NameCensus.

UK surname

Door

A surname derived from the Dutch word "deur" meaning "door" or "doorkeeper."

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Door surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Chelmsford and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Door is 120 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.8%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2016

120 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Door had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Door surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Door surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Door 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 75 #25,322
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Doors 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf, Chelmsford, Bromley and Rural South Midlothian. 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf 006 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Chelmsford 017 Chelmsford
3 Bromley 039 Bromley
4 Rural South Midlothian Midlothian
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 008 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Door

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Door

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Door is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Door is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Door 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 Door is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Door, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Door

The surname "DOOR" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "duru," which means "door" or "gate." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a significant door or gate, or perhaps someone who worked as a gatekeeper or doorkeeper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "DOOR" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Adam atte Dore is listed as a resident of Oxfordshire. The use of the phrase "atte Dore" suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, indicating a person's place of residence or origin.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Dore," "Dore," and "Doore," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that time period. One notable mention of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which lists a John atte Dore as a taxpayer in Berkshire.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "DOOR" has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded was John Door (c. 1330-1400), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire during the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Thomas Door (c. 1450-1520), a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Henry Door (1609-1668), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Penshurst in Kent. He is best known for his work "The Doctrine of the Sabbath," which explored the religious observance of the Sabbath day.

Moving into the 18th century, we find William Door (1725-1798), a successful businessman and landowner from Yorkshire, who played a significant role in the development of the local textile industry. His grandson, also named William Door (1768-1843), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent industrialist and philanthropist in the same region.

In the 19th century, the name gained literary significance with the birth of Mary Door (1820-1879), an English novelist and poet who wrote several acclaimed works, including "The Cottage on the Moor" and "Poems of the Heart."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Door families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Door 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 40 Doors recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 40 6.21x
Surrey 10 3.19x
Northamptonshire 5 8.26x
Kent 2 0.91x
Sussex 2 1.84x
Cornwall 1 1.37x
Cumberland 1 1.80x
Devon 1 0.75x
Essex 1 0.79x
Gloucestershire 1 0.79x
Hampshire 1 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 11 Doors recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.49x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 11 30.49x
Mile End Old Town London 8 58.39x
Chelsea London 7 36.10x
Newington 6 25.24x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 162.34x
Kensington London 4 11.18x
Islington London 3 4.81x
Lambeth 3 5.35x
Paddington London 3 12.68x
Ardingly 2 588.24x
Chatham 2 33.11x
St Marylebone London 2 5.82x
Bristol St Stephen 1 303.03x
Dorking 1 47.39x
Edmonton 1 19.27x
Holdenhurst 1 28.90x
Liskeard 1 81.97x
Nottingham St Mary 1 4.46x
St George Hanover Square 1 8.82x
Stoke Damerel 1 10.66x
West Ham 1 3.57x
Workington 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Matilda 2
Prudence 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Elizth. 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Margaesh 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

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 Door households.

FAQ

Door surname: questions and answers

How common was the Door surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Door surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Door surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Door a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Door surname mean?

A surname derived from the Dutch word "deur" meaning "door" or "doorkeeper."

What does the Door map show?

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