UK surname
A variant spelling of the Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "hill fort" or "fortified hill".
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Dumbar surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Arbilot, New Monkland and Forfar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dumbar is 105 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.7%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1851
105 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dumbar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dumbar 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 83 | #23,189 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 88 | #25,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Arbilot, New Monkland, Forfar, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Arbilot | Forfar |
| 2 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 3 | Forfar | Forfar |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dumbar 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 Dumbar, 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 Dumbar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dumbar 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, Dumbar 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 Dumbar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dumbar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DUMBAR is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic word "dun," meaning a fortified hill or fort, and "barr," referring to a summit or top. This suggests that the name may have initially denoted someone who lived near or oversaw a fortified hilltop settlement.
The earliest recorded instances of the name DUMBAR can be found in various Scottish historical records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable example is the Charter of Melrose Abbey, dated 1166, which mentions a witness named Richard de Dunbar. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by the mid-12th century.
In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document recording the submission of Scottish nobility to Edward I of England, several individuals bearing the name DUMBAR are listed, including Patrick de Dumbar and Walter de Dumbar. These records provide evidence of the name's widespread use among the Scottish aristocracy during this period.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the DUMBAR family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding prominent positions and titles. One of the most notable figures was George Dumbar, Earl of March (c. 1339-1420), who served as a powerful nobleman and military leader during the reigns of Robert II and Robert III.
Another influential figure was Gavin Dumbar (c. 1455-1522), a Scottish churchman and scholar who served as Bishop of Aberdeen and was renowned for his poetic works and contributions to the Scottish Renaissance. His contemporary, William Dumbar (c. 1465-1530), was a celebrated Scottish poet often referred to as the "Chaucer of Scotland."
In the 16th century, the DUMBAR surname can be found in various records related to the Scottish Reformation, with individuals like Patrick Dumbar (c. 1520-1594), who served as a Protestant minister and was involved in the establishment of the reformed Kirk.
Other notable historical figures bearing the DUMBAR name include Sir James Dumbar (c. 1555-1625), a Scottish soldier and courtier who served under James VI of Scotland and I of England, and Sir William Dumbar (c. 1590-1660), a Scottish landowner and soldier who fought in the English Civil War.
While the DUMBAR surname has maintained its Scottish roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dumbar 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 13 Dumbars recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 13 | 19.45x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.52x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 1.05x |
| Midlothian | 9 | 9.31x |
| Renfrewshire | 9 | 16.09x |
| Morayshire | 6 | 53.52x |
| Perthshire | 4 | 12.35x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 3.70x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 9.28x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.86x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.50x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 6.68x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 6.27x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.47x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.41x |
| Nairnshire | 1 | 45.45x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 9 Dumbars recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Greenock | 9 | 89.64x |
| Butterworth | 8 | 382.78x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 6 | 43.01x |
| Edinkillie | 6 | 2068.97x |
| Fraserburgh | 6 | 319.15x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 23.49x |
| Colinton | 4 | 370.37x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 9.97x |
| North Leith | 4 | 89.49x |
| Govan | 2 | 3.47x |
| Madderty | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Ratcliffe London | 2 | 50.25x |
| Alvie | 1 | 588.24x |
| Ardclach | 1 | 357.14x |
| Ballantrae | 1 | 277.78x |
| Cargill | 1 | 294.12x |
| Chertsey | 1 | 44.05x |
| Dalton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 42.02x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.57x |
| Gamrie | 1 | 59.88x |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 15.55x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 1 | 23.87x |
| Muthill | 1 | 238.10x |
| Peterculter | 1 | 212.77x |
| Petty | 1 | 263.16x |
| St Vigeans | 1 | 27.70x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 14.06x |
| Windle | 1 | 20.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dumbar 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 Dumbar 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 Dumbar households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Laborer | 2 |
| Assistant Mistress (School) | 1 |
| Assistant Rwy Buffet (Inn Serv) | 1 |
| Bk Smith | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Gamekeeper | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
| Nut Maker | 1 |
| Plater At Shipyard (Br) | 1 |
| Smith & Farrier | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Dumbar surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Dumbar a modern rank of #37,967.
A variant spelling of the Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "hill fort" or "fortified hill".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dumbar 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.