NameCensus.

UK surname

Dingley

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 901 people recorded with the Dingley surname, ranking it #4,231 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,116, ranked #5,276, down from #4,231 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Dudley and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dingley is 1,292 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.

1881 census count

901

Ranked #4,231

Modern count

1,116

2016, ranked #5,276

Peak year

1911

1,292 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dingley had 901 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,231 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,116 in 2016, ranked #5,276.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,292 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dingley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dingley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dingley 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 539 #4,676
1861 historical 635 #4,220
1881 historical 901 #4,231
1891 historical 1,050 #3,991
1901 historical 1,203 #4,095
1911 historical 1,292 #3,687
1997 modern 1,187 #4,751
1998 modern 1,207 #4,860
1999 modern 1,189 #4,972
2000 modern 1,165 #5,029
2001 modern 1,142 #5,019
2002 modern 1,156 #5,075
2003 modern 1,131 #5,059
2004 modern 1,146 #5,014
2005 modern 1,141 #4,974
2006 modern 1,123 #5,053
2007 modern 1,147 #4,997
2008 modern 1,152 #5,009
2009 modern 1,171 #5,044
2010 modern 1,179 #5,116
2011 modern 1,160 #5,138
2012 modern 1,118 #5,217
2013 modern 1,134 #5,234
2014 modern 1,152 #5,191
2015 modern 1,133 #5,220
2016 modern 1,116 #5,276

Geography

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Where Dingleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), London parishes, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Dudley and Camden. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
2 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 2
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
2 Dudley 020 Dudley
3 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire
4 Camden 027 Camden
5 Dudley 025 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dingley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dingley

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

Dingley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dingley 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 Dingley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dingley

The surname Dingley is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ding" and "leah," which collectively mean a meadow or clearing in a woodland area. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the Dingley name likely inhabited or were associated with such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dingley surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which contains an entry for a place called "Dingelai" in Gloucestershire. This entry provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 11th century, and it may have been derived from the name of this specific location.

In the 13th century, the Dingley surname appeared in various legal and tax records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1212, which mention a Robert de Dingelee. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period, as they were often adapted based on local dialect and pronunciation.

Notably, the Dingley family played a significant role in the history of Wolverton, a village in Buckinghamshire. Sir John Dingley (1510-1584), a wealthy merchant and landowner, acquired the manor of Wolverton in the mid-16th century. His descendants continued to hold the manor for several generations, leaving a lasting impact on the local community.

Another prominent figure bearing the Dingley surname was Robert Dingley (1619-1659), an English Puritan minister and author. He served as a member of the Westminster Assembly, a influential body that shaped the religious and political landscape of England during the English Civil War.

In the realm of literature, Mary Dingley (1679-1741) gained recognition as a correspondent and friend of Jonathan Swift, the renowned author of "Gulliver's Travels." Her letters to Swift provide valuable insights into the literary and social circles of the time.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Edward Dingley (1840-1915) was a notable British architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. His work left a lasting imprint on the architectural landscape of various towns and cities across England.

