UK surname
A surname derived from an Old English personal name "Dudda" meaning "butterfly" or "moth".
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Dudney surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Erith, London parishes and Sompting. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dudney is 116 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.4%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1891
116 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dudney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dudney surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 74 | #20,443 |
| 1861 | historical | 69 | #25,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 81 | #29,828 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 87 | #29,897 |
| 2005 | modern | 79 | #30,950 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Erith, London parishes, Sompting, Brighton and Ovingdean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erith | Kent |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Sompting | Sussex |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | Ovingdean | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dudney surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dudney, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dudney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dudney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dudney is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dudney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dudney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dudney has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "ey" meaning an island or dry ground. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived on a hill or elevated ground near a river or marsh.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dudney can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. It mentions a landowner named Dudenei in the county of Shropshire. This spelling variation indicates that the name has evolved over time.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Dudeneye, Dudeney, and Dudney, in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Warwickshire. These different spellings reflect the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Dudney was John Dudney, a landowner from Gloucestershire, who was born around 1320. Another individual was William Dudney, a merchant from Bristol, who lived during the late 15th century.
The 16th century saw the emergence of Thomas Dudney, a yeoman farmer from Worcestershire, born in 1542. He was mentioned in local parish records for his contributions to the community.
In the 17th century, the name Dudney was associated with several places, such as Dudney Hill in Staffordshire and Dudney Manor in Oxfordshire. This suggests that some family members may have taken their surnames from these locations.
One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Dudney was Robert Dudney, a renowned scholar and author from Gloucestershire, born in 1675. He wrote extensively on topics related to history, philosophy, and literature.
As the centuries progressed, the Dudney surname continued to appear in various parts of England, with some family members migrating to other regions and countries. While the name's origins can be traced back to the 11th century, its evolution and distribution across different areas have contributed to its rich history and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dudney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 35 Dudneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.65x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 16 Dudneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plumstead | 16 | 160.32x |
| Portslade | 15 | 1666.67x |
| Erith | 10 | 338.98x |
| Cowfold | 6 | 1935.48x |
| Hove | 6 | 92.45x |
| Kensington London | 5 | 10.24x |
| Bromley London | 4 | 20.71x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 6.10x |
| Dundee | 2 | 6.59x |
| East Wickham | 2 | 555.56x |
| Portsea | 2 | 5.67x |
| Shermanbury | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Sompting | 2 | 1000.00x |
| St Luke London | 2 | 14.20x |
| Beddington | 1 | 60.61x |
| Bexley | 1 | 37.74x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.21x |
| Dartford | 1 | 32.68x |
| Hangleton | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 45.87x |
| Henfield | 1 | 175.44x |
| Hurstpierpoint | 1 | 121.95x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.18x |
| Maplederwell | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 18.25x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 22.27x |
| South Brent | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dudney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dudney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dudney households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Dudney surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Dudney a modern rank of #33,236.
A surname derived from an Old English personal name "Dudda" meaning "butterfly" or "moth".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dudney bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.