NameCensus.

UK surname

Dumbleton

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley where dumb (mute) people lived".

In the 1881 census there were 578 people recorded with the Dumbleton surname, ranking it #6,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 533, ranked #9,534, down from #6,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, South Northamptonshire and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dumbleton is 690 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.8%.

1881 census count

578

Ranked #6,027

Modern count

533

2016, ranked #9,534

Peak year

1911

690 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dumbleton had 578 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016, ranked #9,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 690 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Dumbleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dumbleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dumbleton 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 396 #6,083
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 578 #6,027
1891 historical 620 #6,235
1901 historical 640 #6,725
1911 historical 690 #6,151
1997 modern 572 #8,424
1998 modern 628 #8,120
1999 modern 626 #8,196
2000 modern 615 #8,287
2001 modern 607 #8,230
2002 modern 621 #8,244
2003 modern 617 #8,150
2004 modern 614 #8,217
2005 modern 596 #8,313
2006 modern 581 #8,485
2007 modern 569 #8,681
2008 modern 576 #8,675
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 600 #8,787
2011 modern 609 #8,585
2012 modern 569 #8,942
2013 modern 562 #9,162
2014 modern 546 #9,446
2015 modern 551 #9,294
2016 modern 533 #9,534

Geography

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Where Dumbletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes, St Pancras and Nuneaton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, South Northamptonshire, Cherwell and Worthing. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Nuneaton Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 008 Coventry
2 South Northamptonshire 006 South Northamptonshire
3 Cherwell 005 Cherwell
4 Worthing 005 Worthing
5 Worthing 006 Worthing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dumbleton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dumbleton

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Dumbleton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Dumbleton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dumbleton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dumbleton is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dumbleton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dumbleton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dumbleton

The surname Dumbleton originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Dumbleton in Worcestershire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill and "bytl" meaning a building or dwelling, thus referring to a settlement on a hill.

The earliest known record of the name Dumbleton dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Dumbeltune." This suggests that the name and the village were well-established by the time of the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

In the 13th century, records show a Walter de Dumbleton who was a prominent landowner in the area. He is mentioned in various legal documents and charters from that time period.

During the 14th century, a Robert Dumbleton was a noted scholar and theologian who served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1349 to 1350.

In the 15th century, a Sir John Dumbleton (c. 1420 - 1487) was a knight and a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. He played a role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the House of Lancaster.

Another notable figure was Thomas Dumbleton (c. 1530 - 1600), a wealthy merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of several almshouses and a school in the village of Dumbleton.

The village of Dumbleton itself was mentioned in various historical records, such as the Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1535, which recorded the value of the rectory and church lands in the area.

As the name spread beyond its place of origin, variations in spelling emerged, including Dumbleton, Dumbelton, and Dumbilton. However, the core meaning and connection to the Worcestershire village remained consistent throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dumbleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dumbleton 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. Warwickshire leads with 143 Dumbletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.02x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 143 10.02x
Oxfordshire 92 26.33x
Middlesex 78 1.38x
Surrey 53 1.92x
Northamptonshire 45 8.46x
Buckinghamshire 20 5.85x
Gloucestershire 18 1.62x
Staffordshire 17 0.89x
Hertfordshire 16 4.10x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Devon 13 1.10x
Kent 13 0.67x
Derbyshire 9 1.02x
Hampshire 8 0.69x
Sussex 8 0.84x
Worcestershire 8 1.08x
Suffolk 5 0.73x
Bedfordshire 3 1.02x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Lincolnshire 3 0.33x
Ayrshire 2 0.47x
Essex 2 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.78x
Berkshire 1 0.24x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middleton Cheney in Northamptonshire leads with 37 Dumbletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1594.83x.

Place Total Index
Middleton Cheney 37 1594.83x
Aston 24 6.11x
Bermondsey 19 11.28x
Neithrop 18 153.32x
Brailes 16 730.59x
Leamington Priors 16 45.57x
Clifton 14 24.96x
Oxford St Giles 14 83.98x
Church Lawford 13 2500.00x
Hook Norton 12 502.09x
Nuneaton 11 66.55x
Rotherhithe 11 15.73x
St George Hanover Square 11 11.03x
Wycombe 11 43.14x
Broughton 10 884.96x
Holbeck 10 26.93x
Long Lawford 10 751.88x
St Pancras London 10 2.20x
Eckington 9 41.82x
Kensington London 9 2.86x
Watford 9 29.76x
Westminster St John 9 13.06x
Battersea 8 3.84x
Droitwich St Andrew 8 430.11x
Droxford 8 180.59x
Wednesbury 8 16.76x
Camberwell 7 1.94x
Ilmington 7 454.55x
Tottenham 7 7.77x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 29.81x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 22.25x
Lambeth 6 1.22x
Lichfield St Mary 6 108.89x
Oxford St Thomas 6 36.79x
Paddington London 6 2.88x
Priors Marston 6 535.71x
Stony Stratford West 6 254.24x
Warkworth 6 125.26x
Warwick St Nicholas 6 57.36x
Finchley 5 23.05x
Flamstead 5 139.28x
Foleshill 5 33.31x
Gorleston 5 28.56x
Littleham 5 58.07x
Napton On Hill 5 290.70x
Wendlebury 5 1562.50x
Armley 4 16.17x
Brighton 4 2.08x
Folkestone 4 10.68x
Piddington 4 740.74x
St Luke London 4 4.41x
Stanton St John 4 377.36x
Banbury 3 42.86x
Chilvers Coton 3 51.11x
Cropredy 3 283.02x
Ealing 3 5.93x
Eaton Socon 3 65.22x
Harborne 3 4.90x
Islington London 3 0.55x
Leamington 3 31.75x
St Giles Cripplegate 3 39.95x
Whaplode Drove 3 197.37x
Badby 2 190.48x
Balsall 2 89.69x
Bedworth 2 19.21x
Beith 2 15.82x
Beswick 2 11.65x
Bicester Market End 2 31.15x
Buxted 2 53.62x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 4.69x
Croydon 2 1.31x
Eynesbury 2 76.92x
Merton 2 606.06x
St Albans St Peter 2 15.20x
Temple Grafton 2 250.00x
Warmington 2 266.67x
Whaddon 2 253.16x
Wroxton 2 156.25x
Rowington 1 62.11x
Wotton Ville 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 24
Emma 20
Annie 14
Emily 13
Alice 12
Ann 11
Hannah 10
Jane 10
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Caroline 8
Louisa 7
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Martha 5
Amelia 4
Kate 4
Sophia 4
Clara 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Sylvia 2
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Elen 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza. 1
Esther 1
Jemima 1
Kathleen 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Margt.B. 1
Maria 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 45
George 34
Thomas 22
Joseph 16
James 11
Charles 9
Henry 9
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Herald 1
Herbert 1
Horatio 1
J.G.C. 1
J.R. 1
Jack 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jim 1
Jocelyn 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Levi 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Percival 1
Rich.B. 1
Sam 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Dumbleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dumbleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 578 people were recorded with the Dumbleton surname. That placed it at #6,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dumbleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016. That gives Dumbleton a modern rank of #9,534.

What does the Dumbleton surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley where dumb (mute) people lived".

What does the Dumbleton map show?

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