NameCensus.

UK surname

Dredge

An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a dredging machine.

In the 1881 census there were 775 people recorded with the Dredge surname, ranking it #4,779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 731, ranked #7,448, down from #4,779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brixton Deverill, London parishes and Kidderminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Wiltshire and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dredge is 1,006 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.7%.

1881 census count

775

Ranked #4,779

Modern count

731

2016, ranked #7,448

Peak year

1911

1,006 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dredge had 775 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016, ranked #7,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,006 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dredge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dredge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dredge 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 583 #4,380
1861 historical 402 #6,383
1881 historical 775 #4,779
1891 historical 804 #5,008
1901 historical 953 #4,927
1911 historical 1,006 #4,522
1997 modern 809 #6,483
1998 modern 816 #6,654
1999 modern 824 #6,644
2000 modern 806 #6,729
2001 modern 796 #6,669
2002 modern 804 #6,747
2003 modern 792 #6,701
2004 modern 796 #6,696
2005 modern 777 #6,756
2006 modern 762 #6,896
2007 modern 769 #6,918
2008 modern 760 #7,040
2009 modern 758 #7,189
2010 modern 785 #7,142
2011 modern 756 #7,261
2012 modern 742 #7,288
2013 modern 754 #7,311
2014 modern 749 #7,392
2015 modern 739 #7,400
2016 modern 731 #7,448

Geography

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Where Dredges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brixton Deverill, London parishes, Kidderminster, Downton (incl. Langley Wood) and Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Wiltshire and North Somerset. 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 Brixton Deverill Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 Downton (incl. Langley Wood) Wiltshire
5 Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 003 Mendip
2 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
3 Mendip 007 Mendip
4 Mendip 009 Mendip
5 North Somerset 023 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dredge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dredge

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dredge is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dredge is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dredge

The surname DREDGE is of English origin, having its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'dredgian,' which means 'to drag' or 'to dredge.' This occupational surname was likely given to individuals whose profession involved dredging or clearing waterways and drainage channels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DREDGE surname dates back to the late 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, where a John Dredge was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by that time.

The DREDGE surname is also found in the famous Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties compiled in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror. This further reinforces the antiquity of the name and its widespread presence in various regions of England during the medieval period.

Several notable individuals have borne the DREDGE surname throughout history. One such figure is Thomas Dredge (1662-1739), an English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Woolnoth and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

Another significant person was William Dredge (1763-1839), a British naval officer and surveyor who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He is renowned for his detailed surveys of various coastlines, including those of the West Indies and the Mediterranean.

In the literary realm, James Dredge (1794-1863) was an English writer and poet known for his works such as "The Refugee" and "The Village Rector." His poetry often explored themes of nature and rural life in England.

Moving into the 19th century, we find John Ingle Dredge (1808-1888), an English engineer and inventor who is credited with developing the Dredge's Cotton Press, a revolutionary machine that significantly improved the efficiency of cotton baling.

Lastly, a more recent figure is Sir Edward Dredge (1891-1976), a British civil engineer and academic who made significant contributions to the field of soil mechanics and foundation engineering. He was knighted in 1958 for his services to engineering education and research.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the DREDGE surname throughout history, solidifying its place as a notable English surname with a rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dredge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dredge 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. Wiltshire leads with 154 Dredges recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.97x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 154 22.97x
Somerset 127 10.41x
Middlesex 121 1.60x
Surrey 73 1.98x
Hampshire 56 3.60x
Gloucestershire 32 2.15x
Worcestershire 31 3.13x
Yorkshire 29 0.39x
Essex 20 1.34x
Berkshire 17 2.99x
Derbyshire 16 1.35x
Devon 14 0.89x
Monmouthshire 13 2.37x
Dorset 12 2.41x
Warwickshire 10 0.52x
Channel Islands 9 4.01x
Herefordshire 6 1.93x
Kent 6 0.23x
Lancashire 6 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.09x
Norfolk 4 0.34x
Staffordshire 4 0.16x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Suffolk 2 0.22x
Brecknockshire 1 0.66x
Durham 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Frome in Somerset leads with 31 Dredges recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.24x.

