NameCensus.

UK surname

Duff

A Scottish and northern Irish surname derived from the Gaelic dubh, meaning "dark" or "swarthy."

In the 1881 census there were 5,333 people recorded with the Duff surname, ranking it #834 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,023, ranked #955, down from #834 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lochmaben, Auchtermuchty and Gateside and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duff is 7,247 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.7%.

1881 census count

5,333

Ranked #834

Modern count

7,023

2016, ranked #955

Peak year

1999

7,247 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duff had 5,333 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #834 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,023 in 2016, ranked #955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,531 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Duff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duff 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 3,826 #740
1861 historical 3,992 #699
1881 historical 5,333 #834
1891 historical 5,727 #822
1901 historical 6,531 #850
1911 historical 2,333 #2,186
1997 modern 6,954 #937
1998 modern 7,215 #944
1999 modern 7,247 #942
2000 modern 7,196 #944
2001 modern 6,960 #951
2002 modern 7,113 #948
2003 modern 6,929 #950
2004 modern 6,883 #958
2005 modern 6,915 #941
2006 modern 6,917 #941
2007 modern 7,002 #935
2008 modern 7,014 #940
2009 modern 7,126 #949
2010 modern 7,222 #957
2011 modern 7,092 #966
2012 modern 6,936 #961
2013 modern 6,977 #972
2014 modern 7,053 #969
2015 modern 7,033 #959
2016 modern 7,023 #955

Geography

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Where Duffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Perth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lochmaben, Auchtermuchty and Gateside, Isle of Wight, The Glens and IZ12. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Perth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lochmaben Dumfries and Galloway
2 Auchtermuchty and Gateside Fife
3 Isle of Wight 014 Isle of Wight
4 The Glens Dundee City
5 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duff

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Duff 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

Duff 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

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

Meaning and origin of Duff

The surname Duff is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic term "dubh," meaning "black" or "dark-haired." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with dark features.

Historically, the Duff name is associated with the Clan Duff, a Scottish clan from the northeastern regions of Banffshire and Moray. The earliest documented reference to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Duff name was Sir Michael Duff, who lived in the late 13th century and was a prominent figure in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Another notable early Duff was Andrew Duff, a prominent clergyman born in 1550 who served as the Bishop of Galloway.

The Duff surname has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Dufftown in Banffshire and Duffus in Moray. These locations may have influenced the spelling variations of the name over time, including Duffe, Duffis, and Duffus.

In the 15th century, the Duff family rose to prominence with the establishment of the Earldom of Fife. One of the most renowned members of the family was William Duff, who was born in 1696 and became the first Earl of Fife. He played a significant role in the Jacobite Risings and was a loyal supporter of the House of Hanover.

Another notable Duff was James Duff, born in 1776, a Scottish writer and philosopher who was influential in the Scottish Enlightenment. He is best known for his work "Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man."

Moving forward to the 19th century, we find William Duff, born in 1788, a Scottish missionary who played a vital role in the spread of Christianity in India. He founded the Church of Scotland's mission in Calcutta and was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions.

In the 20th century, Alistair Duff, born in 1915, was a notable British actor who had a successful career on stage and screen, appearing in numerous films and television shows.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Duff, highlighting its rich Scottish heritage and the diverse contributions of those who carry this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duff 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. Perthshire leads with 649 Duffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.82x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 649 27.82x
Lanarkshire 595 3.54x
Midlothian 407 5.84x
Lancashire 356 0.58x
Angus 346 7.18x
Fife 284 9.23x
Aberdeenshire 281 5.84x
Middlesex 276 0.53x
Ayrshire 195 5.01x
Durham 179 1.16x
Surrey 157 0.62x
Renfrewshire 141 3.50x
Yorkshire 123 0.24x
Banffshire 112 10.39x
Dumfriesshire 91 7.92x
Stirlingshire 90 4.69x
Ross-shire 86 6.02x
Kent 68 0.38x
Northumberland 67 0.87x
West Lothian 56 7.15x
Cumberland 52 1.16x
Cornwall 47 0.80x
Morayshire 46 5.70x
Kirkcudbrightshire 44 5.85x
Argyllshire 42 2.90x
Hampshire 35 0.33x
Dunbartonshire 31 2.22x
Kincardineshire 28 4.42x
Essex 25 0.24x
Sutherland 25 6.25x
Worcestershire 25 0.37x
Roxburghshire 21 2.23x
Wigtownshire 21 3.04x
Cambridgeshire 19 0.58x
Inverness-shire 18 1.16x
Cheshire 17 0.15x
Warwickshire 17 0.13x
Clackmannanshire 16 3.73x
Berwickshire 15 2.38x
Isle of Man 15 1.55x
Kinross-shire 15 11.41x
Devon 14 0.13x
Suffolk 14 0.22x
Westmorland 14 1.23x
Glamorgan 12 0.13x
Royal Navy 12 1.94x
Gloucestershire 11 0.11x
Norfolk 11 0.14x
Sussex 11 0.13x
Nairnshire 10 6.30x
Peeblesshire 9 3.68x
Flintshire 8 0.57x
Somerset 8 0.10x
Derbyshire 7 0.09x
Northamptonshire 6 0.12x
East Lothian 5 0.73x
Orkney 5 0.87x
Shropshire 5 0.11x
Buteshire 4 1.27x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.06x
Monmouthshire 3 0.08x
Selkirkshire 3 0.64x
Anglesey 2 0.22x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.10x
Leicestershire 2 0.03x
Oxfordshire 2 0.06x
Staffordshire 2 0.01x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.03x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.01x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 254 Duffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.11x.

