UK surname
Of Gaelic origin, indicating "great valor" or "champion".
In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Dillan surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #18,888 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Drypool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dillan is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
108
Ranked #18,888
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dillan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dillan surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 108 | #18,888 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Drypool, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutherglen | Lanark |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Drypool | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dillan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dillan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dillan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dillan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dillan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dillan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dillan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DILLAN has its origins in the Gaelic culture of Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic name Dillian, which means "wanderer" or "traveler". This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who frequently traveled or had a nomadic lifestyle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DILLAN can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 15th century. The entry from the year 1172 mentions a man named "Gilla-Críst Ua Díllín", which translates to "Gilchrist O'Dillan".
In the 16th century, the DILLAN surname appeared in various Scottish records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. These entries suggest that the name had spread from Ireland to parts of Scotland, likely due to the close cultural ties between the two regions.
One notable figure with the surname DILLAN was John Dillan (c. 1570-1628), a Scottish clergyman and writer who served as the minister of St. Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh. He published several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.
Another individual of note was James Dillan (1677-1741), an Irish-born Presbyterian minister who emigrated to America in the early 18th century. He was one of the founders of the Congregational Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and played a significant role in the development of the Presbyterian Church in the American colonies.
In the 19th century, the DILLAN surname appeared in various records from both Ireland and Scotland. One notable example is William Dillan (1821-1898), an Irish-born artist who specialized in landscape and genre paintings. He exhibited his work at the Royal Academy and other prestigious venues in London.
The surname DILLAN can also be found in historical records from other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of the Irish and Scottish diaspora. For example, there are records of individuals with the surname DILLAN in Australia and New Zealand from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, the surname DILLAN has a rich history rooted in the Gaelic cultures of Ireland and Scotland, with its origins dating back to medieval times. While the name has evolved and spread to various parts of the world, its connection to the ancient concept of wandering or traveling remains a fascinating part of its etymology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dillan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 18 Dillans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 18 | 1.72x |
| Lanarkshire | 16 | 4.70x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.04x |
| Durham | 10 | 3.19x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.95x |
| Stirlingshire | 10 | 25.74x |
| Angus | 7 | 7.17x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 1.41x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 3.81x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.37x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.64x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.11x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.39x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.45x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.26x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.31x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Dillans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 13 | 15.43x |
| Slamannan | 10 | 469.48x |
| Southcoates | 9 | 155.17x |
| Liff Benvie | 7 | 47.23x |
| Coxhoe | 6 | 674.16x |
| Ealing | 5 | 53.14x |
| Sheffield | 5 | 15.05x |
| Stockton On Tees | 4 | 26.47x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 14.63x |
| Bulwell | 3 | 97.09x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 3.95x |
| Roath | 3 | 36.01x |
| Salford | 3 | 8.16x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 7.32x |
| Barony | 2 | 2.32x |
| Billinge Chapel End | 2 | 285.71x |
| Dewsbury | 2 | 18.67x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.18x |
| Leeds | 2 | 3.39x |
| Newton On Ayr | 2 | 84.75x |
| St Bartholomew Great | 2 | 208.33x |
| St Budeaux | 2 | 294.12x |
| Abbey | 1 | 8.03x |
| Cambusnethan | 1 | 13.21x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 5.04x |
| Ilfracombe | 1 | 44.25x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.98x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 8.10x |
| Loudoun | 1 | 52.63x |
| Lytham | 1 | 52.36x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.46x |
| Northfield | 1 | 38.31x |
| Parr | 1 | 22.37x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 59.17x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.78x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 2.65x |
| Trevethin | 1 | 13.91x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dillan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dillan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dillan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Groom (N D) | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Badge Porter | 1 |
| Black Painter | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Box Maker | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Brewers Labourer | 1 |
| Carder | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Employed On Pit Bank | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoors) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Lab Plasterer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Lithographic Artist | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Rag Sorter | 1 |
| Scoler | 1 |
| Second Hand Clothes Dealer (Old) | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Soldiers Widow | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailors Finisher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Dillan surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Dillan a modern rank of #36,189.
Of Gaelic origin, indicating "great valor" or "champion".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dillan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.