NameCensus.

UK surname

Dovaston

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Dovaston surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 228, ranked #17,936, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Epping Forest, Shropshire and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dovaston is 240 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 132.7%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

228

2016, ranked #17,936

Peak year

2012

240 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dovaston had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016, ranked #17,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 196 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dovaston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dovaston surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dovaston 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 182 #15,983
1901 historical 174 #16,520
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 223 #17,025
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 224 #16,716
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 221 #17,343
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 224 #17,685
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 230 #17,578
2012 modern 240 #16,979
2013 modern 237 #17,423
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 228 #17,936

Geography

Back to top

Where Dovastons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Felton, West and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Epping Forest, Shropshire, Bolsover, County Durham and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington Shropshire
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 Felton, West Shropshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Epping Forest 001 Epping Forest
2 Shropshire 010 Shropshire
3 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
4 County Durham 054 County Durham
5 Cheshire West and Chester 007 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dovaston

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dovaston

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dovaston, 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 Dovaston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dovaston 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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dovaston 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

Dovaston is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dovaston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dovaston 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. Shropshire leads with 41 Dovastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.65x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 41 49.65x
Lancashire 22 1.94x
Middlesex 17 1.78x
Durham 7 2.46x
Montgomeryshire 7 31.96x
Leicestershire 1 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.78x
Staffordshire 1 0.31x
Worcestershire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 13 Dovastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.18x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 13 39.18x
Baschurch 10 1754.39x
St Luke London 9 58.71x
Guilsfield 7 875.00x
Hurworth 7 1400.00x
Shrewsbury St Julian 7 343.14x
Islington London 5 5.40x
Condover 4 689.66x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 137.93x
W Felton 4 1142.86x
Everton 3 8.30x
Hordley 3 3333.33x
Much Wenlock 3 394.74x
Chelsea London 2 6.94x
Gorton 2 18.76x
Manchester 2 3.92x
Toxteth Park 2 5.21x
Cardington 1 526.32x
Dudley 1 6.59x
Ellesmere 1 70.42x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.00x
Petton 1 10000.00x
Ravenstone 1 666.67x
Ruyton Of Eleven Towns 1 277.78x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 30.67x
St George Hanover Square 1 5.94x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.92x
Welsh Hampton 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Sarah 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Lilian 1
Lliley 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 7
Richard 6
Thomas 5
Edward 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Adolphus 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Gotwaleder 1
Harry 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.Thomas 1

FAQ

Dovaston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dovaston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Dovaston surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dovaston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016. That gives Dovaston a modern rank of #17,936.

What does the Dovaston map show?

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