NameCensus.

UK surname

Dover

An English toponymic surname derived from the town of Dover, meaning "the waters" or "the stream."

In the 1881 census there were 1,349 people recorded with the Dover surname, ranking it #3,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,606, ranked #3,873, down from #3,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ickford, Waterstock, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Sedbergh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, County Durham and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dover is 1,691 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.1%.

1881 census count

1,349

Ranked #3,037

Modern count

1,606

2016, ranked #3,873

Peak year

2002

1,691 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dover had 1,349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,606 in 2016, ranked #3,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,634 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dover surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dover surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dover 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 919 #3,001
1861 historical 1,116 #2,514
1881 historical 1,349 #3,037
1891 historical 1,400 #3,110
1901 historical 1,599 #3,231
1911 historical 1,634 #2,974
1997 modern 1,576 #3,744
1998 modern 1,648 #3,738
1999 modern 1,665 #3,732
2000 modern 1,655 #3,728
2001 modern 1,624 #3,721
2002 modern 1,691 #3,665
2003 modern 1,667 #3,642
2004 modern 1,634 #3,702
2005 modern 1,561 #3,818
2006 modern 1,536 #3,875
2007 modern 1,526 #3,927
2008 modern 1,545 #3,915
2009 modern 1,582 #3,918
2010 modern 1,638 #3,875
2011 modern 1,596 #3,916
2012 modern 1,580 #3,895
2013 modern 1,599 #3,918
2014 modern 1,618 #3,901
2015 modern 1,610 #3,882
2016 modern 1,606 #3,873

Geography

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Where Dovers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ickford, Waterstock, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sedbergh and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Ickford, Waterstock Oxfordshire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Sedbergh Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 036 Sunderland
2 County Durham 008 County Durham
3 Sunderland 032 Sunderland
4 County Durham 009 County Durham
5 Northumberland 040 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dover

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dover

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dover 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

Dover 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

Dover falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dover

The surname Dover has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is considered a locational name, derived from the place name Dover, which itself comes from the Old English word "dufr," meaning a small stream or brook.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists individuals with variations such as "de Dovere" and "de Dover." These forms suggest that the name initially referred to people who hailed from the town of Dover in Kent, located along the English Channel coast.

During the 13th century, further records emerge, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mention a "William de Dover." This suggests that the name had begun to spread beyond its original geographical location, likely due to migration and relocation of families.

One notable historical figure bearing the name was John Dover (c. 1530-1603), an English poet and playwright who served as a chaplain to several noblemen, including the Earl of Leicester. His works include a poetic translation of the Psalms and a collection of epigrams.

Another individual of note was Robert Dover (c. 1575-1654), an English lawyer and writer who is best remembered for reviving the annual Cotswold Games in Gloucestershire. These games, which included sports, dancing, and revelry, were held annually on Whitsun Thursday and helped preserve traditional English customs and pastimes.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, such as the marriage of Thomas Dover to Elizabeth Smyth in 1618, recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Thomas Dover (1660-1742), an English physician and author who is credited with introducing a popular medicinal powder, known as "Dover's Powder," which contained opium and ipecacuanha.

Another notable figure was Abraham Dover (1731-1799), an English landscape artist and engraver who produced numerous topographical views of English cities and towns, including his birthplace of Canterbury.

While the surname Dover has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, carrying with it the historical legacy of its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dover families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dover 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 202 Dovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.53x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 202 1.53x
Lancashire 174 1.11x
Durham 144 3.68x
Yorkshire 140 1.07x
Surrey 91 1.42x
Cumberland 89 7.86x
Buckinghamshire 72 9.05x
Oxfordshire 66 8.12x
Northumberland 54 2.76x
Westmorland 41 14.18x
Essex 38 1.46x
Norfolk 33 1.63x
Kent 29 0.65x
Hertfordshire 21 2.32x
Hampshire 19 0.70x
Worcestershire 16 0.93x
Northamptonshire 13 1.05x
Sussex 12 0.54x
Dorset 11 1.27x
Somerset 11 0.52x
Bedfordshire 10 1.47x
Lanarkshire 10 0.24x
Warwickshire 9 0.27x
Suffolk 8 0.50x
Monmouthshire 7 0.74x
Berkshire 6 0.61x
Devon 4 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.24x
Cardiganshire 2 0.62x
Fife 2 0.26x
Herefordshire 2 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.11x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.28x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.24x
Perthshire 1 0.17x
Selkirkshire 1 0.84x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ickford in Oxfordshire leads with 27 Dovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1607.14x.

