NameCensus.

UK surname

Dingle

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,273 people recorded with the Dingle surname, ranking it #3,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,287, ranked #4,655, down from #3,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Austell and Stoke Climsland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dingle is 1,514 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.1%.

1881 census count

1,273

Ranked #3,202

Modern count

1,287

2016, ranked #4,655

Peak year

1901

1,514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dingle had 1,273 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,287 in 2016, ranked #4,655.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,514 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dingle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dingle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dingle 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 899 #3,062
1861 historical 918 #3,022
1881 historical 1,273 #3,202
1891 historical 1,282 #3,372
1901 historical 1,514 #3,393
1911 historical 1,513 #3,195
1997 modern 1,233 #4,606
1998 modern 1,303 #4,559
1999 modern 1,317 #4,547
2000 modern 1,290 #4,610
2001 modern 1,238 #4,677
2002 modern 1,280 #4,639
2003 modern 1,265 #4,590
2004 modern 1,247 #4,651
2005 modern 1,219 #4,691
2006 modern 1,226 #4,686
2007 modern 1,250 #4,655
2008 modern 1,229 #4,754
2009 modern 1,234 #4,829
2010 modern 1,267 #4,817
2011 modern 1,252 #4,812
2012 modern 1,227 #4,824
2013 modern 1,283 #4,712
2014 modern 1,282 #4,737
2015 modern 1,273 #4,725
2016 modern 1,287 #4,655

Geography

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Where Dingles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Austell, Stoke Climsland and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Austell Cornwall
4 Stoke Climsland Cornwall
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 011 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dingle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dingle

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dingle is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dingle is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dingle 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 Dingle 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 Dingle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dingle

The surname Dingle originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Dingle, located in the Dingle Peninsula of County Kerry, Ireland. The name likely came from the Old Norse word "dingill," meaning a deep hollow or narrow valley.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Dingle can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a John de Dingele in Oxfordshire. Another early record is from the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1324, mentioning a William de Dyngeleye.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Dyngley, Dyngle, and Dingley, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation. Some of these spellings may have been influenced by the place name Dingley in Northamptonshire.

