UK surname
A German surname derived from "dumm" meaning stupid or foolish.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Dum surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, West Calder and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dum is 129 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.5%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1851
129 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dum surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dum surname density by area, 1851 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 | 129 | #14,406 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 13 | #33,099 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, West Calder, St Pancras, Eccles and Cockburnspath. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | West Calder | Edinburgh |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 5 | Cockburnspath | Berwick |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dum 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 Dum, 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 Dum surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dum 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, Dum 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 Dum is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dum, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Dum" is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dumb," which meant "mute" or "unable to speak." This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone who was considered quiet or taciturn.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Dum is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire from 1208, which lists a Robert Dum.
In the 13th century, the name began to appear in various forms, such as "Dumbe" and "Doomb." For instance, the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1279 mention a John Dumbe, while the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 list a Henry Doomb.
The surname "Dum" is also linked to several place names in England, such as Dumbledon (now Dumbleton) in Gloucestershire and Dummow in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One notable historical figure with the surname "Dum" was Sir John Dum (c. 1350-1415), a knight who served under King Henry IV of England and fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. Another was Thomas Dum (c. 1510-1578), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Book of Psalms.
In the 16th century, the name appears in records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1545, where a William Dum is listed. The Visitation of Wiltshire from 1565 also mentions a family with the surname "Dum."
Other notable individuals with the surname include:
1. Richard Dum (c. 1620-1695), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Westbury. 2. John Dum (1703-1768), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. 3. Elizabeth Dum (1737-1815), a British author and poet known for her works on religious and moral themes. 4. William Dum (1788-1864), a British architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London. 5. Henry Dum (1825-1901), a British artist and illustrator known for his paintings of landscapes and rural scenes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dum 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. Durham leads with 5 Dums recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 5 | 5.39x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 4.75x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.08x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.28x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 5.52x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 4.31x |
| Somerset | 2 | 3.98x |
| Dorset | 1 | 4.88x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 4.14x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 26.88x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.66x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.90x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tunstall in Durham leads with 5 Dums recorded in 1881 and an index of 1086.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tunstall | 5 | 1086.96x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 4 | 68.03x |
| St John Near Swansea | 3 | 447.76x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 37.04x |
| Castle Church | 2 | 317.46x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 11.44x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 17.44x |
| Avening | 1 | 454.55x |
| Bath St Peter St Paul | 1 | 454.55x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 3.81x |
| Brighton | 1 | 9.43x |
| Burnham | 1 | 263.16x |
| Charmouth | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Croydon | 1 | 11.85x |
| Duddo | 1 | 5000.00x |
| East Greenock | 1 | 43.86x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 31.45x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 40.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dum 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 Dum 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 Dum households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Assistant In Shop | 1 |
| Barman (Inn Servt) | 1 |
| Carter & General Porter | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Manager To Shop | 1 |
| Nursemaid | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Private 63rd | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Owner (Nav Serv On Ship) | 1 |
| Shoddy Mill Hand | 1 |
| Telegraph Inspector | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Dum surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Dum a modern rank of #37,278.
A German surname derived from "dumm" meaning stupid or foolish.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dum 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.