NameCensus.

UK surname

Duce

An Italian surname derived from the Latin word "dux" meaning leader or commander.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Duce surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 928, ranked #6,158, down from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stottesden, Kinlet and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, County Durham and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duce is 972 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.7%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

928

2016, ranked #6,158

Peak year

1998

972 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duce had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 928 in 2016, ranked #6,158.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 961 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duce surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duce surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duce 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 412 #5,889
1861 historical 401 #6,399
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 680 #5,752
1901 historical 869 #5,268
1911 historical 961 #4,699
1997 modern 963 #5,658
1998 modern 972 #5,809
1999 modern 971 #5,840
2000 modern 964 #5,859
2001 modern 928 #5,932
2002 modern 954 #5,904
2003 modern 905 #6,063
2004 modern 890 #6,155
2005 modern 878 #6,134
2006 modern 873 #6,183
2007 modern 879 #6,204
2008 modern 870 #6,297
2009 modern 908 #6,216
2010 modern 943 #6,158
2011 modern 918 #6,232
2012 modern 915 #6,168
2013 modern 942 #6,125
2014 modern 943 #6,159
2015 modern 938 #6,133
2016 modern 928 #6,158

Geography

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Where Duces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stottesden, Kinlet, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, County Durham, Rotherham and Three Rivers. 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 Stottesden, Kinlet Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 017 Telford and Wrekin
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Rotherham 028 Rotherham
4 Three Rivers 006 Three Rivers
5 Telford and Wrekin 014 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duce

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duce

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Duce 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

Duce is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Duce falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Duce 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 Duce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Duce

The surname DUCE originates from Italy, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "duce," meaning "leader" or "guide," which itself has roots in the Latin word "dux." The name was likely bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

In the early years of its use, the surname DUCE was primarily concentrated in the regions of Tuscany and Lombardy, where it was often associated with prominent families and noble lineages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Florentine Priors' Registry of 1282, which mentions a certain Guido Duce, a member of the city's governing council.

As the name spread throughout the Italian peninsula, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Duci, Ducio, and Ducce, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. Some notable individuals bearing the DUCE surname include:

1. Filippo Duce (1460-1528), a renowned Italian sculptor and architect from Florence, known for his work on the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. 2. Girolamo Duce (1570-1631), a Venetian playwright and poet who gained recognition for his tragedies and comedies. 3. Carlo Duce (1677-1743), a celebrated Neapolitan painter and fresco artist, whose works adorned numerous churches and palaces throughout Naples. 4. Agostino Duce (1792-1868), an Italian historian and scholar from Verona, famous for his comprehensive account of the city's history, "Storia di Verona." 5. Giovanni Duce (1835-1901), a Milanese industrialist and philanthropist who founded several educational institutions and charitable organizations in his native city.

While the surname DUCE is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of Italy's rich onomastic heritage, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and linguistic traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duce families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duce 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 218 Duces recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 218 3.35x
Shropshire 102 17.96x
Middlesex 89 1.35x
Essex 61 4.70x
Cambridgeshire 50 12.01x
Staffordshire 30 1.35x
Lancashire 20 0.26x
Suffolk 15 1.87x
Warwickshire 15 0.90x
Northumberland 10 1.02x
Hampshire 9 0.67x
Kent 8 0.36x
Surrey 8 0.25x
Worcestershire 8 0.93x
Durham 7 0.36x
Lincolnshire 6 0.57x
Norfolk 6 0.59x
Denbighshire 4 1.61x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.53x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.37x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wortley In Bramley in Yorkshire leads with 29 Duces recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.20x.

Place Total Index
Wortley In Bramley 29 56.20x
Bowling 25 38.74x
Stottesdon 25 968.99x
Bethnal Green London 23 8.05x
Enfield 21 48.68x
Aston 15 3.29x
Long Melford 14 188.17x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 10.49x
Armley 12 41.77x
Bradford 12 7.61x
Ardsley 11 146.47x
Doncaster 11 23.11x
St Andrewthe Less 11 23.12x
Bulphan 10 1562.50x
Hunslet 10 9.84x
Tinsley 10 438.60x
Wheathill 10 4166.67x
Farlow 9 1153.85x
Great Shelford 9 410.96x
Huddersfield 9 9.48x
Norham 9 414.75x
York St Lawrence 9 132.55x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.62x
Great Hallingbury 8 567.38x
Longdon 8 260.59x
Loughton 8 4210.53x
Cherry Hinton 7 357.14x
Coppenhall Dunston 7 853.66x
Dawley 7 33.87x
Dewsbury 7 10.48x
Grantchester 7 270.27x
Hampstead London 7 6.84x
Littlebury 7 391.06x
Sedgley 7 8.49x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.04x
West Ham 7 2.44x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 9.89x
Bradwell 6 270.27x
Calverley Cum Farsley 6 32.43x
Claverley 6 156.66x
Clee St Margaret 6 983.61x
Dudley 6 5.75x
Leeds 6 1.63x
Maldon St Peter 6 90.77x
Mile End New Town London 6 46.19x
Southampton All Sts 6 25.95x
Southcoates 6 16.59x
Steeple 6 504.20x
Waterbeach 6 176.47x
Acton 5 12.97x
Ashby 5 151.98x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.91x
Churwell 5 112.61x
Soothill 5 21.25x
Stanton Lacy 5 101.83x
Walsall Foreign 5 4.36x
Abdon 4 1142.86x
Battersea 4 1.65x
Chesterton 4 31.15x
Darlington 4 5.30x
Diddlebury 4 213.90x
Foxearth 4 444.44x
Openshaw 4 10.95x
Poplar London 4 3.22x
Rawmarsh 4 17.38x
Ruabon 4 11.71x
Stoke St Milborough 4 338.98x
York St Giles In 4 65.15x
Gomersal 3 9.87x
Holdgate 3 1153.85x
Hoyland Nether 3 18.77x
Maldon All Sts 3 116.73x
Norwich St James 3 37.83x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 3 103.81x
St Andrewthe Great 3 55.76x
Willesden 3 4.84x
Wombwell 3 15.79x
York St Maurice 3 24.45x
Bridgnorth St Mary 2 36.10x
St Giles Cambridge 2 37.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 23
Jane 15
Ann 11
Emma 11
Martha 11
Annie 10
Emily 10
Ellen 9
Eliza 7
Hannah 7
Alice 6
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Esther 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Christiana 2
Eleanor 2
Eva 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Lillian 2
Lizzie 2
Matilda 2
Susannah 2
Carry 1
Catherin 1
Elenor 1
Ester 1
Isabella 1
Jinnie 1
Vesta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 40
George 21
Charles 19
Thomas 16
Edward 15
Joseph 15
James 13
Henry 12
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Frederick 6
Richard 6
Robert 6
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Philip 3
Cecil 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Jeremiah 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Solomon 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederich 1
Fredk 1
Fredk.Bingley 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredk.R.T. 1
Infant 1
Isaiah 1
Jere 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Duce surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duce surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Duce surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duce surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 928 in 2016. That gives Duce a modern rank of #6,158.

What does the Duce surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the Latin word "dux" meaning leader or commander.

What does the Duce map show?

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