NameCensus.

UK surname

Duhig

A surname derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning "black" or "dark-complexioned".

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Duhig surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Medway and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duhig is 366 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 872.2%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

2014

366 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duhig had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Duhig surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duhig surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duhig 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 34 #31,604
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 329 #12,734
1998 modern 342 #12,739
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 319 #13,391
2001 modern 322 #13,098
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 330 #12,994
2005 modern 314 #13,403
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 340 #13,244
2010 modern 347 #13,325
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 358 #12,952
2014 modern 366 #12,823
2015 modern 355 #13,033
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Duhigs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, All Saints Poplar, St Marylebone and Littlehampton, Climping. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillingdon, Medway, Sevenoaks and Havering. 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 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Littlehampton, Climping Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillingdon 025 Hillingdon
2 Medway 018 Medway
3 Hillingdon 022 Hillingdon
4 Sevenoaks 002 Sevenoaks
5 Havering 012 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duhig

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duhig

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Duhig, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Duhig surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Duhig 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Duhig is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Duhig is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Duhig falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Duhig

The surname Duhig originated in Ireland, stemming from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Dubhaidhe," which means "descendant of Dubhaidhe." The name Dubhaidhe is derived from the Gaelic word "dubh," meaning "black" or "dark," and may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with dark hair or complexion.

Duhig is a variant spelling of the Irish surname Duffy, which is more commonly found in historical records. The earliest recorded mention of the name Duffy dates back to the 12th century in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is believed that the Duffy clan was originally centered in the counties of Monaghan, Cavan, and Fermanagh in Ulster.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Duhig was Patrick Duhig, a Catholic priest born in County Monaghan in the late 18th century. He was known for his involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and his advocacy for Catholic rights.

In the 19th century, James Duhig (1813-1892) was a prominent Irish-born businessman and landowner in Queensland, Australia. He was one of the early settlers in the region and was involved in the development of the sugar industry.

Another notable figure was Sir James Duhig (1871-1965), an Australian Catholic archbishop who served as the Archbishop of Brisbane from 1917 to 1965. He played a significant role in the growth and development of the Catholic Church in Australia during his tenure.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Duhig was in the late 19th century. John Duhig (1846-1920) was an Irish-born businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, from 1893 to 1895.

The name Duhig has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Duhig's Cross and Duhig's Townland, both located in County Monaghan, further reflecting the historical roots of the surname in that region.

Throughout history, the surname Duhig has been recorded in various spellings, including Duhigg, Duhigge, Duhegy, and Duhigue, reflecting the evolution of the name over time and across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duhig families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duhig 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. Middlesex leads with 31 Duhigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 8.59x
Cheshire 2 2.51x
Devon 1 1.33x
Hampshire 1 1.35x
Royal Navy 1 23.26x
Yorkshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 22 Duhigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 323.05x.

Place Total Index
Poplar London 22 323.05x
Kensington London 9 44.87x
Chester St Mary On Hill 2 294.12x
Devonport 1 116.28x
Linthorpe 1 46.95x
Royal Navy 1 27.17x
Southampton St Mary 1 21.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Catherine 3
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annorah 1
Anorah 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Duhig households.

FAQ

Duhig surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duhig surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Duhig surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duhig surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Duhig a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Duhig surname mean?

A surname derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning "black" or "dark-complexioned".

What does the Duhig map show?

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