NameCensus.

UK surname

Dorward

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Dorwood or Dorward.

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Dorward surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 713, ranked #7,611, down from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Monifieth, Dunnichen and Forfar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearns North and Inverbervie, Sunderland and Monifieth East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dorward is 777 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.1%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

1998

777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dorward had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 675 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dorward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dorward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dorward 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 431 #5,681
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 656 #5,920
1901 historical 675 #6,456
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 715 #7,136
1998 modern 777 #6,920
1999 modern 775 #6,959
2000 modern 761 #7,028
2001 modern 748 #7,001
2002 modern 738 #7,199
2003 modern 717 #7,239
2004 modern 733 #7,141
2005 modern 730 #7,100
2006 modern 705 #7,312
2007 modern 718 #7,283
2008 modern 722 #7,305
2009 modern 738 #7,342
2010 modern 770 #7,244
2011 modern 748 #7,322
2012 modern 718 #7,469
2013 modern 720 #7,578
2014 modern 721 #7,598
2015 modern 717 #7,580
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Dorwards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Monifieth, Dunnichen, Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearns North and Inverbervie, Sunderland, Monifieth East and Arbroath Harbour. 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 Monifieth Forfar
2 Dunnichen Forfar
3 Forfar Forfar
4 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearns North and Inverbervie Aberdeenshire
2 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
3 Monifieth East Angus
4 Arbroath Harbour Angus
5 Sunderland 005 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dorward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dorward

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dorward is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Dorward is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dorward

The surname DORWARD is of Anglo-Saxon origin, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century in England. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "dor" meaning door and "weard" meaning keeper or guardian, suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have been gatekeepers or doorwardens.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DORWARD can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions a certain Osbert Doreward, who was a landowner in Oxfordshire.

During the 13th century, the name DORWARD appeared in various forms, including Doreward, Dorewarde, and Dorrewarde, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling conventions at the time. One notable bearer of this name from this era was Robert Doreward, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230.

In the 14th century, the DORWARD name was associated with the village of Dorward's Green in Worcestershire, which was likely named after an early settler with the surname. This connection is evident in the records of the time, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a John de Dorewardesgrene was listed.

As the centuries progressed, the DORWARD name continued to evolve and spread throughout England. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Sir Richard Dorward (c. 1555-1623), an English military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted for his service in the Irish campaigns.

2. John Dorward (1680-1745), a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and country houses in the early 18th century.

3. William Dorward (1793-1868), a Scottish author and historian who wrote extensively on the history and literature of Scotland.

4. Mary Dorward (1837-1916), an influential English educator and campaigner for women's rights, who founded one of the first girls' schools in London.

5. Sir Arthur Dorward (1873-1955), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of agriculture and rural communities in Africa.

Throughout its history, the DORWARD surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including military leaders, architects, authors, educators, and businessmen, reflecting the diverse contributions made by those bearing this ancient Anglo-Saxon name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dorward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dorward 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. Angus leads with 367 Dorwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.24x.

County Total Index
Angus 367 74.24x
Fife 39 12.35x
Durham 31 1.95x
Midlothian 20 2.80x
Lanarkshire 12 0.70x
Pembrokeshire 10 5.90x
Kent 9 0.49x
Selkirkshire 9 18.65x
Kincardineshire 8 12.31x
Northumberland 6 0.76x
Cheshire 5 0.42x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Dumfriesshire 4 3.39x
Clackmannanshire 3 6.81x
Middlesex 3 0.06x
Perthshire 3 1.25x
Channel Islands 2 1.26x
Argyllshire 1 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.44x
Devon 1 0.09x
Essex 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Inverness-shire 1 0.63x
Renfrewshire 1 0.24x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
West Lothian 1 1.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 55 Dorwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.80x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 55 29.80x
Brechin 44 226.45x
Montrose 41 136.85x
Arbroath 31 189.26x
Monifieth 30 171.82x
Dunnichen 27 1034.48x
St Vigeans 23 86.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 5.56x
Guthrie 14 1728.40x
Liff Benvie 14 18.66x
Monkwearmouth 14 92.17x
Stracathro 12 1348.31x
Forfar 11 41.09x
Govan 10 2.34x
Pembroke St Mary 10 45.79x
Abroath St Vigeans 9 443.35x
Deptford St Paul 9 6.41x
Dysart 9 42.31x
Kinnettles 9 1267.61x
Lunan 9 2045.45x
Ferry Port On Craig 8 153.85x
Kirkden 8 258.90x
Lochee 8 181.41x
Crail 7 217.39x
Brandon Byshottles 6 30.17x
Galashiels 6 33.61x
Tealing 6 434.78x
Birkenhead 5 5.33x
Elswick 5 7.89x
Haswell 4 35.15x
Laurencekirk 4 106.38x
Tynron 4 519.48x
Barry 3 50.59x
Dollar 3 65.65x
Heap 3 8.93x
Melrose 3 24.69x
Stranton 3 5.61x
Wemyss 3 22.46x
Abbotshall 2 16.95x
Balmerino 2 165.29x
Dalgety 2 82.99x
Farnell 2 176.99x
Hackney London 2 0.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 2.91x
Inverkeillor 2 65.36x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 6.45x
Perth East Church 2 8.86x
South Leith 2 2.49x
St Cyrus 2 73.53x
St Helier 2 3.89x
Aberlemno 1 54.64x
Arbirlot 1 66.23x
Barony 1 0.23x
Carriden 1 27.47x
Dalziel 1 5.39x
Dundee St Peter 1 526.32x
Dunfermline 1 2.06x
Eassie Nevay 1 98.04x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 5.91x
Flisk 1 208.33x
Forgan 1 16.53x
Gloucester St Owen 1 86.96x
Great Ashfield 1 136.99x
Inverarity 1 62.89x
Inverness 1 2.50x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 10.60x
Kinfauns 1 91.74x
Kinneff Catterline 1 54.64x
Kirriemuir 1 8.20x
Leuchars 1 25.06x
Llanelly 1 1.97x
Marykirk 1 37.31x
Monikie 1 38.61x
Oldham 1 0.49x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.17x
Port Glasgow 1 5.00x
South Shoebury 1 23.64x
St Andrews 1 6.96x
Stone 1 40.00x
Strathmartine 1 45.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 7
David 6
George 5
James 4
Alexander 2
Joseph 2
A.R.F. 1
Carles 1
Christopher 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Dorward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dorward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Dorward surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dorward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Dorward a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Dorward surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the village of Dorwood or Dorward.

What does the Dorward map show?

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