While the Dingley surname may have originated from a specific location or geographical feature, it has since spread across England and beyond, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dingley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dingley 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. Warwickshire leads with 242 Dingleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.93x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 242 10.93x
Worcestershire 158 13.78x
Staffordshire 126 4.25x
Middlesex 105 1.20x
Surrey 43 1.01x
Kent 27 0.90x
Cornwall 24 2.41x
Somerset 24 1.70x
Lancashire 21 0.20x
Leicestershire 21 2.16x
Lanarkshire 16 0.56x
Hampshire 10 0.56x
Dorset 9 1.56x
Sussex 9 0.61x
Gloucestershire 7 0.41x
Wiltshire 7 0.90x
Cheshire 6 0.31x
Stirlingshire 6 1.85x
Essex 5 0.29x
Herefordshire 5 1.39x
Hertfordshire 5 0.83x
Bedfordshire 4 0.88x
Devon 4 0.22x
Northamptonshire 4 0.48x
Lincolnshire 3 0.21x
Radnorshire 3 4.24x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 87 Dingleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.79x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 87 11.79x
Aston 56 9.19x
Rowley Regis 47 56.91x
The Hill 38 516.30x
Baddesley Ensor 22 774.65x
Kings Norton 19 18.48x
Wolverhampton 19 8.34x
Kingswinford 18 16.73x
Leicester St Mary 18 22.89x
Chelsea London 16 6.05x
Bridgewater 15 39.10x
Hasbury 15 200.00x
Oldbury 15 26.59x
St Marylebone London 15 3.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 7.36x
Clerkenwell London 12 5.79x
Coventry Holy Trinity 12 18.15x
St Pancras London 12 1.70x
Battersea 11 3.41x
Edgbaston 11 16.02x
Westminster St John 11 10.29x
Barony 10 1.39x
Curdworth 10 492.61x
Dudley 10 7.17x
Hindlip 10 1265.82x
Ince In Makerfield 10 20.63x
Leamington Priors 10 18.36x
Bermondsey 9 3.44x
Chatham 9 10.92x
Harborne 9 9.48x
Portsea 9 2.55x
Sherborne 9 53.03x
Cropthorne 8 377.36x
Gillingham 8 12.95x
Horton Kirby 8 172.79x
Lapal 8 761.90x
Litherland 8 36.73x
Shoreditch London 8 2.10x
Tipton 8 8.82x
Wrington 8 168.78x
Berkswell 7 159.82x
Bromsgrove 7 18.14x
Swindon 7 11.62x
Warwick St Nicholas 7 43.10x
Bristol St Michael 6 40.65x
Eccleshall 6 53.38x
Falkirk 6 7.92x
Halesowen 6 59.64x
Islington London 6 0.71x
Paddington London 6 1.86x
Preston 6 23.21x
St Mary Magdalene 6 82.08x
West Bromwich 6 3.54x
Glasgow 5 0.99x
Monks Coppenhall 5 6.84x
Sedgley 5 4.54x
Walthamstow 5 8.02x
Broughton 4 151.52x
Cakemore 4 212.77x
Cradley 4 38.57x
Cubbington 4 135.59x
Kingsbury 4 84.39x
Liskeard 4 24.05x
Luton 4 5.08x
St Ive 4 62.79x
Stoke Climsland 4 62.99x
Wednesfield 4 9.17x
Willesden 4 4.83x
Belton 3 52.63x
Camberwell 3 0.54x
Evesham All Sts 3 56.18x
Great Little Hampton 3 157.07x
Harrow 3 22.35x
Ledbury 3 24.27x
Mancetter 3 47.10x
Newington 3 0.93x
Prescot 3 15.92x
Presteigne 3 66.67x
St Albans St Stephen 3 56.71x
St Luke London 3 2.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 33
Emma 25
Hannah 17
Ellen 16
Ann 15
Annie 13
Harriet 13
Alice 12
Eliza 12
Emily 9
Louisa 8
Jane 7
Ada 6
Charlotte 6
Amy 5
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Harriett 5
Edith 4
Florence 4
Lucy 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Ethel 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Phoebe 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
May 2
Merrell 2
Myra 2
Nancy 2
Rebecca 2
Violet 2
Delilah 1
Dora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 49
George 26
James 23
Henry 22
Thomas 20
Charles 19
Alfred 17
Samuel 16
Joseph 15
Edward 13
Arthur 11
Harry 10
David 7
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Dennis 5
Walter 5
Ira 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Gregory 3
Leonard 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Ezra 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Solomon 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Benjm. 1
Daniel 1
E.A. 1
Frederic 1
Isac 1
Jonah 1
Josiah 1
Kerslake 1
Wm.J.E.W. 1

FAQ

Dingley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dingley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 901 people were recorded with the Dingley surname. That placed it at #4,231 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dingley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,116 in 2016. That gives Dingley a modern rank of #5,276.

What does the Dingley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Dingley map show?

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