NameCensus.

UK surname

Duller

A variant spelling of an English surname denoting a dull or stupid person.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Duller surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, up from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Hitchin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Conwy and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duller is 180 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 127.0%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2002

180 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duller had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 162 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Duller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duller surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duller 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 173 #19,821
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 178 #19,570
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 147 #23,627
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Dullers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire), Hitchin and Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Conwy, Swindon and South Kesteven. 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 3
2 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
3 Hitchin Hertfordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 008 Tendring
2 Conwy 002 Conwy
3 Swindon 023 Swindon
4 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven
5 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duller

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Duller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Duller household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Duller is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Duller is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Duller falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Duller is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Duller, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Duller

The surname Duller is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was derived from the German word "duller," meaning "dull" or "sluggish." This name was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone who was perceived as slow-witted or lacking in intelligence.

The earliest recorded instance of the Duller surname dates back to the 14th century in the German region of Saxony. In 1382, a historical record mentions a "Hans Duller" from the town of Meissen. This suggests that the name was already in use and established by that time.

In the 16th century, the Duller name appears in several church records and municipal documents across various German states, including Bavaria, Württemberg, and Hesse. This indicates that the name had spread and become more widespread throughout the region.

One notable bearer of the Duller name was Johann Duller, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1629 to 1709. He was known for his religious paintings and engravings, which adorned many churches in southern Germany during the Baroque period.

Another historically significant person with the Duller surname was Karl Duller, a German philosopher and educator who was born in 1786. He was a prominent figure in the field of education and wrote several influential works on teaching methods and educational reform.

In the 19th century, the Duller name found its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. For example, in 1854, a record shows a family by the name of Duller residing in the Austrian town of Innsbruck.

One of the earliest known instances of the Duller name in the United States can be traced back to Johannes Duller, who immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1749. His descendants went on to establish a lineage of Dullers in various parts of the country.

Another notable Duller was Wilhelm Duller, a German-born American businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1854 to 1932. He made his fortune in the brewing industry and was known for his charitable contributions to various educational and cultural institutions in his adopted city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

While the Duller surname is not exceptionally common, it has maintained a presence throughout history, with bearers hailing from various parts of Europe and beyond. The name's origins as a descriptive nickname in medieval Germany have endured, carrying a unique legacy through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duller 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. Huntingdonshire leads with 14 Dullers recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.75x.

County Total Index
Huntingdonshire 14 114.75x
Cambridgeshire 11 28.27x
Kent 11 5.25x
Bedfordshire 9 28.29x
Sussex 8 7.72x
Glamorgan 5 4.67x
Middlesex 3 0.49x
Essex 2 1.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colne in Huntingdonshire leads with 9 Dullers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12857.14x.

Place Total Index
Colne 9 12857.14x
Brighton 8 38.28x
Llanwonno 5 130.21x
Luton 5 90.74x
Sawston 5 1315.79x
Dartford 4 186.92x
Hoo 4 1428.57x
Somersham 4 1333.33x
Wootton 4 1481.48x
Chatteris 3 303.03x
Newton 3 2000.00x
Swanscombe 2 212.77x
West Ham 2 7.47x
Chelsea London 1 5.40x
Eynesbury 1 357.14x
Hackney London 1 2.90x
Hayes 1 666.67x
Islington London 1 1.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Elizabeth 3
Rose 3
Hannah 2
Ann 1
Belinda 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Phillis 1
Rebecca 1
Sah.Ann 1
Selena 1
Susan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Duller 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 Duller households.

FAQ

Duller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Duller surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Duller a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Duller surname mean?

A variant spelling of an English surname denoting a dull or stupid person.

What does the Duller map show?

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