NameCensus.

UK surname

Drysdale

Habitational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire, England, likely referring to a dry valley or stream bed.

In the 1881 census there were 2,559 people recorded with the Drysdale surname, ranking it #1,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,965, ranked #2,271, down from #1,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, Govan Combination and Alva. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Machars South, Powmill, Cleish and Scotlandwell and Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drysdale is 3,009 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.9%.

1881 census count

2,559

Ranked #1,749

Modern count

2,965

2016, ranked #2,271

Peak year

2010

3,009 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Drysdale had 2,559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,965 in 2016, ranked #2,271.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,848 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Drysdale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Drysdale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drysdale 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 2,066 #1,405
1861 historical 1,974 #1,480
1881 historical 2,559 #1,749
1891 historical 2,583 #1,840
1901 historical 2,848 #1,955
1911 historical 661 #6,353
1997 modern 2,699 #2,367
1998 modern 2,807 #2,371
1999 modern 2,856 #2,357
2000 modern 2,877 #2,341
2001 modern 2,813 #2,340
2002 modern 2,879 #2,334
2003 modern 2,774 #2,364
2004 modern 2,795 #2,354
2005 modern 2,782 #2,339
2006 modern 2,827 #2,299
2007 modern 2,833 #2,313
2008 modern 2,879 #2,295
2009 modern 2,962 #2,285
2010 modern 3,009 #2,298
2011 modern 2,983 #2,288
2012 modern 2,915 #2,296
2013 modern 2,952 #2,307
2014 modern 2,981 #2,298
2015 modern 2,969 #2,281
2016 modern 2,965 #2,271

Geography

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Where Drysdales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, Govan Combination, Alva, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Machars South, Powmill, Cleish and Scotlandwell, Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill, Sunderland and Stranraer South. 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 Alloa Clackmannan
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Alva Stirling
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
2 Powmill, Cleish and Scotlandwell Perth and Kinross
3 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill Clackmannanshire
4 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
5 Stranraer South Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drysdale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drysdale

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Drysdale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Drysdale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Drysdale 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

Drysdale is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Drysdale

The surname Drysdale originates from the border regions of England and Scotland, where it was derived from a locational name for someone who lived near a dry valley or dale. The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century, with early spellings including Driddesdale, Dridale, and Drisdale.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. A certain Nicol de Dridesdale from Berwickshire is listed among the names. The Drysdale family held lands in the Scottish Borders for several centuries and played a role in the conflicts between England and Scotland during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named John Drysdale (c. 1510-1590) was a Scottish clergyman and reformer who served as the minister of St. Andrews Parish Church. He was a supporter of the Protestant Reformation and played a part in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

Another historical figure with the surname was Sir William Drysdale (1637-1692), a Scottish military officer who served as the Governor of Blackness Castle and played a role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689, which saw the overthrow of King James VII of Scotland.

In the 18th century, James Drysdale (1718-1788) was a Scottish architect and mason who is known for his work on several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the reconstruction of the High Church and the design of the Old College at the University of Edinburgh.

Moving into the 19th century, William Drysdale (1832-1905) was a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the state of Victoria. He served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and was involved in various business ventures, including mining and banking.

