NameCensus.

UK surname

Dineen

Derived from the Irish Ó Duinnín, meaning "descendant of Duinnín," a diminutive of "Donn," signifying "brown-haired" or "chieftain."

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Dineen surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 885, ranked #6,373, up from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Winchester St Peter Colebrook, Cathedral Yard, Winchester Close, Bishop Morley's College. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, County Durham and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dineen is 897 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 831.6%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

885

2016, ranked #6,373

Peak year

2013

897 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dineen had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 885 in 2016, ranked #6,373.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dineen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dineen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dineen 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 165 #17,085
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 779 #6,679
1998 modern 804 #6,724
1999 modern 793 #6,852
2000 modern 785 #6,881
2001 modern 772 #6,831
2002 modern 813 #6,684
2003 modern 800 #6,652
2004 modern 830 #6,466
2005 modern 823 #6,455
2006 modern 826 #6,458
2007 modern 843 #6,416
2008 modern 826 #6,565
2009 modern 862 #6,501
2010 modern 888 #6,463
2011 modern 882 #6,426
2012 modern 869 #6,416
2013 modern 897 #6,358
2014 modern 888 #6,448
2015 modern 887 #6,386
2016 modern 885 #6,373

Geography

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Where Dineens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Winchester St Peter Colebrook, Cathedral Yard, Winchester Close, Bishop Morley's College and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, County Durham, Gwynedd, Harrow and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Winchester St Peter Colebrook, Cathedral Yard, Winchester Close, Bishop Morley's College Hampshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 030 Brent
2 County Durham 036 County Durham
3 Gwynedd 014 Gwynedd
4 Harrow 029 Harrow
5 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dineen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dineen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dineen, 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 Dineen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dineen 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, Dineen 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

Dineen 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

Dineen 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 Dineen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dineen

The surname DINEEN is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Duinnín, which originated in County Kerry, Ireland. It is derived from the Irish word "donn," meaning brown or dark-colored, and the diminutive suffix "-ín," often used to indicate physical characteristics or traits.

The DINEEN name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing the clan holding lands in the Iveragh Peninsula of County Kerry. The name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions several members of the Ó Duinnín family.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the DINEEN surname was Dermot O'Duinnin, who was mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters in 1244. Another notable figure was Conor O'Duinnin, a prominent poet and scholar who lived in the 16th century and was praised for his knowledge of Irish language and literature.

In the 17th century, the DINEEN name was anglicized to its current spelling, likely due to the influence of English rule in Ireland. During this period, many DINEEN families were involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and subsequent wars, leading to the confiscation of their lands by English forces.

Over the centuries, the DINEEN name has been associated with various locations in County Kerry, such as Dingle, Caherdaniel, and Valentia Island. Placenames like Baile an Duinnínigh (Dinneen's Town) and Gleann an Duinnínigh (Dinneen's Glen) reflect the presence of the DINEEN clan in these areas.

One of the most famous individuals with the DINEEN surname was Patrick S. Dinneen (1860-1934), a renowned Irish lexicographer and scholar. He compiled the renowned "Dinneen's Irish-English Dictionary," which became a standard reference work for the Irish language.

Other notable individuals with the DINEEN surname include:

1. John J. Dinneen (1920-2000), an American judge and politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 2. Maureen Dineen (born 1953), an American author and journalist known for her novels and children's books. 3. Michael Dineen (1921-2001), an Irish hurler who played for the Cork senior hurling team and won several All-Ireland medals. 4. William J. Dinneen (1921-1987), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1964 to 1969. 5. Patrick Dinneen (1895-1977), an Irish Capuchin friar and historian who wrote extensively on the history of the Capuchin Order in Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dineen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dineen 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 39 Dineens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 4.17x
Surrey 18 3.95x
Hampshire 7 3.65x
Glamorgan 6 3.68x
Yorkshire 6 0.65x
Lancashire 5 0.45x
Monmouthshire 5 7.39x
Gloucestershire 4 2.18x
Cornwall 3 2.83x
Kent 2 0.63x
Royal Navy 1 8.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 10 Dineens recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.72x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 10 16.72x
Islington London 9 9.92x
Tottenham 8 53.66x
St Clement Danes London 7 360.82x
St Pancras London 7 9.29x
Leeds 6 11.45x
Southwark St Olave 6 845.07x
Fulham London 5 36.82x
St Peter Colebrook 5 1851.85x
Bristol St Augustine 4 135.14x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 25.53x
Preston 4 13.45x
Falmouth 3 80.00x
St Martin Ludgate London 3 6000.00x
Caerleon 2 571.43x
Lambeth 2 2.45x
Plumstead 2 18.78x
Swansea Town 2 14.96x
Aldershot 1 15.55x
Christchurch 1 47.85x
Liverpool 1 1.48x
Mottisfont 1 588.24x
Newport 1 30.96x
Royal Navy 1 10.48x
St Woollos 1 13.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 4
Emily 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Anne 1
Annora 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Honnora 1
Johanna 1
Katie 1
Maud 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dineen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dineen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Dineen surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dineen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 885 in 2016. That gives Dineen a modern rank of #6,373.

What does the Dineen surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Ó Duinnín, meaning "descendant of Duinnín," a diminutive of "Donn," signifying "brown-haired" or "chieftain."

What does the Dineen map show?

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