NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunbar

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Dunbar in East Lothian, meaning "summit fort."

In the 1881 census there were 3,446 people recorded with the Dunbar surname, ranking it #1,327 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,360, ranked #1,255, up from #1,327 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Howe of Alford, Mearns South and Benholm and Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunbar is 5,461 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.5%.

1881 census count

3,446

Ranked #1,327

Modern count

5,360

2016, ranked #1,255

Peak year

2010

5,461 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunbar had 3,446 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,327 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,360 in 2016, ranked #1,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,247 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dunbar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunbar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunbar 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 2,243 #1,308
1861 historical 2,242 #1,309
1881 historical 3,446 #1,327
1891 historical 3,640 #1,318
1901 historical 4,247 #1,325
1911 historical 1,606 #3,025
1997 modern 4,873 #1,343
1998 modern 5,013 #1,363
1999 modern 5,083 #1,354
2000 modern 5,161 #1,314
2001 modern 5,008 #1,326
2002 modern 5,149 #1,316
2003 modern 5,025 #1,314
2004 modern 5,053 #1,308
2005 modern 5,047 #1,297
2006 modern 5,089 #1,286
2007 modern 5,176 #1,275
2008 modern 5,231 #1,273
2009 modern 5,332 #1,278
2010 modern 5,461 #1,275
2011 modern 5,351 #1,282
2012 modern 5,242 #1,281
2013 modern 5,354 #1,276
2014 modern 5,415 #1,265
2015 modern 5,370 #1,261
2016 modern 5,360 #1,255

Geography

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Where Dunbars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Latheron and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Howe of Alford, Mearns South and Benholm, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter, Alness and Nairn East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Latheron Caithness
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Howe of Alford Aberdeenshire
2 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire
3 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
4 Alness Highland
5 Nairn East Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunbar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunbar

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dunbar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dunbar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunbar 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

Dunbar is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunbar falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dunbar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dunbar

The surname Dunbar originated in Scotland and is of territorial origin, derived from the town of Dunbar in East Lothian. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "dùn" meaning fort or castle, and "barr" meaning summit or hill, suggesting the town's location on a rocky headland.

The name Dunbar first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, with the earliest known bearer being Cospatric de Dunbar, who was appointed Earl of Dunbar by King David I of Scotland around 1115. The Dunbar family held considerable power and influence in Scotland for several centuries.

In the 13th century, the name is found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls rendered to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners, including Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of Dunbar.

The Dunbar family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding prominent positions. One notable figure was George Dunbar, Earl of March (c. 1337-1420), who was a Scottish nobleman and military commander during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another influential Dunbar was Gavin Dunbar (c. 1490-1547), who served as Archbishop of Glasgow and Lord Chancellor of Scotland under King James V.

William Dunbar (c. 1460-c. 1520) was a renowned Scottish poet of the medieval period, often referred to as the "Rhymer of Scotland." His works, such as "The Thrissil and the Rois" and "Lament for the Makaris," are considered among the finest examples of Scottish literature from that era.

In the 17th century, Sir William Dunbar of Hempriggs (1589-1663) was a Scottish landowner and member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Scottish Civil War. He initially supported the Royalist cause but later switched sides to the Covenanters.

The surname Dunbar has also been associated with various place names, such as Dunbar in East Lothian, as well as Dunbar in Cumbria, England, and Dunbar Creek in New Brunswick, Canada, reflecting the migration and settlement of families bearing this name in different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunbar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunbar 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. Lanarkshire leads with 412 Dunbars recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.80x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 412 3.80x
Aberdeenshire 324 10.42x
Lancashire 259 0.65x
Middlesex 248 0.74x
Angus 217 6.98x
Morayshire 210 40.26x
Midlothian 171 3.80x
Ayrshire 157 6.25x
Caithness 143 31.12x
Yorkshire 108 0.32x
Durham 104 1.04x
Kincardineshire 104 25.44x
Northumberland 103 2.06x
Surrey 81 0.50x
Renfrewshire 79 3.04x
Inverness-shire 67 6.68x
Dumfriesshire 60 8.09x
Perthshire 60 3.98x
Banffshire 54 7.76x
Hampshire 36 0.52x
Cheshire 34 0.46x
Kent 34 0.30x
Nairnshire 32 31.23x
Ross-shire 32 3.47x
Dunbartonshire 21 2.33x
Berwickshire 20 4.92x
Argyllshire 17 1.82x
Warwickshire 17 0.20x
Denbighshire 16 1.26x
Lincolnshire 15 0.28x
Cumberland 13 0.45x
Somerset 13 0.24x
Buteshire 12 5.90x
Devon 12 0.17x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 2.47x
Fife 11 0.55x
Shropshire 10 0.34x
East Lothian 9 2.02x
Hertfordshire 9 0.39x
Wigtownshire 9 2.02x
Berkshire 8 0.32x
Gloucestershire 8 0.12x
West Lothian 8 1.58x
Cornwall 7 0.18x
Derbyshire 7 0.13x
Essex 7 0.11x
Northamptonshire 7 0.22x
Staffordshire 7 0.06x
Oxfordshire 6 0.29x
Stirlingshire 6 0.48x
Glamorgan 4 0.07x
Royal Navy 4 1.00x
Sussex 4 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.07x
Peeblesshire 3 1.90x
Worcestershire 2 0.05x
Brecknockshire 1 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Orkney 1 0.27x
Roxburghshire 1 0.16x
Selkirkshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 130 Dunbars recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.73x.