One notable figure bearing the Dingle surname was Sir Thomas Dingley (c.1556-1633), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1619. Another was Robert Dingley (1619-1659), an English writer and translator known for his work on the history of the Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including London, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire. Some individuals with the Dingle surname during this period were John Dingle (1615-1689), a Puritan minister in New England, and William Dingle (c.1670-1718), a Quaker writer and preacher from London.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dingle surname continued to appear in various regions of England and Wales. Notable figures include Edward Dingle (1770-1853), an English engraver and artist, and James Dingle (1800-1857), a Welsh Baptist minister and writer from Pembrokeshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Dingle has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name. While not as prevalent as some other surnames, it has maintained a presence in England, Wales, and beyond, with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dingle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dingle 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. Cornwall leads with 472 Dingles recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.68x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 472 32.68x
Devon 238 8.96x
Middlesex 99 0.78x
Norfolk 94 4.79x
Surrey 39 0.63x
Kent 34 0.78x
Oxfordshire 34 4.32x
Cheshire 32 1.14x
Channel Islands 29 7.67x
Hampshire 26 0.99x
Staffordshire 20 0.46x
Yorkshire 18 0.14x
Glamorgan 17 0.77x
Somerset 17 0.83x
Worcestershire 17 1.02x
Suffolk 15 0.97x
Lancashire 13 0.09x
Northamptonshire 10 0.83x
Bedfordshire 9 1.36x
Monmouthshire 9 0.98x
Gloucestershire 8 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.47x
Durham 7 0.18x
Royal Navy 7 4.60x
Essex 6 0.24x
Northumberland 6 0.32x
Sussex 5 0.23x
Dorset 4 0.48x
Herefordshire 4 0.76x
Anglesey 3 1.33x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
Wiltshire 2 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Westmorland 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Climsland in Cornwall leads with 58 Dingles recorded in 1881 and an index of 629.07x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Climsland 58 629.07x
Plymouth St Andrew 44 21.51x
Tavistock 44 145.45x
St Austell 42 85.05x
Calstock 30 105.89x
St Stephens By Saltash 29 466.24x
Plymouth Charles The 28 23.93x
Oxford St Ebbe 24 103.49x
St Helier 23 18.69x
St Clement 22 145.89x
Liskeard 19 78.61x
St Pancras London 16 1.56x
Holsworthy 15 200.27x
Callington 13 154.39x
Exeter Heavitree 12 60.61x
Great Yarmouth 12 7.38x
St Blazey 12 94.64x
East Looe 11 187.71x
Millbrook 11 16.70x
Pelynt 11 374.15x
Philleigh 11 940.17x
Rowley Regis 11 9.16x
Siddington 11 617.98x
Thorpe Next Norwich 11 52.91x
Charlton Next Woolwich 10 22.03x
Chatham 10 8.35x
Claines 10 21.87x
Falmouth 10 19.56x
St Marylebone London 10 1.47x
St Minver 10 227.27x
Felmersham 9 420.56x
Illogan 9 23.53x
Lezant 9 278.64x
Llantrisant 9 16.07x
St Gluvias 9 111.25x
West Bromwich 9 3.65x
Wolborough 9 26.81x
Fowey 8 120.66x
Gorran 8 197.04x
Islington London 8 0.65x
Rotherhithe 8 5.07x
Shoreditch London 8 1.45x
St Stephen In Brannel 8 60.70x
Stokesby With Herringby 8 551.72x
Upton With Fishley 8 343.35x
West Dean 8 583.94x
Willesden 8 6.65x
Breage 7 53.07x
Dudley 7 3.46x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 11.51x
Kensington London 7 0.99x
Kingsthorpe 7 52.47x
Lambeth 7 0.63x
Linkinhorne 7 69.58x
Menheniot 7 116.67x
St Gennys 7 325.58x
Streatham 7 7.39x
Altrincham 6 12.19x
Barnsley 6 4.60x
Budock 6 55.20x
Cardinham 6 454.55x
Clarborough 6 46.66x
Lanteglos By Fowey 6 102.04x
Lostwithel 6 146.34x
Macclesfield 6 4.79x
Moulton St Mary 6 571.43x
Norwich St James 6 38.99x
Oxford St Clement 6 30.17x
Portsea 6 1.17x
Royal Navy 6 4.62x
Ruswarp 6 42.67x
Southwark St John 6 15.38x
Kearsley 5 15.69x
Lambley 5 159.24x
Limpenhoe 5 574.71x
Milton Abbott 5 130.21x
North Hill 5 107.99x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 5 202.43x
Upton Pyne 5 280.90x
Veryan 5 89.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 97
Elizabeth 53
Jane 32
Ann 25
Eliza 23
Sarah 22
Annie 21
Emma 21
Ellen 16
Alice 15
Emily 13
Caroline 12
Catherine 12
Hannah 12
Louisa 11
Harriet 10
Margaret 10
Amelia 9
Matilda 9
Florence 8
Laura 8
Clara 7
Edith 7
Maria 7
Ada 6
Anna 6
Charlotte 6
Rebecca 6
Selina 6
Susan 6
Bessie 5
Fanny 5
Kate 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Grace 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Martha 4
Rachel 4
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Ethel 3
Lilian 3
Thirza 3
Agnes 2
Blanche 2
Catharine 2
Lily 2
Mabel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 106
John 86
James 33
Richard 33
George 32
Thomas 25
Henry 24
Arthur 19
Charles 18
Edward 18
Joseph 18
Alfred 13
Frederick 10
Harry 10
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Albert 8
Edwin 7
Francis 6
Walter 6
Alexander 5
Daniel 5
David 5
Edmund 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Benjamin 4
Fredk. 4
Fredrick 4
Sampson 4
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Nicholas 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Moses 2
Simon 2
Solomon 2
Willie 2
Adrian 1
Alex 1
Augustus 1
Bartholemew 1
C. 1
Etherald 1
Eugine 1
F.G.B. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Dingle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dingle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,273 people were recorded with the Dingle surname. That placed it at #3,202 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dingle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,287 in 2016. That gives Dingle a modern rank of #4,655.

What does the Dingle surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" in Old English.

What does the Dingle map show?

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