NameCensus.

UK surname

Duddy

A habitational surname likely derived from a place named Duddo in Northumberland, England.

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Duddy surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 861, ranked #6,510, up from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Glossop and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Elmbridge, Sunderland and Wishaw North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duddy is 900 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 214.2%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

2004

900 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duddy had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Duddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Duddy 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 379 #9,841
1911 historical 311 #11,150
1997 modern 823 #6,393
1998 modern 831 #6,555
1999 modern 860 #6,423
2000 modern 862 #6,377
2001 modern 840 #6,401
2002 modern 886 #6,255
2003 modern 898 #6,099
2004 modern 900 #6,089
2005 modern 870 #6,186
2006 modern 862 #6,245
2007 modern 848 #6,386
2008 modern 873 #6,276
2009 modern 882 #6,367
2010 modern 876 #6,536
2011 modern 875 #6,465
2012 modern 845 #6,558
2013 modern 853 #6,613
2014 modern 859 #6,613
2015 modern 851 #6,596
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

Back to top

Where Duddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Glossop, Manchester, Ulcombe and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Elmbridge, Sunderland, Wishaw North, Carluke East and Wishaw 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Ulcombe Kent
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Elmbridge 003 Elmbridge
2 Sunderland 036 Sunderland
3 Wishaw North North Lanarkshire
4 Carluke East South Lanarkshire
5 Wishaw South North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Duddy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Duddy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Duddy, 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 Duddy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Duddy 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Duddy 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

Duddy 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

Duddy 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 Duddy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Duddy

The surname "DUDDY" is believed to have originated in Ireland, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "dubhdach," which means "swarthy" or "dark-complexioned." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a dark complexion.

While the exact origin of the name is uncertain, it is possible that it emerged as a variant of the more common Irish surname "Duffy," which shares a similar linguistic root. Some early recorded spellings of the name include "Duddy," "Dudee," and "Duddey."

One of the earliest known references to the surname "Duddy" can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of County Antrim, Ireland, which date back to the late 17th century. These records list several individuals with the surname "Duddy" who were responsible for paying a tax on their households.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the name "Duddy" started to appear more frequently in various Irish records and documents. One notable individual was John Duddy (1737-1820), an Irish Protestant minister and author from County Antrim.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Duddy" was Patrick Duddy (1801-1875), an Irish Catholic priest and writer from County Down. He was known for his work in promoting temperance and his opposition to secret societies.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many individuals with the surname "Duddy" emigrated from Ireland to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One such individual was John Duddy (1856-1938), an Irish-born businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Canada.

Another notable figure was Thomas Duddy (1871-1945), an Irish-born labor leader and politician who played a significant role in the Australian labor movement and served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives.

Throughout history, the surname "Duddy" has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Duddy's Row in County Antrim and Duddy's Well in County Down.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Duddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duddy 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. Lancashire leads with 64 Duddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 64 2.02x
Durham 38 4.78x
Kent 29 3.18x
Warwickshire 28 4.15x
Derbyshire 27 6.45x
Middlesex 20 0.75x
Lanarkshire 14 1.62x
Surrey 12 0.92x
Yorkshire 11 0.42x
Cheshire 7 1.19x
Staffordshire 7 0.78x
Dorset 5 2.85x
Northumberland 3 0.75x
Hampshire 2 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.56x
Renfrewshire 2 0.97x
Essex 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.61x
Somerset 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 21 Duddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.35x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 21 9.35x
Ludworth 19 964.47x
Heap 14 83.23x
Carluke 13 165.61x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 37.75x
Ulcombe 13 2166.67x
Westleigh 12 166.67x
Bradford 11 17.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 20.45x
Manchester 9 6.31x
Brandon Byshottles 8 80.32x
Bromley 8 57.55x
Hackney London 7 4.67x
Winlaton 7 91.74x
Bishopwearmouth 6 8.79x
Droylsden 6 57.97x
Newbold Dunston 5 125.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 5.23x
Sutton Coldfield 5 70.62x
Weymouth 5 150.60x
Liverpool 4 2.08x
Preston 4 4.71x
Shoreditch London 4 3.45x
Tottenham 4 9.40x
Bolsover 3 142.86x
Hapton 3 151.52x
Macclesfield 3 11.44x
Padiham 3 39.16x
Crossgate 2 57.47x
Dover St James 2 50.00x
Dukinfield 2 7.34x
Garston 2 21.37x
Hanwell 2 42.19x
Headcorn 2 145.99x
Islington London 2 0.77x
Marple 2 49.38x
Newchurch 2 7.71x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.15x
Petersfield 2 132.45x
Wallsend 2 15.86x
Walsall Borough 2 28.57x
Aston 1 0.54x
Atherton 1 8.67x
Cannington 1 78.13x
East Peckham 1 52.91x
Eastwood 1 7.84x
Erskine 1 66.23x
Grays Thurrock 1 20.41x
Hamilton 1 4.15x
Kirkdale 1 1.87x
Maidstone 1 3.68x
Medomsley 1 26.95x
North Shields 1 12.59x
Pendlebury 1 14.93x
St Clement Danes London 1 18.08x
Sutton Valence 1 96.15x
Walton On Hill 1 5.82x
Wardington 1 175.44x
Warmington 1 285.71x
Widnes 1 4.37x
Witton Gilbert 1 31.85x
Woking 1 12.74x
Yalding 1 43.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 10
Bridget 9
Catherine 9
Margaret 7
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Alice 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Ellin 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Bridgett 1
Briget 1
Cathrine 1
Edith 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Marg. 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Wineford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
Thomas 14
James 12
William 9
Michael 8
George 7
Patrick 7
Charles 4
Edward 4
Martin 4
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Austin 1
Bartholomew 1
Denis 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Horace 1
J. 1
J.W. 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Mercer 1
Patk. 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Duddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Duddy surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Duddy a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Duddy surname mean?

A habitational surname likely derived from a place named Duddo in Northumberland, England.

What does the Duddy map show?

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