NameCensus.

UK surname

Duffin

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Dubháin, meaning "descendant of Dubhán" (a personal name meaning "little dark one").

In the 1881 census there were 1,130 people recorded with the Duffin surname, ranking it #3,530 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,393, ranked #2,744, up from #3,530 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Doncaster and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duffin is 2,479 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 111.8%.

1881 census count

1,130

Ranked #3,530

Modern count

2,393

2016, ranked #2,744

Peak year

2014

2,479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duffin had 1,130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,530 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,393 in 2016, ranked #2,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,626 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duffin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duffin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duffin 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 656 #3,955
1861 historical 633 #4,233
1881 historical 1,130 #3,530
1891 historical 1,339 #3,253
1901 historical 1,626 #3,178
1911 historical 1,496 #3,224
1997 modern 2,320 #2,679
1998 modern 2,417 #2,684
1999 modern 2,443 #2,686
2000 modern 2,423 #2,687
2001 modern 2,379 #2,682
2002 modern 2,420 #2,697
2003 modern 2,367 #2,693
2004 modern 2,384 #2,676
2005 modern 2,336 #2,691
2006 modern 2,319 #2,707
2007 modern 2,332 #2,718
2008 modern 2,329 #2,738
2009 modern 2,381 #2,752
2010 modern 2,424 #2,759
2011 modern 2,410 #2,748
2012 modern 2,378 #2,732
2013 modern 2,441 #2,720
2014 modern 2,479 #2,704
2015 modern 2,440 #2,712
2016 modern 2,393 #2,744

Geography

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Where Duffins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Portsmouth, Portsea and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Doncaster, Central Bedfordshire, Robroyston and Millerston and Bolsover. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 006 Melton
2 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
3 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
4 Robroyston and Millerston Glasgow City
5 Bolsover 010 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duffin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duffin

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Duffin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Duffin 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

Duffin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Duffin

The surname Duffin has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "duffeld," which means "dove field" or "dove meadow." This suggests that the name may have originally been a place name referring to a location where doves were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Duffin can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of documents that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Duffeld," indicating its close connection to the original Old English term.

In the 14th century, the name Duffin began to appear in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. One notable individual from this period was Robert Duffin, a landowner in Ayrshire who was mentioned in documents from the late 1300s.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Duffin continued to be found in Scottish records, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. One prominent figure from this era was John Duffin, a Presbyterian minister who lived in Ayrshire in the mid-17th century and was known for his strong opposition to the religious policies of King Charles II.

As the Duffin family expanded and migrated to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Duffine, Duffyn, and Duffen. One notable individual from this period was William Duffin, an English architect who lived in the late 18th century and designed several churches and public buildings in London.

In the 19th century, the name Duffin continued to be found in various parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in North America and other regions where Scottish immigrants had settled. One notable figure from this period was James Duffin, a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the late 1800s.

Other notable individuals with the surname Duffin include Robert Duffin, an American mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of harmonic analysis in the 20th century, and Mona Duffin, a British author and illustrator of children's books who was active in the latter half of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duffin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duffin 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. Hampshire leads with 123 Duffins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 123 5.43x
Middlesex 114 1.03x
Yorkshire 100 0.91x
Lancashire 84 0.64x
Surrey 84 1.56x
Leicestershire 77 6.29x
Nottinghamshire 67 4.50x
Warwickshire 60 2.15x
Berkshire 45 5.43x
Lincolnshire 43 2.44x
Derbyshire 30 1.74x
Kent 29 0.77x
Worcestershire 24 1.66x
Norfolk 23 1.35x
Durham 21 0.64x
Lanarkshire 21 0.59x
Stirlingshire 21 5.16x
Ayrshire 20 2.42x
Sussex 17 0.91x
Bedfordshire 14 2.45x
Cheshire 14 0.57x
Essex 12 0.55x
Rutland 12 14.80x
Devon 9 0.39x
West Lothian 9 5.41x
Fife 8 1.22x
Renfrewshire 7 0.82x
Dorset 6 0.83x
Northamptonshire 6 0.58x
Gloucestershire 5 0.23x
Hertfordshire 5 0.66x
Angus 4 0.39x
Oxfordshire 4 0.59x
Wiltshire 4 0.41x
Royal Navy 2 1.52x
Staffordshire 2 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 33 Duffins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.57x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 33 8.57x
Lambeth 30 3.12x
Chelsea London 23 6.91x
Battersea 21 5.17x
Bishopstoke 20 344.23x
Dalry 20 51.43x
South Stoneham 20 40.73x
Alfreton 18 34.27x
Aston 18 2.35x
Tilehurst 18 107.53x
Oldham 15 3.55x
Kensington London 13 2.12x
Potton 13 171.28x
Tonge 13 47.29x
Whissendine 12 433.21x
Skillington 11 738.26x
South Cave 11 302.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 4.95x
Islington London 10 0.93x
Reading St Mary 10 15.06x
Bothkennar 9 74.01x
Liverpool 9 1.13x
Lower Bebington 9 62.15x
Rawcliffe In Goole 9 144.46x
Snenton 9 15.39x
Uxbridge 9 71.32x
Abercorn 8 243.16x
Claverdon 8 366.97x
Dunfermline 8 7.96x
Feckenham 8 48.48x
Great Alne 8 487.80x
Hursley 8 152.38x
Hythe St Leonard 8 60.11x
Larbert 8 32.85x
Markfield 8 131.80x
Norwich St Clement 8 40.65x
Nursling 8 220.99x
York St Nicholas In 8 129.87x
Ardwick 7 5.92x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 24.67x
Basing 7 165.48x
Botley 7 171.99x
Everton 7 1.68x
Govan 7 0.79x
Hartlepool 7 14.99x
Leyton 7 18.64x
Limehouse London 7 5.77x
Manningham 7 5.19x
Paisley High Church 7 10.27x
Snitterfield 7 227.27x
St Marylebone London 7 1.19x
Strelley 7 729.17x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.37x
Cold Newton 6 857.14x
Croft 6 209.06x
Croxton Keyrial 6 289.86x
Hastings St Clement 6 34.25x
Holy Trinity 6 2.28x
Horsell 6 176.47x
Humberstone 6 59.64x
Micheldever 6 152.67x
Nafferton 6 128.76x
Norwood 6 23.76x
Old Monkland 6 4.23x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 6 15.35x
Packington 6 137.61x
Parkstone 6 70.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 3.39x
Ratcliffe London 6 9.84x
Stapenhill 6 23.32x
Subdeanery 6 42.46x
Thornaby 6 14.67x
Tideswell 6 80.00x
Wickham 6 144.23x
Widley 6 148.51x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 4.90x
Burghfield 5 102.04x
Kirkdale 5 2.27x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.67x
Wakefield 5 5.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 71
John 58
George 52
James 41
Thomas 35
Charles 30
Henry 27
Edward 14
Joseph 14
Arthur 12
Albert 11
Robert 11
Richard 9
David 8
Harry 8
Alfred 7
Ernest 7
Herbert 7
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Chas. 4
Edwin 4
Fred 4
Michael 4
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Fielder 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
J. 3
Willm. 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Holmes 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Patrick 2
Thos. 2
Uriah 2
W. 2
Archer 1
Bradley 1
C. 1
Caleb 1
Edmond 1
Felix 1
Isaac 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Duffin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duffin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,130 people were recorded with the Duffin surname. That placed it at #3,530 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duffin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,393 in 2016. That gives Duffin a modern rank of #2,744.

What does the Duffin surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Dubháin, meaning "descendant of Dubhán" (a personal name meaning "little dark one").

What does the Duffin map show?

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