NameCensus.

UK surname

Dubois

From the French, meaning "of the forest" or "from the woods," likely referring to someone who lived near a forest.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Dubois surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 530, ranked #9,572, up from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, St. Helens and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dubois is 545 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 217.4%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

530

2016, ranked #9,572

Peak year

2015

545 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dubois had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016, ranked #9,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 234 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dubois surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dubois surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dubois 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 234 #13,705
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 419 #10,625
1998 modern 438 #10,617
1999 modern 448 #10,482
2000 modern 441 #10,611
2001 modern 433 #10,561
2002 modern 457 #10,314
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 462 #10,000
2006 modern 470 #9,924
2007 modern 469 #10,028
2008 modern 479 #9,964
2009 modern 493 #9,968
2010 modern 503 #10,017
2011 modern 508 #9,839
2012 modern 507 #9,761
2013 modern 536 #9,535
2014 modern 534 #9,613
2015 modern 545 #9,387
2016 modern 530 #9,572

Geography

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Where Dubois' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, St. Helens, Guildford, Mid Sussex and Peterborough. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
2 St. Helens 008 St. Helens
3 Guildford 008 Guildford
4 Mid Sussex 017 Mid Sussex
5 Peterborough 007 Peterborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dubois

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dubois

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dubois, 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 Dubois surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dubois 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dubois is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dubois 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

Dubois 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 Dubois 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Dubois

The surname DUBOIS originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is a French locational name derived from the Old French words "du" meaning "of" and "bois" meaning "woods" or "forest". It was likely initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near or in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Jean Dubois, who lived in Paris in the late 13th century. Another early record is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Robert du Bois in Oxfordshire, England.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings such as du Bois, duBoys, and de Bois, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The name was also associated with several place names in France, including Dubois, a commune in the Marne department, and Les Bois, a commune in the Charente department.

In the 15th century, the name gained prominence with the French philosopher and theologian Pierre Dubois (c. 1250-1321), who was a counselor to King Philip IV of France. Another notable bearer was the 16th-century French painter Ambroise Dubois (c. 1542-1614), known for his portraits and religious paintings.

Other historical figures with the surname DUBOIS include:

1. Jacques Dubois (1478-1555), a French theologian and scholar. 2. Guillaume Dubois (1656-1723), a French cardinal and statesman who served as Prime Minister under the regent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. 3. Sylvain Dubois (1777-1856), a French painter and engraver. 4. Jacques-Marie Dubois (1795-1855), a French politician and diplomat. 5. Paul Dubois (1829-1905), a French sculptor known for his public monuments and statues.

The DUBOIS surname spread across Europe and beyond, carried by French emigrants and settlers. It remains a prominent surname in France, Belgium, and other French-speaking regions, as well as in countries with significant French populations, such as Canada and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dubois families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dubois 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 73 Dubois' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 73 4.62x
Surrey 42 5.45x
Lancashire 8 0.43x
Channel Islands 7 14.95x
Sussex 6 2.25x
Derbyshire 4 1.62x
Somerset 4 1.57x
Essex 3 0.96x
Flintshire 2 4.71x
Kent 2 0.37x
Warwickshire 2 0.50x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Cornwall 1 0.56x
Devon 1 0.30x
Gloucestershire 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.92x
Lincolnshire 1 0.40x
Selkirkshire 1 6.99x
Worcestershire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 17 Dubois' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.34x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 17 12.34x
Camberwell 16 15.85x
Kensington London 11 12.52x
Paddington London 11 18.93x
Clapham 7 35.44x
St Pancras London 7 5.50x
Islington London 6 3.92x
St Anne Soho London 6 66.52x
St Marylebone London 6 7.11x
Eastbourne 5 40.78x
Moss Side 5 50.66x
Stoke Newington London 5 40.62x
Westminster St Margaret 5 65.62x
St Helier 4 26.25x
St Martin In Fields 4 42.28x
Hackney London 3 3.39x
Leyton 3 55.87x
Peak Forest 3 1111.11x
Bath St Michael 2 155.04x
Birmingham 2 1.51x
Hammersmith London 2 5.14x
Shipton In Pocklington 2 869.57x
St Mary 2 370.37x
Acton 1 10.80x
Belton 1 97.09x
Berkley 1 555.56x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.46x
Bruton 1 100.00x
Chelsea London 1 2.10x
Cheltenham 1 4.18x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.36x
Croydon 1 2.34x
Derby St Werburgh 1 7.00x
Edmonton 1 7.86x
Flint 1 41.49x
Hendon 1 17.57x
Hove 1 8.55x
Lewisham 1 3.48x
Lidford 1 67.57x
Litherland 1 25.51x
Margate St John Baptist 1 10.13x
Powick 1 69.93x
Prescot 1 29.50x
Putney 1 13.89x
Rhuddlan 1 26.74x
Selkirk 1 24.81x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.59x
St Owen 1 81.30x
St Veep 1 344.83x
Watford 1 11.85x
Westminster St James 1 6.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marie 5
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Ellen 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Ann 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Josephine 2
Louisa 2
Louise 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Berthile 1
Camille 1
Charlotte 1
Claire 1
Constance 1
Eglantine 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Estelle 1
Fanny 1
Fehai 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
Honorine 1
Juliette 1
Laura 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Marion 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Rosina 1
Rosine 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 6
John 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Robert 3
Charles 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Eugene 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Jules 2
Pierre 2
William 2
Alceste 1
Auguste 1
C. 1
Chas.Osier 1
E. 1
E.A. 1
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Fredr. 1
Georgis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hubertus 1
Isidore 1
Jean 1
Jul 1
Leon 1
Louis 1
Marino 1
Marius 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Valencia 1

FAQ

Dubois surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dubois surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Dubois surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dubois surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 530 in 2016. That gives Dubois a modern rank of #9,572.

What does the Dubois surname mean?

From the French, meaning "of the forest" or "from the woods," likely referring to someone who lived near a forest.

What does the Dubois map show?

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