NameCensus.

UK surname

Duly

A surname used as a spelling variant of the English vocabulary word "duly" meaning properly or rightly.

In the 1881 census there were 257 people recorded with the Duly surname, ranking it #10,861 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #10,861 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Hastings and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duly is 344 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.2%.

1881 census count

257

Ranked #10,861

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1891

344 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duly had 257 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,861 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 344 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Duly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duly 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 250 #8,788
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 257 #10,861
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 334 #10,608
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 229 #16,657
1999 modern 232 #16,594
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 210 #17,572
2006 modern 208 #17,835
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 205 #18,359
2009 modern 204 #18,779
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Dulys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Hastings All Saints and Hurstmonceux, Wartling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Hastings, Reading, Runnymede and Wakefield. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hastings All Saints Sussex
5 Hurstmonceux, Wartling Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 001 Tendring
2 Hastings 004 Hastings
3 Reading 015 Reading
4 Runnymede 007 Runnymede
5 Wakefield 001 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duly

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Duly is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Duly 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

Duly falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Duly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Duly

The surname DULY is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "de Doveley," referring to a location in Shropshire.

This surname is thought to have derived from the Old English words "duf" meaning "dove" and "leah" meaning "a clearing or meadow." Thus, the name DULY likely originated as a descriptive phrase for someone who resided near a meadow frequented by doves.

Throughout the centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Duffley, Duffleigh, Duffeild, and Duffill. These variations reflect the regional dialects and phonetic adaptations that occurred as the name spread across different parts of England.

One notable bearer of the DULY surname was Sir Thomas Duly (c. 1480-1537), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another historical figure was John Duly (1614-1684), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Utterby in Lincolnshire.

In the 17th century, the name DULY appeared in various parish records and legal documents, including the 1642 Protestation Returns for Derbyshire, which listed several individuals with this surname.

During the 18th century, the DULY surname was found in various parts of England, with records indicating families residing in counties such as Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. One notable individual from this period was William Duly (1714-1783), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Northamptonshire.

In the 19th century, the DULY name gained further recognition with individuals like Charles Duly (1829-1887), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Nottinghamshire, and Mary Duly (1856-1932), an acclaimed author and poet from Oxfordshire.

As the DULY surname spread across England and beyond, it became associated with various places, such as Duly Hill in Gloucestershire and Duly Farm in Warwickshire, reflecting the lasting impact of this name on the landscape and history of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duly 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. Sussex leads with 121 Dulys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.63x.

County Total Index
Sussex 121 28.63x
Kent 51 5.96x
Surrey 37 3.03x
Middlesex 20 0.80x
Hampshire 9 1.75x
Essex 6 1.21x
Perthshire 6 5.33x
Norfolk 4 1.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.66x
Lincolnshire 1 0.25x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 26 Dulys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.49x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 26 30.49x
Eastbourne 24 123.39x
Herstmonceaux 19 1496.06x
Camberwell 18 11.24x
Tonbridge 17 55.11x
Hastings All Sts 10 251.26x
Higham 10 862.07x
Eastdean 8 3200.00x
Clapham 7 22.34x
Hastings St Clement 7 175.88x
Newington 7 7.56x
Mayfield 6 240.00x
Little Dunkeld 5 261.78x
Loughton 5 204.08x
Portsea 5 4.97x
Sedlescombe 5 892.86x
Willesden 5 21.16x
Bermondsey 4 5.36x
Rochester St Margaret 4 44.35x
South Stoneham 4 35.87x
Stoke Newington London 4 20.48x
Hove 3 16.17x
Lewisham 3 6.58x
Sittingbourne 3 44.44x
Westminster St John 3 9.83x
Briningham 2 909.09x
Canterbury All Sts 2 645.16x
Canterbury St Alphage 2 219.78x
Cowfold 2 224.72x
Lewes All Sts 2 119.05x
Maidstone 2 7.85x
Minster In Sheppey 2 14.11x
Norwich St James 2 66.23x
Slaugham 2 145.99x
St George In East London 2 8.48x
St Mary Aldermanbury 2 1428.57x
Willingdon 2 186.92x
Beckenham 1 8.94x
Blair Athole 1 66.67x
Broughton 1 89.29x
Chartham 1 46.95x
Chatham 1 4.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.98x
Faversham 1 12.25x
Greenwich 1 2.51x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 32.15x
Islington London 1 0.41x
Lambeth 1 0.46x
Lewes St John Southover 1 35.21x
Milton In Milton 1 27.47x
Poling 1 666.67x
St Marylebone London 1 0.75x
Tottenham 1 2.50x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 16.56x
Uxbridge 1 34.97x
West Firle 1 204.08x
West Ham 1 0.92x
Westfield 1 111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 11
Ann 7
Elizabeth 6
Emily 6
Charlotte 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Ellen 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Naomi 2
Bertha 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Elizth.E. 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Frederica 1
Hellen 1
Infant 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Maryai 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Paula 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 14
William 14
John 12
James 9
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Henry 6
George 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Jackes 1
Jesse 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Duly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 257 people were recorded with the Duly surname. That placed it at #10,861 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Duly a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Duly surname mean?

A surname used as a spelling variant of the English vocabulary word "duly" meaning properly or rightly.

What does the Duly map show?

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