NameCensus.

UK surname

Dillingham

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead of Dilla's people" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Dillingham surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, up from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Flitwick, London parishes and Bedford St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire, Kirklees and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dillingham is 276 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.1%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

1911

276 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dillingham had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 276 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dillingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dillingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dillingham 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 276 #12,099
1997 modern 253 #15,152
1998 modern 258 #15,354
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 265 #15,143
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 261 #15,369
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 259 #15,348
2005 modern 260 #15,250
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 265 #15,295
2008 modern 264 #15,468
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 270 #15,667
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

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Where Dillinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Flitwick, London parishes, Bedford St Paul, St Pancras and Ampthill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire, Kirklees and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Flitwick Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Ampthill Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire
2 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
3 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dillingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dillingham

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Dillingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Dillingham 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dillingham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dillingham is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dillingham falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dillingham

The surname Dillingham has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the parish of Dillington in Somersetshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "dill" meaning "dill" or "meadow", and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure".

Records show that a William de Dylyngton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Somersetshire in 1188. The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions a manor called "Dyllingetun" in the same county, suggesting the name's deep roots in the region.

Over the centuries, the name has appeared in various spellings, including Dyllington, Dylyngton, and Dyllyngton, before settling on the modern form of Dillingham. In the 13th century, a Roger de Dyllyngton was recorded as a landowner in the county of Wiltshire.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name was John Dillingham, a 16th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1529, he served as the Dean of Chester Cathedral and wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

During the English Civil War, a Dillingham family from Lincolnshire was known for their support of the Parliamentarian cause. Sir Robert Dillingham (1598-1670) was a prominent member of this family and served as a colonel in the Parliamentarian army.

In the 18th century, William Dillingham (1718-1789) was a noted English painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can be found in various collections, including the British Museum.

Another notable figure was Charles Dillingham (1868-1934), an American theatre manager and producer. He was responsible for producing several successful Broadway shows, including the Ziegfeld Follies and the musical comedy "Sunny".

Across the Atlantic, the surname Dillingham has been present in the United States since the early colonial era. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Edward Dillingham, who settled in Massachusetts in the 1630s and became a prominent landowner and politician.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dillingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dillingham 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. Bedfordshire leads with 47 Dillinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.03x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 47 71.03x
Middlesex 34 2.66x
Yorkshire 17 1.34x
Northamptonshire 12 9.98x
Derbyshire 5 2.50x
Huntingdonshire 5 19.71x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.74x
Surrey 3 0.48x
Durham 2 0.53x
Kent 2 0.46x
Worcestershire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 28 Dillinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.22x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 28 27.22x
Luton 27 235.81x
Peterborough 10 114.94x
Ampthill 7 707.07x
Wortley In Bramley 7 69.79x
Bedford St Mary 6 352.94x
Derby St Peter 5 78.49x
Flitwick 4 1111.11x
Fulham London 4 21.59x
Hellifield 4 2105.26x
Huntingdon St Mary 4 634.92x
Battersea 3 6.38x
Bedford St Paul 3 66.08x
Carlton 3 152.28x
Knaresborough 3 150.75x
Leeds 2 2.80x
Stanhope 2 50.89x
Arthington 1 500.00x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 21.98x
Claines 1 21.83x
Fletton 1 123.46x
Great Weldon 1 769.23x
Hampstead London 1 5.03x
Hornsey 1 6.19x
Kennington 1 312.50x
Wellingborough 1 16.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
Walter 7
William 7
George 6
Albert 4
Arthur 4
James 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Phillip 2
Cecil 1
Charles 1
David 1
Demas 1
Denbigh 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Wallace 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Dillingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dillingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Dillingham surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dillingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Dillingham a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Dillingham surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead of Dilla's people" in Old English.

What does the Dillingham map show?

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