NameCensus.

UK surname

Dreyer

An occupational surname referring to someone who turns wood on a lathe or a maker of wooden containers.

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Dreyer surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #32,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, St Albans and Vale of White Horse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dreyer is 274 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2390.9%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2016

274 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dreyer had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dreyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dreyer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dreyer 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 48 #30,447
1901 historical 67 #26,703
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 195 #17,912
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 260 #15,972
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 265 #15,980
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 255 #16,551
2014 modern 270 #16,020
2015 modern 270 #15,911
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Dreyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, St Albans, Vale of White Horse and West Lindsey. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
2 St Albans 003 St Albans
3 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
4 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
5 Northumberland 013 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dreyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dreyer

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Dreyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dreyer 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dreyer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dreyer 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

Dreyer falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dreyer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dreyer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dreyer

The surname Dreyer originated in Germany and has its roots in the Germanic word "dreier," which means "turner" or "one who turns." This name was likely given to individuals who practiced the trade of turning wood or other materials on a lathe.

The name Dreyer can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around the cities of Hamburg and Lübeck in the northern part of the country. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name include Hermannus Dreyer, who was mentioned in a document from the city of Lübeck in 1388.

In the 15th century, the name Dreyer appeared in several historical records, such as the Bürgermatrikel (citizen registry) of the city of Hamburg, where it was spelled as "Dreyer" and "Dreier." This suggests that the name had variations in its spelling during that time period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Dreyer was Hans Dreyer, a merchant who lived in the city of Lübeck in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe.

Another notable figure was Johannes Dreyer, a German astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1572 to 1626. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and published several works, including the "Tabulae Rudolphinae," which contained improved planetary tables based on the observations of Tycho Brahe.

In the 17th century, the name Dreyer was also found in records from the Netherlands, where it was likely introduced by German immigrants. One example is Pieter Dreyer, a Dutch painter who lived from 1634 to 1706 and was known for his still-life paintings and portraits.

The surname Dreyer also has a connection to the Danish island of Bornholm, where it is believed to have been introduced by German settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable individual from this region was Johan Dreyer, a Danish writer and poet who lived from 1854 to 1934 and was celebrated for his works depicting life on the island of Bornholm.

Throughout history, there have been several other individuals with the surname Dreyer who have made contributions in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dreyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dreyer 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. Yorkshire leads with 5 Dreyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 5 4.32x
Lancashire 2 1.44x
Aberdeenshire 1 9.24x
Durham 1 2.88x
Glamorgan 1 4.91x
Middlesex 1 0.86x
Royal Navy 1 71.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 5 Dreyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.21x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 5 179.21x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 49.51x
Bishopwearmouth 1 33.56x
Cardiff St Mary 1 89.29x
Everton 1 22.62x
Reddish 1 526.32x
Shadwell London 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Anna 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Hannah 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Carl 1
Charles 1
Ed. 1
Fred 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dreyer households.

FAQ

Dreyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dreyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Dreyer surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dreyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Dreyer a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Dreyer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who turns wood on a lathe or a maker of wooden containers.

What does the Dreyer map show?

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