UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the Middle English word "dene" meaning a valley or hollow.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Dinn surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Epping, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dinn is 142 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 143.6%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
95
2016, ranked #31,782
Peak year
1891
142 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dinn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dinn surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 142 | #18,995 |
| 1901 | historical | 113 | #21,296 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 88 | #29,287 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 91 | #29,406 |
| 2006 | modern | 81 | #31,044 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 88 | #30,857 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 89 | #32,248 |
| 2014 | modern | 93 | #32,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 93 | #31,972 |
| 2016 | modern | 95 | #31,782 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Epping, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, St Pancras and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epping | Essex |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dinn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dinn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dinn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dinn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dinn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dinn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dinn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dinn has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dyn," meaning a loud noise or din, suggesting that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone particularly loud or boisterous.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a Robert Dyn. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also record a Willelmus Dyn in Oxfordshire, indicating the name's presence in various parts of England during that period.
In the 14th century, variations of the spelling, such as "Dynn" and "Dynne," began to appear in records. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Dynn, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 include a Thomas Dynne.
The Dinn surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Dinn (c. 1550 - 1615), an English playwright and poet who is best known for his contributions to the Coventry Corpus Christi plays. Another was Richard Dinn (1670 - 1733), a prominent English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Baroque style.
In the 19th century, the name gained recognition through the work of Henry Dinn (1815 - 1891), a British landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes. His son, Alfred Dinn (1849 - 1927), also became a notable artist, known for his portraits and genre paintings.
The Dinn surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Dinnington in Somerset and Dinton in Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa, as was common in medieval times.
Other notable bearers of the Dinn surname include William Dinn (1825 - 1890), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire in the 1850s, and John Dinn (1884 - 1952), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dinn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 20 Dinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 5.54x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.87x |
| Kent | 4 | 3.25x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.14x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 3.69x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.35x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 3.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walton On Hill in Lancashire leads with 8 Dinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Walton On Hill | 8 | 344.83x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 17.22x |
| Bow London | 4 | 87.15x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 4 | 52.08x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 4 | 216.22x |
| Islington London | 3 | 8.58x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 8.68x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 9.97x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 11.74x |
| Tilehurst | 1 | 181.82x |
| Warblington | 1 | 344.83x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 28.09x |
| Whittington English | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dinn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Merchant (Wine & Spirit) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Oil Shop Keeper | 1 |
| Oilman | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Salesman Gas Engineer (E & M 10/1 E & M Mt) | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Son Of Landed Proprietor | 1 |
| Tie Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Dinn surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Dinn a modern rank of #31,782.
A habitational surname derived from the Middle English word "dene" meaning a valley or hollow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dinn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.