldham 11 1375.00x
Holdenhurst 10 101.42x
Poole St James 10 221.24x
Brading 9 180.00x
Swanage 9 604.03x
Wareham Holy Trinity 9 1698.11x
Freshwater 8 465.12x
Hamworthy 8 1904.76x
Reigate Foreign 8 82.73x
Woodsford 8 6666.67x
Sydling St Nicholas 7 2000.00x
Islington London 6 3.38x
Child Okeford 5 943.40x
Deptford St Paul 5 10.36x
South Stoneham 5 61.35x
Wareham St Martin 5 1086.96x
Chale 4 930.23x
Hordle 4 615.38x
Ryde 4 49.57x
East Lulworth 3 1304.35x
Longfleet 3 215.83x
Christchurch 2 24.54x
Portsmouth 2 23.12x
Ringwood 2 83.33x
Blandford Forum 1 42.19x
Bromley London 1 2.48x
East Stoke 1 270.27x
Millbrook 1 10.56x
Newington 1 1.48x
Parkstone 1 71.43x
Portisham 1 222.22x
Southampton St Mary 1 4.23x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 64.52x
St Michael Winchester 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 16
William 13
John 11
Edward 7
James 5
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Moses 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Augustus 1
Bertie 1
Braincra 1
Bramsett 1
Charles 1
Dan 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Evelyn 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Thomas 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Diffey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Diffey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Diffey surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Diffey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016. That gives Diffey a modern rank of #12,109.

What does the Diffey surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the French surname d'Iffé or de Feuilly.

What does the Diffey map show?

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