NameCensus.

UK surname

Dillow

Derived from a place name meaning "dell frequented by wolves" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Dillow surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wolverley and Thornborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Harborough and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dillow is 299 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.1%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

1911

299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dillow had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dillow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dillow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dillow 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 278 #12,252
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 219 #16,666
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 200 #18,139
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 182 #19,402
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Dillows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wolverley, Thornborough, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Harborough, Milton Keynes and Warwick. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wolverley Worcestershire
3 Thornborough Buckinghamshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 001 Aylesbury Vale
2 Harborough 010 Harborough
3 Milton Keynes 010 Milton Keynes
4 Milton Keynes 002 Milton Keynes
5 Warwick 008 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dillow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dillow

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dillow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Dillow is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dillow falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dillow

The surname Dillow has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "dill" and "hlaw," which together meant "a hill or mound where dill grew." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a specific geographic location or landmark where dill, an aromatic herb, was prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dillow can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1195, where a person named Richard Dillow is mentioned. The surname also appears in various other historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire.

In the 15th century, the name Dillow was particularly concentrated in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. Some notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include John Dillow, a landowner from Shrewsbury who was recorded in 1467, and William Dillow, a merchant from Stafford who is mentioned in a charter from 1489.

As the centuries passed, the Dillow surname continued to spread across various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Dillowe, Dyllowe, and Diloe emerging. One prominent figure with this name was Sir Thomas Dillow (1618-1695), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Stafford during the reign of King Charles II.

In the 18th century, the Dillow family had established itself in several English counties, including Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. Notable individuals from this era include Reverend John Dillow (1721-1789), a clergyman and author from Warwickshire, and Captain William Dillow (1745-1823), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

Another significant figure in the history of the Dillow surname was Sir Walter Dillow (1798-1867), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Gloucestershire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his charitable contributions to various causes, including the founding of a school in his hometown.

Throughout its long history, the surname Dillow has maintained a presence in various parts of England, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the country's rich tapestry of cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dillow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dillow 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. Middlesex leads with 26 Dillows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 1.77x
Worcestershire 19 9.88x
Hampshire 13 4.31x
Staffordshire 13 2.61x
Shropshire 11 8.64x
Northamptonshire 10 7.22x
Essex 8 2.75x
Herefordshire 7 11.59x
Leicestershire 7 4.29x
Buckinghamshire 6 6.74x
Lancashire 6 0.34x
Warwickshire 5 1.35x
Denbighshire 4 7.19x
Yorkshire 4 0.27x
Derbyshire 2 0.87x
Devon 2 0.65x
Kent 2 0.40x
Surrey 2 0.28x
Berkshire 1 0.90x
Hertfordshire 1 0.98x
Lanarkshire 1 0.21x
Somerset 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 12 Dillows recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.75x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 12 18.75x
Wolverley 11 650.89x
Kettering 8 142.86x
Knighton On Teme 8 6153.85x
St Maurice Winchester 8 640.00x
Leicester Black Friars 6 566.04x
West Ham 6 9.35x
Wolverhampton 5 13.08x
Newton In Makerfield 4 74.77x
St Mary Kalendar 4 634.92x
Stansty 4 655.74x
Bradford 3 8.49x
Buckingham 3 165.75x
Ford 3 1578.95x
Handsworth 3 24.49x
St Anne Soho London 3 35.67x
Almeley 2 666.67x
Astley 2 1666.67x
Hope Under Dinmore 2 800.00x
Litchurch 2 21.55x
Mile End Old Town London 2 6.38x
Much Wenlock 2 170.94x
North Meols 2 11.69x
Pontesbury 2 129.03x
St George Hanover Square 2 7.71x
St Pancras London 2 1.69x
Stoke Damerel 2 9.32x
Walsall Borough 2 51.81x
Wednesfield 2 27.32x
Wellington 2 645.16x
Woking 2 46.19x
Abthorpe 1 434.78x
Adstock 1 555.56x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 95.24x
Birmingham 1 0.81x
Bromfield 1 357.14x
Bromley London 1 3.09x
Broxbourne 1 49.75x
Chingford 1 142.86x
Coventry St Michael 1 8.38x
Crayford 1 45.66x
Fenny Stratford 1 119.05x
Glasgow 1 1.18x
Hackney London 1 1.21x
Hammersmith London 1 2.76x
Kenilworth 1 47.85x
Kingsland 1 185.19x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.51x
Lillingstone Dayrell 1 714.29x
Limehouse London 1 6.18x
Milverton 1 91.74x
New Windsor 1 26.88x
Poplar London 1 3.60x
Portsea 1 1.69x
Ramsden Crays 1 909.09x
Rotherham 1 12.15x
Scaldwell 1 588.24x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 19.92x
Uttoxeter 1 39.22x
Walmer 1 45.87x
Warwick St Mary 1 31.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
George 7
John 6
William 6
Joseph 5
Edward 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Fredrick 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Johney 1
Mark 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Dillow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dillow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Dillow surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dillow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Dillow a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Dillow surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "dell frequented by wolves" in Old English.

What does the Dillow map show?

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