NameCensus.

UK surname

Doxey

An occupational surname possibly relating to a person who herded cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 482 people recorded with the Doxey surname, ranking it #6,956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 452, ranked #10,768, down from #6,956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, Leek and Eckington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doxey is 596 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.2%.

1881 census count

482

Ranked #6,956

Modern count

452

2016, ranked #10,768

Peak year

1901

596 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doxey had 482 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016, ranked #10,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 596 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Doxey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doxey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doxey 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 482 #6,956
1891 historical 464 #7,887
1901 historical 596 #7,109
1911 historical 594 #6,890
1997 modern 493 #9,399
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 483 #9,932
2000 modern 486 #9,837
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 494 #9,718
2003 modern 480 #9,782
2004 modern 478 #9,823
2005 modern 476 #9,783
2006 modern 464 #10,007
2007 modern 461 #10,153
2008 modern 466 #10,162
2009 modern 473 #10,269
2010 modern 484 #10,288
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 459 #10,513
2013 modern 463 #10,602
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 458 #10,678
2016 modern 452 #10,768

Geography

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Where Doxeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, Leek, Eckington, Manchester and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire and Amber Valley. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Eckington Derbyshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dean Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
2 North East Derbyshire 014 North East Derbyshire
3 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
4 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
5 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doxey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doxey

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Doxey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Doxey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Doxey

The surname Doxey has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Staffordshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dox" meaning a badger and "ey" meaning an island or a dry place, suggesting that the name may have referred to a person living in an area inhabited by badgers or a place with a significant badger population.

The earliest recorded reference to the name Doxey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Doxeie." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable record of land ownership and taxation in England at the time.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Doxie, Doxsie, and Doxey. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping in earlier times.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Doxey was John Doxey, born in Staffordshire around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Richard Doxey (1625-1689) was a notable scholar and clergyman. He was educated at Oxford University and later became the rector of Sutton Coldfield, a town in the West Midlands region of England.

During the 18th century, the Doxey family established themselves as successful merchants and businessmen. One notable figure was William Doxey (1735-1801), a wealthy merchant from London who amassed a considerable fortune through international trade.

In the 19th century, the name Doxey became associated with the pottery industry in Staffordshire. Thomas Doxey (1810-1882) was a renowned pottery manufacturer and entrepreneur who established the Doxey Pottery Works in Stoke-on-Trent, a major center of ceramic production.

Another prominent individual with the surname Doxey was Sir Alfred Doxey (1856-1928), a British diplomat and civil servant. He served as the Governor of Barbados from 1912 to 1917 and was knighted for his contributions to the British Empire.

While the surname Doxey is not as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a place in the historical records and genealogical records of England, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire and the surrounding West Midlands region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doxey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doxey 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. Derbyshire leads with 222 Doxeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.16x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 222 30.16x
Lancashire 135 2.42x
Staffordshire 37 2.33x
Yorkshire 22 0.47x
Cheshire 18 1.73x
Gloucestershire 11 1.19x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.26x
Surrey 7 0.31x
Sussex 6 0.76x
Caernarfonshire 5 2.63x
Denbighshire 4 2.25x
Middlesex 2 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.31x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middleton By Wirksworth in Derbyshire leads with 46 Doxeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5897.44x.

Place Total Index
Middleton By Wirksworth 46 5897.44x
Matlock 34 344.13x
Middletonby Wirksworth 29 4027.78x
Leek Lowe 23 108.90x
Westhoughton 23 154.47x
Wirksworth 19 284.01x
Openshaw 16 61.23x
Droylsden 14 76.92x
Gorton 13 24.79x
Ashford 12 1100.92x
Hulme 12 10.30x
Hyde 12 39.18x
Kirk Ireton 12 1538.46x
Ashborne 11 219.56x
Cheltenham 11 15.46x
Stanton 10 813.01x
Manchester 9 3.59x
Nether Hallam 8 12.69x
Worsley 8 23.26x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 16.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 7.90x
Darley 7 235.69x
Derby St Alkmund 7 31.73x
Eckington 7 39.15x
North Bierley 7 27.83x
Annesley 6 251.05x
Bonsall 6 275.23x
Newhaven 6 93.17x
Bangor 5 27.26x
Ditton 5 219.30x
Osmaston 5 833.33x
Ripley 5 54.95x
Toxteth Park 5 2.65x
Beeley 4 689.66x
Camberwell 4 1.33x
Derby St Werburgh 4 9.41x
Kearsley 4 34.07x
Pendlebury 4 33.96x
Ruabon 4 16.38x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 2.38x
Titteworth 4 163.93x
Bradford 3 11.49x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 3.17x
Harborne 3 5.90x
Lambeth 3 0.73x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.19x
Bulwell 2 14.51x
Dunham Massey 2 62.89x
Lymm 2 26.53x
St Pancras London 2 0.53x
Barton Under Needwood 1 34.72x
Belgrave 1 8.50x
Birmingham 1 0.25x
Brinnington 1 10.31x
Burslem 1 2.20x
Chester St Oswald 1 5.32x
Colton 1 91.74x
Everton 1 0.56x
Findern 1 153.85x
Garston 1 6.07x
Hemel Hempstead 1 6.85x
Holbrook 1 60.61x
Ilkeston 1 4.85x
Ince In Makerfield 1 3.85x
Kings Norton 1 1.82x
Liverpool 1 0.30x
Offcote Underwood 1 129.87x
Oystermouth 1 15.80x
Salford 1 0.61x
Sheffield 1 0.67x
York St Maurice 1 11.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Sarah 28
Ann 19
Elizabeth 12
Hannah 10
Emma 7
Martha 7
Annie 6
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Harriet 4
Margaret 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Harriett 3
Ruth 3
Adelaide 2
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Dorothy 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Millicent 2
Rebecca 2
Annis 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Deborah 1
Eleaner 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elith.Ann 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emmer 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Thelomith 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 20
Thomas 20
George 17
James 12
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Charles 7
Joseph 7
David 6
Abraham 5
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Benjamin 5
Robert 5
Saml. 5
Aaron 4
Anthony 4
Daniel 4
Isaac 4
Andrew 3
Ebenezer 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Jas. 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Creswick 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Thos. 2
Ambrose 1
Chas. 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Miles 1
Moses 1
Nehemiah 1
Obadiah 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Doxey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doxey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 482 people were recorded with the Doxey surname. That placed it at #6,956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doxey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016. That gives Doxey a modern rank of #10,768.

What does the Doxey surname mean?

An occupational surname possibly relating to a person who herded cattle.

What does the Doxey map show?

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