NameCensus.

UK surname

Dinan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic place name 'Dún Átha Náin', meaning Nan's fort or Nan's river mouth.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Dinan surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 202, ranked #19,475, up from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, Barking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mansfield, Purbeck and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dinan is 232 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.9%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

202

2016, ranked #19,475

Peak year

1997

232 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dinan had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 202 in 2016, ranked #19,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 152 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dinan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dinan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dinan 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 232 #16,012
1998 modern 229 #16,657
1999 modern 221 #17,126
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 210 #17,904
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 221 #17,979
2013 modern 225 #18,027
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 202 #19,475

Geography

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Where Dinans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, Barking, London parishes, Greenock and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mansfield, Purbeck, Wealden, Swansea and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 Barking Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mansfield 009 Mansfield
2 Purbeck 003 Purbeck
3 Wealden 013 Wealden
4 Swansea 005 Swansea
5 Richmond upon Thames 013 Richmond upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dinan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dinan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Dinan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dinan 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dinan 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

Dinan 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

Dinan falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dinan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dinan

The surname DINAN originates from the Brittany region of northwestern France, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the town of Dinan, located in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany. The town's name itself is thought to come from the Breton words "din" meaning "hill" and "an" meaning "the," referring to its strategic hilltop location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DINAN surname can be found in the cartulary of the Abbey of Marmoutier, dating back to the 12th century. This medieval manuscript documents a certain "Robertus de Dinant," suggesting the surname's use during this era. Additionally, the DINAN name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Normandy from the 13th century, further solidifying its presence in the region.

Notable individuals bearing the DINAN surname include Guillaume Dinan (c. 1240-1305), a French nobleman and military commander who served under King Philip III of France during the Eighth Crusade. Another prominent figure was Jean Dinan (1470-1529), a French jurist and diplomat who served as the ambassador of King Francis I to the Republic of Venice.

In England, the DINAN surname can be traced back to the 14th century, with records indicating the presence of a John Dinan in Somerset in 1327. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Scotland dates back to 1452, when a Richard Dinan is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.

The DINAN surname has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For instance, the village of Dinan in Cornwall, England, is believed to have been named after an early settler with the DINAN surname. Similarly, the town of Dinan in Brittany, France, is thought to have influenced the surname's development.

Other notable individuals with the DINAN surname include Edme-François Dinan (1658-1746), a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, and Thomas Dinan (1837-1915), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Dinan Silk Manufacturing Company in Pennsylvania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dinan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dinan 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 21 Dinans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 2.29x
Surrey 21 4.70x
Lancashire 16 1.47x
Renfrewshire 11 15.48x
Cheshire 10 4.94x
Kent 6 1.92x
Glamorgan 5 3.13x
Hertfordshire 1 1.58x
Lanarkshire 1 0.34x
Monmouthshire 1 1.51x
Somerset 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 17 Dinans recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.29x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 17 62.29x
East Greenock 8 119.23x
Manchester 8 16.35x
Monks Coppenhall 8 104.71x
Teddington London 7 336.54x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 317.46x
Sutton 6 164.38x
Cardiff St Mary 5 56.88x
Battersea 4 11.86x
Plumstead 4 38.35x
St George In East London 4 46.40x
Middle Greenock 3 154.64x
Church Coppenhall 2 222.22x
St George Hanover Square 2 12.38x
Toxteth Park 2 5.43x
Cheshunt 1 45.25x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.15x
Govan 1 1.36x
Hampstead London 1 7.00x
Heston 1 32.89x
Huntspill 1 166.67x
St Woollos 1 13.51x
Woolwich 1 8.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Ellen 4
Margaret 4
Kate 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Hanna 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Margeret 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Rosey 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dinan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dinan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Dinan surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dinan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 202 in 2016. That gives Dinan a modern rank of #19,475.

What does the Dinan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic place name 'Dún Átha Náin', meaning Nan's fort or Nan's river mouth.

What does the Dinan map show?

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