Place Total Index
Govan 254 6.11x
Dundee 187 10.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 167 5.96x
Barony 143 3.36x
Glasgow 123 4.12x
Aberdeen Old Machar 78 7.76x
Liverpool 76 2.03x
Perth East Church 68 30.91x
South Leith 62 7.91x
Logierait 61 148.53x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 59 6.55x
Tarbat 54 160.05x
Liff Benvie 53 7.25x
Blairgowrie 40 43.35x
Toxteth Park 38 1.82x
Crieff 35 40.34x
Monifieth 34 19.99x
West Greenock 33 4.56x
East Greenock 31 8.15x
Mortlach 30 56.98x
St George Hanover Square 30 3.28x
Linlithgow 29 28.88x
St Andrews 29 20.71x
Stevenston 29 28.60x
Tibbermore 29 86.72x
Camberwell 28 0.84x
Lambeth 28 0.62x
Edinburgh Greenside 27 29.34x
Perth Middle Church 26 29.63x
Perth West Church 26 23.48x
Accrington 25 4.46x
Bishopwearmouth 25 1.88x
Dudley 25 3.03x
Methven 25 73.10x
Bowling 24 4.70x
Carshalton 24 24.76x
Forfar 24 9.20x
West Ham 24 1.06x
Bethnal Green London 23 1.02x
Caputh 23 62.65x
Glass 23 125.14x
Moulin 23 62.38x
Rhynie 23 114.71x
Auchterarder 22 33.78x
Auchtergaven 22 56.25x
Ayr 22 11.98x
Falkirk 22 4.90x
Closeburn 21 78.42x
Dumfries 21 18.54x
Elgin 21 13.37x
Kilconquhar 21 57.35x
Longforgan 21 63.66x
Maryhill 21 6.38x
Dunfermline 20 4.23x
Tottenham 20 2.42x
Kirkintilloch 19 10.01x
Barrow In Furness 18 2.15x
Crosscanonby 18 12.16x
Edinburgh St Stephens 18 13.13x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 2.69x
Islington London 18 0.36x
Keith 18 15.66x
Kilmarnock 18 3.89x
Kilsyth 18 14.72x
Knapdale South 17 34.19x
Manchester 17 0.61x
Monzievaird Strowan 17 136.11x
Strathmiglo 17 46.22x
Gateshead 16 1.38x
Kirkcaldy 16 10.48x
Kirkdale 16 1.54x
Stirling 16 6.62x
Blair Athole 15 48.25x
Chadderton 15 4.97x
Margate St John Baptist 15 4.62x
Onchan 15 5.39x
Wisbech St Peter 15 9.08x
Bishop Auckland 14 6.75x
Duddingston 14 10.02x
St Quivox 14 10.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 111
William 96
James 84
Thomas 45
Robert 39
George 34
Edward 30
Henry 25
Alexander 22
Charles 21
David 21
Joseph 20
Alfred 12
Andrew 10
Michael 9
Peter 9
Daniel 8
Frederick 8
Benjamin 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Patrick 6
Archibald 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Adam 4
Bernard 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Herbert 4
Hugh 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Edwd. 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Gideon 3
Jas. 3
Matthew 3
Robt. 3
Chas. 2
Donald 2
Malcolm 2
Mathew 2
Owen 2
Roger 2

FAQ

Duff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,333 people were recorded with the Duff surname. That placed it at #834 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,023 in 2016. That gives Duff a modern rank of #955.

What does the Duff surname mean?

A Scottish and northern Irish surname derived from the Gaelic dubh, meaning "dark" or "swarthy."

What does the Duff map show?

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