NameCensus.

UK surname

Diver

An occupational surname referring to someone who dived or worked underwater.

In the 1881 census there were 560 people recorded with the Diver surname, ranking it #6,184 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 965, ranked #5,960, up from #6,184 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Freckenham, London parishes and Fordham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyndford, South Cambridgeshire and Glenwood South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diver is 1,016 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.3%.

1881 census count

560

Ranked #6,184

Modern count

965

2016, ranked #5,960

Peak year

1998

1,016 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Diver had 560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,184 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 965 in 2016, ranked #5,960.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 623 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Diver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Diver 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 343 #6,861
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 560 #6,184
1891 historical 521 #7,183
1901 historical 623 #6,862
1911 historical 549 #7,300
1997 modern 967 #5,640
1998 modern 1,016 #5,610
1999 modern 1,003 #5,701
2000 modern 983 #5,777
2001 modern 973 #5,701
2002 modern 990 #5,743
2003 modern 988 #5,646
2004 modern 952 #5,835
2005 modern 924 #5,901
2006 modern 941 #5,839
2007 modern 949 #5,858
2008 modern 946 #5,901
2009 modern 968 #5,914
2010 modern 988 #5,929
2011 modern 978 #5,916
2012 modern 953 #5,961
2013 modern 952 #6,070
2014 modern 968 #6,028
2015 modern 967 #5,977
2016 modern 965 #5,960

Geography

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Where Divers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Freckenham, London parishes, Fordham, Isleham and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyndford, South Cambridgeshire, Glenwood South and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Freckenham Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fordham Cambridgeshire
4 Isleham Cambridgeshire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyndford Glasgow City
2 South Cambridgeshire 012 South Cambridgeshire
3 Glenwood South Glasgow City
4 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
5 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Diver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Diver

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Diver, 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 Diver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Diver 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Diver is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Diver 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

Diver falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Diver

The surname Diver is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 13th century. It is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "dyvere," meaning a person who dives or swims underwater. The name likely referred to someone who worked as a professional diver, perhaps recovering sunken goods or pearls from the seafloor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, which mention a John le Dyvere. Another early reference appears in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, listing a William le Dyvere.

The surname Diver has been associated with various places throughout England, particularly in areas with coastal or riverside settlements where diving activities were more common. For instance, there are records of Divers in the village of Diver in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the surname's development.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Diver. One such person was Sir Lewis Diver (1570-1627), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1620-1621. Another was Edward Diver (1597-1667), an English clergyman and academic who became the President of St John's College, Oxford.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with this surname was Robert Diver (1718-1796), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1761 to 1768. Additionally, there was William Diver (1743-1805), an English engraver and portrait painter known for his work in London during the late 18th century.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable individual was Alfred Diver (1879-1966), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Masonic Hospital and the Savoy Court complex.

While the surname Diver is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history rooted in the occupational traditions of diving and underwater work. The name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Diver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Diver 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 154 Divers recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.83x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 154 44.83x
Middlesex 77 1.42x
Lanarkshire 56 3.19x
Norfolk 37 4.44x
Lancashire 31 0.48x
Surrey 26 0.98x
Suffolk 25 3.78x
Dunbartonshire 21 14.41x
Kent 21 1.13x
Renfrewshire 20 4.76x
Hampshire 18 1.62x
Devon 16 1.42x
Hertfordshire 9 2.41x
Stirlingshire 8 4.00x
Warwickshire 6 0.44x
West Lothian 6 7.35x
Sussex 4 0.44x
Buteshire 3 9.13x
Gloucestershire 3 0.28x
Argyllshire 2 1.32x
Essex 2 0.19x
Shropshire 2 0.43x
Angus 1 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 1 0.20x
Perthshire 1 0.41x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Isleham in Cambridgeshire leads with 40 Divers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1269.84x.

Place Total Index
Isleham 40 1269.84x
Histon 31 1722.22x
Old Kilpatrick 19 110.34x
Maryhill 16 46.59x
Freckenham 14 2028.99x
Hackney London 13 4.28x
Coulsdon 12 250.00x
Kensington London 12 3.98x
Fordham 11 495.50x
Landbeach 11 1157.89x
Newchurch 10 18.99x
Barony 9 2.03x
Great Amwell 9 240.00x
Lewisham 9 9.12x
Old Monkland 9 12.93x
Shoreditch London 9 3.83x
St George Hanover Square 9 9.42x
East Stonehouse 8 35.97x
Great Yarmouth 8 11.58x
Middle Greenock 8 69.75x
Shotts 8 38.11x
Waterbeach 8 285.71x
Glasgow 7 2.25x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 7 187.67x
Ormesby St Margaret W 7 334.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 8.05x
St Giles In Fields London 7 26.31x
St Marythe Less 7 334.93x
Weeke 7 207.72x
West Greenock 7 9.28x
Bathgate 6 33.84x
Cheriton 6 526.32x
Everton 6 2.93x
Lambeth 6 1.27x
March 6 52.17x
Rugby 6 32.43x
Soham 6 81.19x
Thetford St Mary 6 264.32x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.12x
Campsie 5 45.54x
Islington London 5 0.95x
Liverpool 5 1.28x
Milton 5 490.20x
East Dereham 4 37.95x
East Greenock 4 10.08x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 26.70x
Gillingham 4 10.48x
Iden 4 388.35x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 15.98x
St Andrewthe Less 4 10.19x
St Pancras London 4 0.92x
Strood 4 37.88x
Catton 3 215.83x
Denny 3 28.20x
Drayton 3 394.74x
Higher Booths 3 25.86x
Lower Booths 3 26.02x
Rothesay 3 18.86x
Wicken 3 191.08x
Woolwich 3 4.39x
Bermondsey 2 1.24x
Bothwell 2 4.20x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 11.34x
Cheltenham 2 2.44x
Chesterton 2 18.89x
Clee St Margaret 2 400.00x
Fulwood 2 28.78x
Gorbals 2 19.21x
Govan 2 0.46x
Ipswich St Helen 2 25.54x
Limehouse London 2 3.36x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.73x
Newmarket All Sts 2 79.05x
Portsea 2 0.92x
Rotherhithe 2 2.98x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 8.52x
St Clement Cambridge 2 140.85x
St Marylebone London 2 0.69x
Westminster St James 2 3.59x
Wickham Market 2 73.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Joseph 22
William 22
John 20
James 13
Charles 12
George 12
Thomas 10
Arthur 7
Benjamin 6
Henry 6
Harry 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Ebenezer 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
David 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Anthony 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Johnson 2
Matthew 2
Oswald 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Authur 1
Benjm 1
Cecil 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Harey 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
Leanara 1
Lewis 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.O. 1
Waller 1
Wilbur 1

FAQ

Diver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Diver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 560 people were recorded with the Diver surname. That placed it at #6,184 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Diver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 965 in 2016. That gives Diver a modern rank of #5,960.

What does the Diver surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who dived or worked underwater.

What does the Diver map show?

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