UK surname
From the Old English word "diener" meaning servant or waiter.
In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Dinner surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #16,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Marham Church and Witheridge, Thelbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dinner is 182 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.9%.
1881 census count
141
Ranked #16,091
Modern count
96
2016, ranked #31,684
Peak year
1911
182 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dinner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dinner surname density by area, 1881 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 | 173 | #11,629 |
| 1861 | historical | 148 | #15,452 |
| 1881 | historical | 141 | #16,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 138 | #18,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 182 | #15,859 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 91 | #29,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 93 | #28,829 |
| 2004 | modern | 89 | #29,623 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 78 | #31,385 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 87 | #32,472 |
| 2014 | modern | 88 | #32,495 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 96 | #31,684 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Marham Church, Witheridge, Thelbridge, Stratton and North Petherwin. 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 | Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) | Devon |
| 2 | Marham Church | Cornwall |
| 3 | Witheridge, Thelbridge | Devon |
| 4 | Stratton | Cornwall |
| 5 | North Petherwin | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dinner 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 Dinner, 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 Dinner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dinner 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, Dinner 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 Dinner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dinner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DINNER is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "dene," meaning a valley or a low-lying area. This suggests that the name may have been given to families or individuals who lived in or near a valley or a dell.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DINNER can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, which date back to 1296. These rolls were tax records that listed the names of individuals who were required to pay taxes to the Crown. The name appears in various spellings, such as "de Dene," "atte Dene," and "Dinner."
During the 14th century, the surname DINNER started to appear in various historical documents, including the Feet of Fines, which were legal records of land transactions. One notable example is Robert Dinner, who was recorded as owning land in Oxfordshire in 1379.
In the 15th century, the surname DINNER continued to be documented in various records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1428. These rolls listed the names of individuals who were required to pay taxes to support the military campaigns of the time. One individual listed in these rolls was John Dinner of Wiltshire.
The 16th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the surname DINNER. One such person was William Dinner, a merchant and alderman who lived in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born around 1540 and was known for his involvement in the city's government and trade.
In the 17th century, the surname DINNER continued to be found in various records, including parish registers and court documents. One notable individual was Thomas Dinner, a farmer who lived in Gloucestershire. He was born around 1620 and is recorded as having been involved in a legal dispute over land ownership in 1672.
As the centuries progressed, the surname DINNER spread across England and beyond. In the 18th century, John Dinner, born in 1718, was a prominent merchant in Bristol, known for his involvement in the city's trade with the American colonies.
The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the surname DINNER, including the author and journalist Charles Dinner, who was born in 1820 in London. He was known for his writings on social issues and his advocacy for reform.
It is worth noting that while the surname DINNER has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and travel. However, the exact origins and historical significance of the name remain deeply rooted in the English countryside and the lives of the families who bore this distinctive surname over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dinner 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. Cornwall leads with 51 Dinners recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 51 | 32.75x |
| Devon | 39 | 13.62x |
| Surrey | 13 | 1.94x |
| Kent | 9 | 1.92x |
| Somerset | 9 | 4.07x |
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 2.97x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.73x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 0.84x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.15x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.15x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.01x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 6.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stratton in Cornwall leads with 13 Dinners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1547.62x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stratton | 13 | 1547.62x |
| Mortlake | 11 | 367.89x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 8 | 31.50x |
| North Tamerton | 8 | 3478.26x |
| Witheridge | 8 | 1666.67x |
| Bridgerule West | 7 | 6363.64x |
| Falmouth | 7 | 127.04x |
| St Thomas Apostle | 7 | 1458.33x |
| North Petherwyn | 6 | 1500.00x |
| Bedminster | 4 | 19.23x |
| Clawton | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Stoke Climsland | 4 | 404.04x |
| Walmer | 4 | 196.08x |
| Withycombe Rawleigh | 4 | 268.46x |
| Boyton | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Budock | 3 | 256.41x |
| Tanfield | 3 | 61.60x |
| Tonbridge | 3 | 17.72x |
| Allerton | 2 | 114.94x |
| Clapham | 2 | 11.63x |
| Gillingham | 2 | 20.68x |
| Lifton | 2 | 289.86x |
| North Molton | 2 | 357.14x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 9.07x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 9.98x |
| Swansea Town | 2 | 10.19x |
| Thorne Falcon | 2 | 2222.22x |
| West Buckland | 2 | 465.12x |
| Abergavenny | 1 | 26.88x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 17.73x |
| Ilminster | 1 | 64.52x |
| Launcells | 1 | 384.62x |
| Marhamchurch | 1 | 400.00x |
| Merther | 1 | 833.33x |
| Nether Heyford | 1 | 263.16x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.14x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 4.13x |
| St Giles On The Heath | 1 | 769.23x |
| St Mary Magdalene | 1 | 87.72x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.90x |
| St Winnow | 1 | 188.68x |
| Whitstone | 1 | 526.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dinner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 13 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Lucy | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Blanch | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emlyn | 1 |
| Emmeline | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Josephine | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Phillipa | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Scharlot | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dinner 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 Dinner households.
FAQ
In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Dinner surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Dinner a modern rank of #31,684.
From the Old English word "diener" meaning servant or waiter.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dinner 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.