NameCensus.

UK surname

Dinsmore

A locational surname derived from a place in Scotland, likely meaning "hill of the fallow deer" or "hill pasture."

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Dinsmore surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, West Lancashire and Reigate and Banstead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dinsmore is 315 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 201.0%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

2010

315 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dinsmore had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dinsmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dinsmore surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dinsmore 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 126 #19,970
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 268 #14,978
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 271 #14,910
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 281 #14,619
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 261 #15,274
2005 modern 263 #15,139
2006 modern 277 #14,667
2007 modern 284 #14,548
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 293 #14,669
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 313 #14,406
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Dinsmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, West Lancashire, Reigate and Banstead, Calderdale and Bruntsfield. 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 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Harrow-on-the-Hill Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 032 Wigan
2 West Lancashire 014 West Lancashire
3 Reigate and Banstead 008 Reigate and Banstead
4 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
5 Bruntsfield City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dinsmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dinsmore

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dinsmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dinsmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dinsmore is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dinsmore 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dinsmore

The surname Dinsmore has its origins in the Scottish Lowlands, emerging in the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Scots Gaelic words "dìon," meaning "protection," and "mor," meaning "large" or "great." This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in or near a stronghold or fortified place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Dinsmore" in this historical record, indicating its established use by the late 13th century.

The Dinsmore family is thought to have originated in the region of Renfrewshire, with the name potentially linked to the lands of Dinsmore or Dinsmuir near Paisley. This area was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde and had close ties to the Scottish royal family.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname was John Dinsmore (c. 1510-1580), a Scottish clergyman who served as the minister of Coldingham in Berwickshire. Another early documented individual was Alexander Dinsmore (c. 1570-1640), a landowner in Renfrewshire.

As the Dinsmore family expanded, they established branches in various parts of Scotland, as well as in Ireland and England. One prominent member was Sir Robert Dinsmore (1757-1828), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1803 to 1805.

In the literary world, William Dinsmore (1836-1888) was a Scottish poet and journalist who wrote under the pen name "Hamish Dinsmore." He is best known for his poems and articles celebrating Scottish culture and folklore.

Another notable figure was Sir John Dinsmore (1888-1966), a British architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, including the former Commonwealth Institute and the Royal Opera House.

Over the centuries, the Dinsmore surname has undergone various spellings, such as Dinsmoor, Dinsmuir, and Densmore, reflecting the linguistic and regional variations common in historical records. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remain rooted in the Scottish Lowlands, where it first emerged as a symbol of protection and fortification.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dinsmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dinsmore 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. Middlesex leads with 29 Dinsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 3.03x
Lancashire 14 1.23x
Kent 13 3.99x
Yorkshire 12 1.27x
Renfrewshire 9 12.15x
Inverness-shire 7 24.52x
Surrey 4 0.86x
Devon 3 1.51x
Durham 3 1.05x
Buteshire 1 17.27x
Hampshire 1 0.51x
Lanarkshire 1 0.32x
Stirlingshire 1 2.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 12 Dinsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.32x.

Place Total Index
Middlesbrough 12 97.32x
Islington London 10 10.79x
Woolwich 8 66.39x
Cheetham 7 82.74x
Inverness 7 97.49x
Gorton 6 56.29x
Tottenham 6 39.42x
Fulham London 5 36.08x
Eastwood 4 87.72x
Harrow On The Hill 4 209.42x
Port Glasgow 4 111.73x
Bermondsey 3 10.54x
Coundon 3 260.87x
Plumstead 3 27.60x
Bromley 2 40.24x
East Stonehouse 2 51.02x
St George Hanover Square 2 11.88x
Barony 1 1.28x
Bute North 1 256.41x
Everton 1 2.77x
Falkirk 1 12.12x
Kensington London 1 1.88x
Kilbarchan 1 44.44x
Newington 1 2.83x
Paddington London 1 2.85x
Portsea 1 2.60x
Wolborough 1 39.68x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dinsmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dinsmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Dinsmore surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dinsmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Dinsmore a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Dinsmore surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Scotland, likely meaning "hill of the fallow deer" or "hill pasture."

What does the Dinsmore map show?

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