NameCensus.

UK surname

Digby

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "Bright Brook Valley".

In the 1881 census there were 1,551 people recorded with the Digby surname, ranking it #2,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,628, ranked #3,823, down from #2,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braintree, London parishes and Finchingfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Ashfield and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Digby is 1,976 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 5.0%.

1881 census count

1,551

Ranked #2,717

Modern count

1,628

2016, ranked #3,823

Peak year

1911

1,976 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Digby had 1,551 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,628 in 2016, ranked #3,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,976 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Digby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Digby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Digby 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 862 #3,157
1861 historical 945 #2,933
1881 historical 1,551 #2,717
1891 historical 1,738 #2,618
1901 historical 1,925 #2,745
1911 historical 1,976 #2,510
1997 modern 1,763 #3,394
1998 modern 1,838 #3,394
1999 modern 1,836 #3,416
2000 modern 1,826 #3,421
2001 modern 1,793 #3,400
2002 modern 1,832 #3,407
2003 modern 1,763 #3,458
2004 modern 1,725 #3,527
2005 modern 1,677 #3,583
2006 modern 1,664 #3,610
2007 modern 1,674 #3,621
2008 modern 1,657 #3,679
2009 modern 1,664 #3,758
2010 modern 1,678 #3,805
2011 modern 1,667 #3,778
2012 modern 1,635 #3,764
2013 modern 1,662 #3,782
2014 modern 1,671 #3,781
2015 modern 1,641 #3,809
2016 modern 1,628 #3,823

Geography

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Where Digbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braintree, London parishes, Finchingfield and Weybourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Ashfield, Ealing, Cheshire West and Chester and North Norfolk. 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 Braintree Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Finchingfield Essex
4 Weybourne Norfolk
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 001 North Hertfordshire
2 Ashfield 003 Ashfield
3 Ealing 012 Ealing
4 Cheshire West and Chester 047 Cheshire West and Chester
5 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Digby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Digby

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Digby is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Digby is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Digby falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Digby

The surname Digby has its origins in England, with the name believed to have emerged in the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "dic" meaning ditch or dike, and "by" meaning a dwelling or village, essentially referring to a settlement near a ditch or embankment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dighebi" in reference to a location in Lincolnshire. This place name is believed to have evolved into the modern surname Digby.

In the 13th century, a notable reference to the name appears in the Testa de Nevill, an ancient survey of land ownership in England, where a William de Digby is mentioned as holding lands in Lincolnshire.

The Digby family has a long and distinguished history in England. One of the most prominent members was Sir Everard Digby (1578-1606), who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot to assassinate King James I. Despite his execution for treason, the Digby name endured.

Another notable figure was Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665), an English courtier, diplomat, and scientific writer known for his work on the philosophy of matter and his involvement in various intellectual circles of the time.

In the 19th century, Kenelm Henry Digby (1800-1880) was a prominent English writer and Catholic convert, known for his works on medieval literature and philosophy.

The surname also has a connection to the literary world through Margot Digby (1895-1971), an English writer and illustrator of children's books in the early 20th century.

Lastly, William Digby (1894-1951) was a British actor and film director who worked in both the silent and early sound film eras, appearing in over 60 films throughout his career.

Overall, the Digby surname has a rich history spanning multiple centuries, with notable figures contributing to various fields, from politics and diplomacy to literature and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Digby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Digby 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. Essex leads with 432 Digbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.46x.

County Total Index
Essex 432 14.46x
Middlesex 281 1.86x
Norfolk 117 5.03x
Lincolnshire 101 4.17x
Kent 86 1.66x
Surrey 84 1.14x
Northamptonshire 55 3.86x
Yorkshire 53 0.35x
Lancashire 48 0.27x
Leicestershire 40 2.38x
Devon 34 1.08x
Hampshire 29 0.93x
Cambridgeshire 22 2.29x
Dorset 20 2.01x
Sussex 18 0.71x
Warwickshire 18 0.47x
Suffolk 17 0.92x
Hertfordshire 15 1.44x
Berkshire 13 1.14x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.20x
Cheshire 11 0.33x
Northumberland 10 0.44x
Somerset 6 0.25x
Herefordshire 5 0.81x
Cumberland 4 0.31x
Gloucestershire 4 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.20x
Derbyshire 3 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 0.26x
Durham 1 0.02x
Flintshire 1 0.25x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.21x
Renfrewshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.55x
Shropshire 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braintree in Essex leads with 67 Digbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 249.72x.