Place Total Index
Frome 31 106.24x
Westbury 29 185.42x
Downton 21 239.45x
St Pancras London 21 3.44x
Bermondsey 19 8.42x
Brixton Deverill 19 4523.81x
Kidderminster Borough 18 31.07x
Lambeth 15 2.27x
Portsea 15 4.93x
Shepton Mallet 14 102.26x
Corsley 13 492.42x
Horningsham 13 616.11x
Kidderminster Foreign 13 92.92x
West Ham 13 3.94x
Laverton 11 3437.50x
St Luke London 11 9.05x
Warminster 11 74.88x
Kensington London 10 2.37x
Litchurch 10 20.94x
Birmingham 9 1.41x
Bow London 9 9.33x
Cheltenham 9 7.85x
Islington London 9 1.23x
Skinningrove 9 195.23x
St Peter Port 9 21.66x
Walcot 9 13.85x
Bramley In Bramley 8 27.83x
East Pennard 8 506.33x
Monckton Deverill 8 2424.24x
Reading St Giles 8 14.33x
Tong 8 55.13x
Alverstoke 7 12.45x
Britford 7 158.01x
Farleigh Hungerford 7 1458.33x
Hammersmith London 7 3.75x
Rodden 7 1555.56x
Salisbury St Edmund 7 65.06x
Bristol St George 6 8.73x
Camberwell 6 1.24x
Carisbrooke 6 27.82x
Dartmouth St Petrox 6 263.16x
Earley 6 63.29x
Hereford All Sts 6 42.13x
Lamyatt 6 923.08x
Rotherhithe 6 6.41x
Salisbury St Martin 6 85.96x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.49x
St Woollos 6 9.81x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.52x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 18.38x
Maiden Bradley 5 322.58x
Ockham 5 352.11x
Putney 5 14.47x
St Martin In Fields 5 11.02x
Wavendon 5 196.85x
Wells St Cuthbert 5 60.02x
Wimborne 5 83.06x
Wimborne Minster 5 62.11x
Berkley 4 476.19x
Chitterne All Sts 4 357.14x
Filby 4 263.16x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.51x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.48x
Newington 4 1.43x
Pylle 4 579.71x
Shoreditch London 4 1.22x
South Charford 4 1818.18x
South Stoneham 4 11.87x
Westbury On Trym 4 7.94x
Whippingham 4 34.01x
Bromley London 3 1.80x
Doulting 3 191.08x
Harborne 3 3.66x
Holdenhurst 3 7.36x
Leigh On Mendip 3 250.00x
Limehouse London 3 3.61x
Normanby In 3 14.94x
Sharples 3 30.74x
West Cranmore 3 405.41x
Winshill 3 39.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 24
Ellen 18
Eliza 17
Ann 16
Louisa 16
Emily 15
Emma 15
Alice 14
Annie 12
Fanny 9
Kate 9
Harriet 8
Jane 7
Martha 7
Amy 6
Beatrice 6
Caroline 6
Edith 6
Elizth. 6
Florence 6
Ada 5
Amelia 5
Rose 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Kezia 2
Margaretta 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Phoebe 2
Rosina 2
Betsy 1
Elizth 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elizth.S. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
James 31
John 24
Charles 22
George 21
Henry 20
Joseph 20
Thomas 13
Robert 11
Alfred 10
Frank 10
Frederick 10
Harry 10
Albert 9
Edward 8
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Daniel 6
Edwin 5
Fredk. 4
Samuel 4
Herbert 3
Richard 3
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Austin 1
Chas. 1
Chs. 1
Edwd. 1
Emily 1
Ethelbert 1
Evan 1
Fredk 1
Hiram 1
Issaac 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Lord 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Nathanial 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Dredge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dredge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 775 people were recorded with the Dredge surname. That placed it at #4,779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dredge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016. That gives Dredge a modern rank of #7,448.

What does the Dredge surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a dredging machine.

What does the Dredge map show?

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