NameCensus.

UK surname

Dolby

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley settlement" or "valley meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 1,119 people recorded with the Dolby surname, ranking it #3,567 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,848, ranked #3,434, up from #3,567 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Helpstone, London parishes and Bulwick, Bulwick Short Leys. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, South Kesteven and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dolby is 1,925 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.1%.

1881 census count

1,119

Ranked #3,567

Modern count

1,848

2016, ranked #3,434

Peak year

2010

1,925 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dolby had 1,119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,567 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,848 in 2016, ranked #3,434.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,385 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dolby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dolby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dolby 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 611 #4,220
1861 historical 665 #4,027
1881 historical 1,119 #3,567
1891 historical 1,038 #4,024
1901 historical 1,287 #3,865
1911 historical 1,385 #3,478
1997 modern 1,797 #3,341
1998 modern 1,857 #3,367
1999 modern 1,889 #3,337
2000 modern 1,867 #3,349
2001 modern 1,853 #3,312
2002 modern 1,891 #3,320
2003 modern 1,848 #3,314
2004 modern 1,827 #3,353
2005 modern 1,797 #3,373
2006 modern 1,802 #3,370
2007 modern 1,804 #3,398
2008 modern 1,822 #3,401
2009 modern 1,884 #3,370
2010 modern 1,925 #3,379
2011 modern 1,882 #3,407
2012 modern 1,852 #3,405
2013 modern 1,879 #3,406
2014 modern 1,887 #3,414
2015 modern 1,855 #3,437
2016 modern 1,848 #3,434

Geography

Back to top

Where Dolbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Helpstone, London parishes, Bulwick, Bulwick Short Leys, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, South Kesteven and Fenland. 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 Helpstone Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bulwick, Bulwick Short Leys Northamptonshire
4 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 010 North Kesteven
2 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
3 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven
4 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven
5 Fenland 006 Fenland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dolby

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dolby

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Dolby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dolby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dolby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dolby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dolby falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dolby

The surname Dolby originates from England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "dol" meaning "valley" and "byr" meaning "dwelling," suggesting that the name may have originated from a place name referring to a settlement in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1274, where a person named William de Dolbyry is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name was likely associated with a specific location.

The Dolby surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a Richard de Dolby. This record provides further evidence of the name's early existence and its potential link to a place name.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Parish Registers of Northamptonshire, where a John Dolby was listed in 1582. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1628 mention a Thomas Dolby, suggesting the name's spread across different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Dolby include:

1. Thomas Dolby (born 1958), a British musician, songwriter, and producer, known for his hit songs "She Blinded Me with Science" and "Hyperactive!"

2. Ray Dolby (1933-2013), an American engineer and inventor, best known for developing the groundbreaking noise reduction system, Dolby Noise Reduction.

3. Elizabeth Dolby (1598-1686), an English Quaker who was imprisoned several times for her religious beliefs and became a prominent figure in the early Quaker movement.

4. William Dolby (1856-1934), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

5. John Dolby (1684-1756), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who represented Oxford in the House of Commons.

While the Dolby surname has English origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references suggest that the name's roots can be traced back to various locations in England during the medieval and early modern periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dolby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dolby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 203 Dolbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.66x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 203 11.66x
Northamptonshire 164 16.02x
Yorkshire 130 1.21x
Middlesex 94 0.86x
Surrey 94 1.77x
Cambridgeshire 52 7.54x
Leicestershire 52 4.31x
Lancashire 40 0.31x
Essex 35 1.63x
Nottinghamshire 34 2.32x
Derbyshire 31 1.82x
Berkshire 25 3.06x
Rutland 24 30.03x
Kent 20 0.54x
Worcestershire 13 0.91x
Cheshire 12 0.50x
Shropshire 11 1.17x
Huntingdonshire 10 4.63x
Warwickshire 10 0.36x
Gloucestershire 9 0.42x
Staffordshire 8 0.22x
Flintshire 6 2.05x
Glamorgan 6 0.32x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.45x
Hertfordshire 4 0.53x
Northumberland 4 0.25x
Durham 3 0.09x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Montgomeryshire 3 1.20x
Sussex 3 0.16x
Denbighshire 2 0.49x
Norfolk 2 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.77x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Helpstone in Northamptonshire leads with 45 Dolbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1698.11x.

Place Total Index
Helpstone 45 1698.11x
Bulwick 31 2561.98x
Whittlesey St Mary St 20 83.06x
Camberwell 18 2.59x
Islington London 17 1.61x
Holy Trinity 14 5.40x
Oundle 14 122.27x
West Ham 14 2.95x
Lambeth 13 1.37x
Long Bennington 12 353.98x
St Marylebone London 12 2.06x
Uppingham 12 125.92x
Accrington 11 9.37x
Boston 11 20.83x
Deptford St Paul 11 3.84x
Duddington 11 820.90x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 11 36.58x
Hough On Hill 11 758.62x
Coulsdon 10 103.73x
Great Grimsby 10 9.05x
Holy Trinity St Mary 10 60.90x
Leeds 10 1.64x
Sculcoates 10 5.85x
Skirbeck 10 102.46x
Garthorpe 9 2000.00x
Horley 9 101.24x
Kimberworth 9 15.03x
Kings Cliffe 9 188.68x
North Bierley 9 15.45x
Stamford St Mary 9 255.68x
Aston 8 1.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 7.96x
Barnack 8 366.97x
Battersea 8 2.00x
Dudley 8 4.63x
Kettering 8 19.31x
Loughborough 8 14.61x
Waltham On The Wolds 8 360.36x
Barkstone 7 376.34x
Foston 7 526.32x
Heanor 7 27.46x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.38x
Skegness 7 140.28x
Skidbrook 7 451.61x
Skillington 7 479.45x
Walesby 7 583.33x
Warfield 7 94.34x
Bermondsey 6 1.85x
Bingley 6 8.73x
Bottesford 6 120.97x
Egham 6 18.42x
Leigh 6 80.32x
Liverpool 6 0.76x
Mansfield 6 11.82x
Mold 6 22.61x
Oswestry Town 6 19.92x
Roath 6 6.97x
Spalding 6 17.37x
Spittlegate 6 24.92x
Sutton 6 15.63x
Sutton Bonnington 6 160.00x
Westminster St James 6 5.36x
Whitwell 6 88.50x
Barking 5 7.95x
Bishops Castle In 5 91.07x
Brampton 5 20.99x
Cannock 5 7.80x
Carlton Scroop 5 588.24x
Clee With Weelsby 5 13.12x
Croydon 5 1.70x
Dalby Great 5 294.12x
Eckington 5 12.07x
Great Gonerby 5 111.61x
Hardingstone 5 51.18x
Middlesbrough 5 3.56x
Newbury 5 19.11x
Peakirk 5 543.48x
Pembroke St Mary 5 11.22x
Somersham 5 95.24x
Witchford 5 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 72
Thomas 64
George 61
John 60
Charles 29
James 22
Joseph 22
Robert 15
Edward 14
Henry 14
Alfred 12
Samuel 11
Harry 9
Edwin 8
Frederick 8
Benjamin 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Edmund 6
Richard 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frederic 4
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Thos. 4
Fredrick 3
Earnest 2
Harold 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Sam 2
Sidney 2
Thos 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Anthony 1
Burty 1
Chas. 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jessea 1
Joe 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dolby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dolby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,119 people were recorded with the Dolby surname. That placed it at #3,567 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dolby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,848 in 2016. That gives Dolby a modern rank of #3,434.

What does the Dolby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley settlement" or "valley meadow".

What does the Dolby map show?

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