Place Total Index
Ickford 27 1607.14x
Islington London 25 1.96x
St Pancras London 25 2.36x
Hetton Le Hole 22 44.35x
Little Bolton 20 9.96x
Darlington 18 11.91x
Habergham Eaves 18 12.61x
Wilsden 18 134.43x
Bradford 17 5.39x
Kendal 17 32.11x
Leeds 17 2.31x
Brandon Byshottles 16 32.63x
Hammersmith London 16 4.94x
Manchester 15 2.14x
Burnham 14 138.07x
Bermondsey 13 3.32x
Bethnal Green London 13 2.27x
Flimby 13 135.84x
Mile End Old Town London 13 4.64x
Norwich St Clement 13 55.44x
Paddington London 13 2.69x
Tottington Lower End 13 17.52x
Acton 12 15.56x
Barking 12 15.79x
Keswick 12 82.87x
Lambeth 12 1.05x
St George In East London 12 9.70x
Bedlington 11 16.82x
Crook Billy Row 11 21.94x
Horton In Bradford 11 5.40x
Preston 11 2.63x
Shoreditch London 11 1.93x
Amersham 10 88.65x
Aston Rowant 10 343.64x
Helmington Row 10 54.85x
St Marylebone London 10 1.42x
Yeovil 10 23.23x
Above Derwent 9 213.78x
Borrowdale 9 445.54x
Byker 9 9.30x
Camberwell 9 1.07x
Irthlingborough 9 74.14x
Newington 9 1.85x
Oxford St Giles 9 23.21x
Sedburgh 9 165.75x
Stockton On Tees 9 4.77x
Stoke Newington London 9 8.78x
Toddington 9 92.12x
Tong 9 35.73x
Toxteth Park 9 1.70x
Walthamstow 9 9.63x
Alnwick 8 23.77x
Ashwell 8 112.36x
Bishopwearmouth 8 2.38x
Brighton 8 1.79x
Cockermouth 8 33.54x
Gateshead 8 2.73x
Gillingham 8 53.91x
Sedbergh 8 166.32x
Turton 8 31.29x
Abergavenny 7 19.65x
Appleby St Lawrence 7 106.22x
Aston 7 0.77x
Battersea 7 1.45x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 14.95x
Croydon 7 1.97x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.64x
Elswick 7 4.48x
Golborne 7 34.40x
Haddenham 7 107.20x
Liverpool 7 0.74x
Oldbury 7 8.28x
Princes Risborough 7 65.67x
St Giles 7 28.64x
Thame 7 47.36x
Tring 7 28.90x
Willington 7 30.95x
Wymondham 7 33.83x
Coleshill 6 265.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 105
Elizabeth 65
Sarah 48
Jane 38
Margaret 30
Ann 29
Alice 24
Eliza 20
Isabella 14
Ellen 13
Emma 13
Emily 12
Annie 11
Hannah 11
Maria 10
Anne 9
Agnes 8
Edith 8
Florence 8
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Matilda 6
Minnie 6
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Ethel 5
Harriet 5
Julia 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Lilian 4
Lily 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Sophia 4
Beatrice 3
Caroline 3
Dorothy 3
Jessie 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Bella 2
M. 2
Margret 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 95
William 84
George 46
Thomas 41
James 40
Joseph 39
Henry 28
Robert 26
Charles 19
Alfred 14
Frederick 13
Edward 9
Richard 9
Arthur 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Matthew 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Daniel 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Philip 5
Christopher 4
Isaac 4
Jonathan 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Earnest 3
Ernest 3
Horace 3
Wilson 3
Anthony 2
Austin 2
Lewis 2
Archie 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Jhn. 1
Johnathon 1
Jos 1
Joshua 1
Louis 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Dover surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dover surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,349 people were recorded with the Dover surname. That placed it at #3,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dover surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,606 in 2016. That gives Dover a modern rank of #3,873.

What does the Dover surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from the town of Dover, meaning "the waters" or "the stream."

What does the Dover map show?

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