NameCensus.

UK surname

Dulley

A variant spelling of the English surname Dulley, derived from a nickname meaning "dull" or "stupid."

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Dulley surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Putney, Wellingborough and Woodburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Spelthorne, Kirkton and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dulley is 165 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.9%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

1999

165 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dulley had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Dulley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dulley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dulley 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 162 #20,673
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

Back to top

Where Dulleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Putney, Wellingborough, Woodburn, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Spelthorne, Kirkton, Ashford, Montrose North and North Hertfordshire. 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 Putney London (South Districts)
2 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
3 Woodburn Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Spelthorne 003 Spelthorne
2 Kirkton Dundee City
3 Ashford 011 Ashford
4 Montrose North Angus
5 North Hertfordshire 006 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dulley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dulley

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Dulley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Dulley 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dulley 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

Dulley 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

Dulley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dulley

The surname Dulley is believed to have originated in England, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English word "dole," which meant a boundary or piece of land. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a specific boundary or plot of land.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in parish records from various counties in England. For example, in 1567, a Thomas Dulley was listed in the records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. In 1609, a John Dulley was recorded in the parish registers of St. Michael's Church in Coventry, Warwickshire.

While the Dulley surname does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England after the Norman Conquest, there are some references to place names that may have been related to the name's origin. For instance, the village of Dullingham in Cambridgeshire could have had a connection to the surname's etymology.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Sir Thomas Dulley (1614-1689), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in the late 17th century. Another prominent figure was John Dulley (1733-1808), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Tottenhall in Staffordshire.

In the 18th century, the surname can be found in various parts of England, including the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. For example, a William Dulley was born in Gloucestershire in 1754, while a Richard Dulley was born in Wiltshire in 1772.

During the 19th century, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One notable individual was William Dulley (1803-1879), a Scottish architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Glasgow. Another was John Dulley (1845-1923), an Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia.

While not an exhaustive list, these examples provide a glimpse into the history and geographic spread of the Dulley surname over several centuries. The name's origins can be traced back to England, where it likely referred to a specific boundary or piece of land, and it has since been carried by individuals in various professions and locations around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dulley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dulley 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. Surrey leads with 33 Dulleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.61x.

County Total Index
Surrey 33 6.61x
Northamptonshire 26 26.99x
Middlesex 24 2.34x
Berkshire 14 18.21x
Norfolk 2 1.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.62x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.32x
Kent 1 0.29x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 1.58x
Worcestershire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 19 Dulleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 392.56x.

Place Total Index
Wellingborough 19 392.56x
Lambeth 16 17.92x
Putney 11 235.55x
Kensington London 10 17.56x
Cookham 9 375.00x
Mears Ashby 6 3333.33x
Hackney London 4 6.97x
Hurley 4 1000.00x
Shoreditch London 4 9.01x
Acton 2 33.33x
Battersea 2 5.31x
Clapham 2 15.63x
Hammersmith London 2 7.93x
Thetford St Cuthbert 2 350.88x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 27.10x
Chatham 1 10.41x
Cowley 1 50.76x
Great Crosby 1 30.21x
Hampstead London 1 6.27x
Kidderminster Foreign 1 52.91x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 20.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.85x
Wantage 1 81.30x
Westminster St Margaret 1 20.24x
Woking 1 33.22x
Wooburn 1 117.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 7
William 5
David 4
James 3
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
George 2
John 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Archibold 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
M.P. 1
Nellie 1
Oscar 1
Paul 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Dulley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dulley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Dulley surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dulley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Dulley a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Dulley surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Dulley, derived from a nickname meaning "dull" or "stupid."

What does the Dulley map show?

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