NameCensus.

UK surname

Douse

A surname derived from the French word "douche" meaning a cooling stream or spray.

In the 1881 census there were 362 people recorded with the Douse surname, ranking it #8,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 481, ranked #10,275, down from #8,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Endford, Netheravon, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Isle of Wight and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Douse is 490 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.9%.

1881 census count

362

Ranked #8,561

Modern count

481

2016, ranked #10,275

Peak year

2013

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Douse had 362 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016, ranked #10,275.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Douse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Douse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Douse 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 362 #8,561
1891 historical 371 #9,405
1901 historical 418 #9,200
1911 historical 446 #8,566
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 471 #10,048
1999 modern 461 #10,272
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 459 #10,082
2002 modern 482 #9,906
2003 modern 465 #9,985
2004 modern 472 #9,926
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 457 #10,127
2007 modern 457 #10,205
2008 modern 457 #10,292
2009 modern 477 #10,206
2010 modern 487 #10,251
2011 modern 470 #10,432
2012 modern 465 #10,422
2013 modern 490 #10,176
2014 modern 485 #10,327
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 481 #10,275

Geography

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Where Douses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Endford, Netheravon, London parishes, Lambeth, Portsmouth, Portsea and Abbots Langley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merton, Isle of Wight, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Huntingdonshire. 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 Endford, Netheravon Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Abbots Langley Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merton 004 Merton
2 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
3 Kingston upon Hull 033 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Huntingdonshire 001 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Douse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Douse

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Douse is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Douse 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

Douse falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Douse

The surname Douse is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "dús" meaning a dove or pigeon. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who resembled a dove in some way, perhaps being gentle, peaceful, or even having a dove-like appearance.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Douse can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dudus" in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Douse was primarily found in various regions of southern England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. It was often spelled in various ways, such as Douse, Dowse, Dows, and Duus, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling at the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Douse was Richard Douse, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1203. Another notable bearer of the name was John Douse, a wealthy landowner from Wiltshire, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

In the 16th century, the name Douse was associated with the village of Dowsborough, now known as Dursleyborough, in Gloucestershire. This connection suggests that the name may have derived from a place name, possibly referring to a location where doves or pigeons were found in abundance.

Notable figures with the surname Douse include Thomas Douse (1554-1619), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theological subjects, and Sir John Douse (1601-1678), a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was William Douse (1623-1697), a puritan minister and author from Suffolk, who wrote extensively on religious topics and was known for his fiery sermons. In the 18th century, James Douse (1701-1779) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Lincolnshire, leaving a substantial estate upon his death.

The Douse surname continued to be found across various regions of England throughout the centuries, with individuals bearing the name contributing to various fields, including agriculture, trade, and the clergy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Douse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Douse 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 48 Douses recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 48 1.36x
Surrey 36 2.09x
Hertfordshire 35 14.38x
Lincolnshire 32 5.67x
Hampshire 30 4.15x
Wiltshire 25 8.01x
Yorkshire 22 0.63x
Kent 21 1.74x
Suffolk 20 4.65x
Cambridgeshire 12 5.37x
Lancashire 12 0.29x
Essex 11 1.58x
Northumberland 10 1.90x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.10x
Warwickshire 10 1.12x
Durham 8 0.76x
Norfolk 5 0.92x
Glamorgan 4 0.65x
Staffordshire 3 0.25x
Worcestershire 3 0.65x
Midlothian 2 0.42x
Bedfordshire 1 0.55x
Cumberland 1 0.33x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire leads with 13 Douses recorded in 1881 and an index of 359.12x.

Place Total Index
Abbots Langley 13 359.12x
Lambeth 12 3.90x
Melbourn 12 550.46x
Chatham 11 33.19x
Easton 11 1864.41x
Aldham 9 1730.77x
East Barnet 9 186.34x
Ipswich St Clement 9 82.34x
Birmingham 8 2.70x
Hornsey 8 17.92x
Melksham 8 147.60x
Wath On Dearne 8 114.61x
Islington London 7 2.05x
Netheravon 7 1000.00x
Nottingham St Mary 7 5.69x
Bishop Stortford 6 73.80x
Middle Rasen 6 560.75x
Paddington London 6 4.62x
Potter Hanworth 6 1132.08x
Sculcoates 6 10.81x
Willesden 6 18.02x
Camberwell 5 2.22x
East Stratton 5 1219.51x
Goudhurst 5 150.15x
Isleworth 5 31.85x
Kersey 5 833.33x
Newington 5 3.83x
Shipdham 5 271.74x
Watford 5 26.50x
Aberavon 4 70.67x
Aldershot 4 16.49x
Croydon 4 4.19x
Gateshead 4 5.09x
Hackney London 4 2.02x
Salford 4 3.25x
St John Winchester 4 263.16x
Streatham 4 15.27x
Clapham 3 6.80x
Devizes St John 3 128.21x
Elswick 3 7.15x
Ipswich St Mary Key 3 267.86x
St George In East London 3 9.03x
St Pancras London 3 1.06x
Timberland 3 491.80x
Wednesbury 3 10.07x
Westgate 3 9.22x
Yardley 3 25.42x
Barnsley 2 5.54x
Basford 2 9.12x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.01x
Boston 2 11.68x
Bromley London 2 2.57x
Corsham 2 43.86x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 7.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.05x
Everton 2 1.50x
Holbeach 2 31.80x
Marske In Guisbrough 2 32.21x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 6.37x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 28.94x
Rowston 2 740.74x
Seaham 2 52.22x
St Albans St Michael 2 73.53x
Stanton St Bernard 2 487.80x
Staplegate 2 645.16x
Stretford 2 8.68x
Sutton St James 2 294.12x
Dovercourt 1 40.82x
Enfield 1 4.32x
Great Grimsby 1 2.79x
Luton 1 3.16x
Maidstone 1 2.79x
Middlesbrough 1 2.19x
Portsea 1 0.71x
Scarborough 1 3.15x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.61x
Sunderland 1 5.39x
Wavertree 1 7.46x
Wimbledon 1 5.18x
Wrangle 1 70.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
James 18
George 17
John 13
Thomas 11
Henry 8
Alfred 7
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Frank 2
Leonard 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Archibald 1
Ben 1
Benj. 1
Benjamin 1
Campbell 1
Ch. 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
Duncan 1
Ernest 1
Floyd 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Geo.Thompson 1
Gurnes 1
Harrison 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jonah 1
Joshua 1
Nathaniel 1
Percey 1
Raymond 1
T. 1
Thompson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Douse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Douse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 362 people were recorded with the Douse surname. That placed it at #8,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Douse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016. That gives Douse a modern rank of #10,275.

What does the Douse surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "douche" meaning a cooling stream or spray.

What does the Douse map show?

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