NameCensus.

UK surname

Dorking

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Dorking surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Langford, Ulting and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Newport and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dorking is 175 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.7%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1911

175 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dorking had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 175 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Dorking surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dorking surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dorking 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 175 #16,246
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 115 #25,222
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Dorkings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Langford, Ulting, Battersea and Thurrock, Grays. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Newport, Plymouth and Wakefield. 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 1
2 Langford, Ulting Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Thurrock, Grays Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Newport 019 Newport
3 Plymouth 029 Plymouth
4 Hackney 022 Hackney
5 Wakefield 034 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dorking

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dorking

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Dorking surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dorking 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dorking 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

Dorking 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

Dorking falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dorking is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Dorking families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dorking 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. Essex leads with 42 Dorkings recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.48x.

County Total Index
Essex 42 19.48x
Surrey 23 4.32x
Durham 8 2.46x
Sussex 6 3.26x
Middlesex 5 0.46x
Norfolk 5 2.98x
Staffordshire 5 1.36x
Hampshire 3 1.34x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Cheshire 2 0.83x
Glamorgan 2 1.05x
Lincolnshire 2 1.15x
Yorkshire 2 0.18x
Hertfordshire 1 1.33x
Rutland 1 12.47x
Suffolk 1 0.75x
Worcestershire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 20 Dorkings recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.76x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 20 49.76x
Toppesfield 16 5000.00x
Grays Thurrock 9 450.00x
East Ham 6 150.00x
Faulkbourn 6 8571.43x
Urpeth 6 952.38x
Hurstpierpoint 5 490.20x
Cannock 4 62.21x
Burgh St Margaret 3 1428.57x
Southampton All Sts 3 78.13x
Wickham Bishops 3 1500.00x
Dukinfield 2 17.95x
Great Grimsby 2 18.03x
Kensington London 2 3.29x
Liverpool 2 2.54x
Camberwell 1 1.43x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.54x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.88x
Downham 1 1111.11x
Downham Market 1 86.96x
Geldeston 1 909.09x
Gorton 1 8.21x
Great Coggeshall 1 89.29x
Great Malvern 1 33.56x
Hertford St Andrew 1 107.53x
Lambeth 1 1.05x
Lowestoft 1 15.92x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 5.47x
Morcott 1 555.56x
Newhaven 1 66.67x
Pocklington 1 98.04x
Rugeley 1 37.74x
Sheriff Hutton W 1 322.58x
Shotton 1 125.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.55x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 21.14x
Stockton On Tees 1 6.39x
Westminster St James 1 8.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Emma 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Emily 2
Lillian 2
Louisa 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Celia 1
Deborah 1
Eliza 1
Elizebbeth 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hanish 1
Harriett 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dorking surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dorking surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Dorking surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dorking surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Dorking a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Dorking map show?

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