Place Total Index
Barony 130 4.73x
Govan 119 4.43x
Glasgow 107 5.55x
Latheron 76 98.86x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 75 12.89x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 55 3.04x
Dundee 43 3.70x
Liverpool 39 1.61x
Montrose 36 19.10x
Fetteresso 35 54.64x
Toxteth Park 33 2.45x
Forres 29 52.90x
Wick 29 19.54x
Inverness 27 10.71x
Kensington London 27 1.45x
Lambeth 27 0.92x
Girvan 26 41.23x
Nairn 26 41.82x
Elgin 25 24.64x
Keith 25 33.68x
Urquhart 24 97.36x
Aberdeen Old Machar 23 3.54x
Fulham London 23 4.72x
Alves 22 169.88x
Liff Benvie 22 4.66x
Duffus 21 45.69x
Elswick 21 5.27x
Muirkirk 21 35.60x
South Leith 21 4.15x
St George Hanover Square 21 3.55x
Auchterless 19 76.99x
Abbey 18 4.54x
Cromdale 18 42.90x
Leeds 18 0.96x
Manchester 18 1.00x
Ruthwell 18 180.36x
Chelsea London 17 1.68x
Hamilton 17 5.61x
Pitsligo 17 57.22x
Preston 17 1.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 2.52x
Fraserburgh 16 18.28x
Moy Dalarossie 16 169.67x
Paisley High Church 16 7.73x
Peterculter 16 72.96x
Shoreditch London 16 1.10x
Byker 15 6.08x
Dunse 15 38.91x
Hulme 15 1.80x
Huntly 15 29.66x
Inveresk 15 12.32x
Riccarton Hurlford 15 34.04x
Strathdon 15 99.27x
Westminster St Margaret 15 9.26x
Arbroath 14 13.59x
Camberwell 14 0.65x
Dumfries 14 19.14x
Halkirk 14 45.03x
Ayr 13 10.96x
Blairgowrie 13 21.82x
Dunnottar 13 45.20x
Glenbervie 13 116.18x
Grantham 13 18.58x
Maryhill 13 6.12x
Rathen 13 39.91x
St Pancras London 13 0.48x
St Vigeans 13 7.74x
Arbuthnott 12 128.89x
Bedlington 12 7.20x
Droylsden 12 9.24x
Islington London 12 0.37x
Monkwearmouth Shore 12 6.16x
Birkenhead 11 1.86x
Brechin 11 9.00x
Dumbarton 11 8.76x
Foveran 11 46.75x
Lonmay 11 38.98x
Mortlach 11 32.35x
Nigg 11 32.53x
Thurso 11 15.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 82
John 79
James 65
Thomas 30
George 28
Robert 26
Henry 24
Charles 21
Joseph 17
David 12
Edward 9
Richard 8
Samuel 8
Alexander 7
Edwin 7
Frederick 7
Peter 7
Wm. 7
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Hugh 4
Isaac 4
Patrick 4
Andrew 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Michael 3
Adam 2
Albert 2
Alexandra 2
Bernard 2
C. 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Duncan 2
Lewis 2
Louis 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Ronald 2
Samuell 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Bathgrt. 1
Earnest 1

FAQ

Dunbar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunbar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,446 people were recorded with the Dunbar surname. That placed it at #1,327 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunbar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,360 in 2016. That gives Dunbar a modern rank of #1,255.

What does the Dunbar surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Dunbar in East Lothian, meaning "summit fort."

What does the Dunbar map show?

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