NameCensus.

UK surname

Dinneen

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Doinnín meaning "descendant of the ill-tempered one".

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Dinneen surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Invergordon and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dinneen is 187 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 815.8%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2011

187 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dinneen had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 48 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Dinneen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dinneen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dinneen 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 165 #20,501
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 184 #20,521
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Dinneens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Invergordon, Ealing, Havant and Craven. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 011 Kettering
2 Invergordon Highland
3 Ealing 027 Ealing
4 Havant 007 Havant
5 Craven 008 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dinneen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dinneen

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Dinneen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Dinneen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dinneen 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

Dinneen 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

Dinneen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dinneen 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 Dinneen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dinneen

The surname Dinneen has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 11th century. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "O'Duinnin," which means "descendant of Duinnin." Duinnin was a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "donn," meaning "brown" or "brown-haired."

The Dinneen family was among the ancient septs or clans of County Cork, particularly in the region of West Muskerry. The name is also associated with the Barony of Duhallow in northwestern County Cork. Over time, variations in spelling emerged, including Dineen, Dinnin, Dinning, and O'Dinneen.

Historical records show the name appearing in medieval Irish annals and manuscripts. One notable figure was Finghin O'Dineen, a Irish writer and historian from the 16th century, who authored a work called "The Book of Munster." In the 17th century, Dermot O'Dineen was a prominent member of the Dinneen clan in West Muskerry.

The earliest documented use of the anglicized spelling "Dinneen" can be found in the 1659 Census of Ireland, which recorded families in the Barony of Duhallow. This census provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

Patrick Dinneen (1860-1934) was a prominent Irish lexicographer and scholar, best known for his comprehensive "Irish-English Dictionary," published in 1904. This work remains a significant contribution to the study of the Irish language and its dialects.

Another notable figure was Reverend Jeremiah Dinneen (1842-1928), an Irish Catholic priest and scholar who served as the President of St. Patrick's College in Thurles, County Tipperary. He was recognized for his efforts in promoting Irish language education and literature.

In the literary world, Eileen Dinneen (1913-1988) was an Irish novelist and short story writer, renowned for her works depicting rural life in County Cork. Her novels, such as "The Bright Knot" and "The Sourdough," received critical acclaim.

Bridget Dinneen (1904-1982) was an Irish traditional singer and storyteller, known for preserving and sharing the rich oral traditions of County Cork. Her repertoire included ballads, folk songs, and tales passed down through generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dinneen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dinneen 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. Glamorgan leads with 11 Dinneens recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.11x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 11 34.11x
Kent 3 4.75x
Monmouthshire 3 22.40x
Nottinghamshire 1 4.00x
Surrey 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gelligaer in Glamorgan leads with 11 Dinneens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1486.49x.

Place Total Index
Gelligaer 11 1486.49x
Matherne 3 10000.00x
Ramsgate 3 291.26x
Newark Upon Trent 1 111.11x
Rotherhithe 1 43.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Emily 1
Emma 1
Honora 1
Johannah 1
Josephene 1
Mabel 1
Mary 1
Rosehannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 3
Dan 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
John 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Dinneen households.

FAQ

Dinneen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dinneen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Dinneen surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dinneen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Dinneen a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Dinneen surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Doinnín meaning "descendant of the ill-tempered one".

What does the Dinneen map show?

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