UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname for a hard-to-excite or unemotional person, or from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Dull surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, St Leonard Shoreditch and Dartford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dull is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dull surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dull surname density by area, 1861 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 44 | #30,838 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, St Leonard Shoreditch, Dartford, Welborne and Havant. 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 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Dartford | Kent |
| 4 | Welborne | Norfolk |
| 5 | Havant | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dull 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 Dull, 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 Dull surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dull 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, Dull 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 Dull is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dull, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DULL originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "dol" meaning "foolish" or "dull-witted." The name was likely used as a nickname for someone perceived as slow or unintelligent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195, where a William Dull is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1221, with a reference to a Roger Dull.
In the 13th century, the surname was often spelled as "Dolle" or "Dolle." This variation can be seen in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a John Dolle. The name may also have been derived from the Old English place name "Dol" or "Dole," which referred to a valley or hollow.
Some notable individuals with the surname DULL throughout history include:
1. John Dull (c. 1400-1470), an English landowner and member of Parliament from Buckinghamshire. 2. William Dull (c. 1520-1590), a prominent merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England. 3. Elizabeth Dull (1635-1702), one of the first English settlers in Pennsylvania, who arrived in 1682 with her husband. 4. Johann Christian Dull (1769-1846), a German composer and organist known for his sacred choral works. 5. Robert Dull (1829-1905), an American Civil War veteran and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
The surname DULL has also been associated with various place names, such as Dull in Perthshire, Scotland, and Dull Water, a tributary of the River Annan in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dull 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. Kent leads with 9 Dulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.06x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 9 | 18.06x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 10.22x |
| Durham | 1 | 2.30x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Orkney | 1 | 62.11x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dartford in Kent leads with 9 Dulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1764.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford | 9 | 1764.71x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 25.41x |
| Cross Burness N | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Manchester | 1 | 12.84x |
| North Bailey South | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Penge | 1 | 107.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dull 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 Dull 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 Dull households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| Licensed Hawker Brooms | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Dull surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Dull a modern rank of #36,679.
A surname derived from a nickname for a hard-to-excite or unemotional person, or from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dull 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.