Throughout history, the surname Drysdale has been associated with various place names, such as Drysdale in Victoria, Australia, and Drysdale Creek in British Columbia, Canada, which may have been named after individuals with this surname or derived from similar geographical features.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Drysdale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Drysdale 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. Lanarkshire leads with 347 Drysdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 347 4.34x
Fife 334 22.84x
Midlothian 289 8.73x
Clackmannanshire 201 98.53x
Stirlingshire 166 18.22x
Northumberland 145 3.95x
Perthshire 138 12.45x
Wigtownshire 86 26.22x
Lancashire 85 0.29x
Middlesex 85 0.34x
Renfrewshire 81 4.23x
West Lothian 71 19.09x
East Lothian 54 16.51x
Ayrshire 52 2.81x
Surrey 48 0.40x
Kinross-shire 43 68.87x
Dunbartonshire 33 4.97x
Angus 27 1.18x
Durham 25 0.34x
Yorkshire 24 0.10x
Hampshire 23 0.45x
Peeblesshire 23 19.80x
Cheshire 17 0.31x
Argyllshire 13 1.89x
Essex 13 0.27x
Glamorgan 13 0.30x
Kent 11 0.13x
Worcestershire 9 0.28x
Gloucestershire 8 0.17x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 2.24x
Norfolk 7 0.18x
Buteshire 6 4.01x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.10x
Roxburghshire 5 1.12x
Selkirkshire 5 2.24x
Warwickshire 5 0.08x
Sussex 4 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.13x
Devon 3 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.09x
Sutherland 2 1.05x
Berkshire 1 0.05x
Berwickshire 1 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.34x
Westmorland 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 142 Drysdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.16x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 142 63.16x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 111 8.34x
Barony 92 4.55x
Govan 90 4.56x
Glasgow 85 5.99x
Alloa 64 64.70x
Clackmannan 55 142.67x
Tillicoultry 48 105.77x
Alva 47 108.17x
Falkirk 46 21.57x
South Leith 46 12.35x
Tulliallan 42 223.52x
Toxteth Park 37 3.73x
Dollar 34 160.83x
Kirkcolm 32 203.56x
Leslie 28 75.63x
Haddington 27 55.91x
Logie 26 65.38x
East Greenock 25 13.83x
Lambeth 25 1.16x
Aberdour 23 156.14x
Kinross 23 107.43x
Dundee 22 2.58x
Uphall 22 53.79x
Stirling 20 17.41x
West Greenock 20 5.82x
Dysart 18 18.28x
New Monkland 18 7.62x
Duddingston 15 22.58x
Old Monkland 15 4.73x
Callander 14 76.59x
Dunbar 14 30.52x
Mochrum 14 71.50x
North Leith 14 9.14x
Torryburn 14 221.87x
Carnock 13 145.25x
Dumbarton 13 14.07x
Hampstead London 13 3.38x
Innerleithen 13 42.17x
Penninghame 13 38.86x
Row 13 15.14x
Temple 13 98.78x
Alnwick 12 18.99x
Bathgate 12 14.86x
Cranston 12 142.18x
Crieff 12 29.11x
Fossoway 12 111.84x
Kinghorn 12 38.66x
Bothkennar 11 40.46x
Edinburgh Canongate 11 13.06x
Saline 11 135.97x
St Marylebone London 11 0.83x
Auchterderran 10 27.20x
Carriden 10 59.31x
Dalmeny 10 70.32x
Dunoon Kilmun 10 18.65x
Inverkeithing 10 45.39x
Longbenton 10 6.42x
St Ninians 10 11.07x
Abbey 9 3.08x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.84x
Boness 9 17.55x
Bothwell 9 4.15x
Collessie 9 53.48x
Dalgety 9 80.57x
Dalkeith 9 13.79x
Kings Norton 9 3.11x
Larbert 9 16.53x
Widdrington 9 102.39x
York St Mary 9 8.88x
Bothal Demesne 8 45.48x
Cathcart 8 7.73x
Culross 8 83.33x
Cupar 8 12.58x
Falkland 8 34.78x
Kippen 8 65.25x
Orwell 8 46.48x
Perth East Church 8 7.65x
Rothbury 8 75.83x
West Linton 8 84.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 25
Jane 20
Isabella 18
Margaret 18
Ann 11
Sarah 8
Annie 7
Alice 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Matilda 4
Agnes 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Christina 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Josephine 2
Lucy 2
Maggie 2
Rachel 2
Sarrah 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Esther 1
Eth.Mary 1
Ethell 1
Eunnes 1
Hellen 1
Jean 1
Williamson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 36
William 29
James 25
George 17
Robert 16
Henry 12
Thomas 11
Alexander 9
David 9
Andrew 7
Charles 7
Alfred 4
Richard 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Alexr. 2
Bruce 2
Douglas 2
Duncan 2
Ebernezer 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Romeo 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Ann 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
D.M. 1
Dugald 1
Edgar 1
Edwd.Wm. 1
Fred 1
Geo.Arrowsmith 1
Geo.F. 1
Geo.R. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hector 1
Mackenzie 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Norman 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
T. 1

FAQ

Drysdale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Drysdale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,559 people were recorded with the Drysdale surname. That placed it at #1,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Drysdale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,965 in 2016. That gives Drysdale a modern rank of #2,271.

What does the Drysdale surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire, England, likely referring to a dry valley or stream bed.

What does the Drysdale map show?

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