Place Total Index
Braintree 67 249.72x
Great Leighs 35 897.44x
Finchingfield 30 320.51x
Ottery St Mary 27 130.62x
Deptford St Paul 25 6.27x
Weybourne 25 2066.12x
Kensington London 24 2.85x
St George Hanover Square 24 9.00x
Islington London 23 1.57x
Melton Mowbray 20 66.27x
Boreham 19 368.22x
Chelmsford 19 37.06x
St Pancras London 19 1.56x
West Ham 19 2.88x
Edmonton 18 14.76x
Milton 17 450.93x
Lambeth 16 1.21x
St Andrewthe Less 16 14.61x
Acton 15 16.90x
Pattiswick 15 852.27x
St Marylebone London 15 1.86x
Camberwell 14 1.45x
Bow London 13 6.75x
Briston 13 294.12x
Fairsted 13 866.67x
Hampton London 13 52.23x
Humberstone 13 94.27x
Aylsham 12 86.58x
Bromley London 12 3.60x
Felstead 12 117.19x
Whitstable 12 47.36x
Battersea 11 1.97x
Brightside Bierlow 11 3.74x
Coleshill 11 89.87x
Hackney London 11 1.30x
Portsea 11 1.81x
Spittlegate 11 32.86x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.10x
Northampton Priory St 10 11.70x
Paddington London 10 1.80x
Preston 10 2.08x
Ulting 10 1190.48x
Whaplode 10 121.21x
Colchester St Giles 9 30.48x
Debden 9 212.77x
Great Holland 9 432.69x
Hundon 9 195.65x
Leyton 9 17.48x
Prittlewell 9 21.73x
Romford 9 19.05x
Shoreditch London 9 1.37x
Springfield 9 68.70x
Swanscombe 9 38.78x
West Derby 9 1.71x
Weston 9 205.48x
Everton 8 1.40x
Great Bardfield 8 162.93x
Holdenhurst 8 9.83x
Leeds 8 0.94x
Minster In Sheppey 8 9.35x
Pinchbeck 8 51.55x
Putney 8 11.59x
Toynton St Peter 8 462.43x
Birch 7 142.86x
Dukinfield 7 4.53x
East Ham 7 12.62x
Holbeach 7 25.96x
Ingworth 7 933.33x
Poplar London 7 2.45x
Southwark St Saviour 7 9.00x
Spalding 7 14.57x
Studland 7 221.52x
Wainfleet All Sts 7 99.29x
Woodford 7 20.69x
Clapham 6 3.17x
Hertford St Andrew 6 46.55x
Hough On Hill Brandon 6 504.20x
Peterborough 6 5.82x
Sittingbourne 6 14.71x
Weston Longville 6 281.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 86
Elizabeth 61
Sarah 59
Alice 34
Emma 34
Eliza 31
Ellen 22
Jane 21
Emily 20
Ann 19
Charlotte 19
Edith 14
Ada 13
Caroline 13
Martha 13
Annie 12
Louisa 12
Florence 11
Kate 10
Fanny 9
Maria 9
Minnie 9
Amelia 8
Harriett 7
Julia 7
Susan 7
Catherine 6
Clara 6
Frances 6
Hannah 6
Margaret 6
Sophia 6
Anne 5
Betsy 5
Lucy 5
Matilda 5
Rebecca 5
Agnes 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Rose 4
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Maud 3
Christina 2
Lilian 2
Lillie 2
Lydia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 97
George 79
John 61
James 60
Thomas 41
Charles 37
Henry 30
Joseph 29
Arthur 22
Alfred 21
Edward 21
Walter 19
Albert 18
Harry 15
Robert 14
Frederick 13
Samuel 12
Ernest 10
Herbert 10
Daniel 7
Richard 6
Wm. 6
David 5
Frank 5
Peter 5
Everard 4
Francis 4
Geo. 4
Noah 4
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Jarvis 3
Willie 3
Clement 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Lewis 2
Matthew 2
Sidney 2
Archie 1
Bayleigh 1
Ben 1
Colin 1
Danl 1
Dybyrod 1
Ebenezer 1
Edman 1
Fredk. 1

FAQ

Digby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Digby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,551 people were recorded with the Digby surname. That placed it at #2,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Digby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,628 in 2016. That gives Digby a modern rank of #3,823.

What does the Digby surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "Bright Brook Valley".

What does the Digby map show?

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