NameCensus.

UK surname

Dundas

A Scottish surname derived from a location near Edinburgh named Dundas.

In the 1881 census there were 563 people recorded with the Dundas surname, ranking it #6,155 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,047, ranked #5,569, up from #6,155 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Mearns South and Benholm and Darnley East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dundas is 1,053 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.0%.

1881 census count

563

Ranked #6,155

Modern count

1,047

2016, ranked #5,569

Peak year

2014

1,053 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dundas had 563 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,155 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,047 in 2016, ranked #5,569.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 844 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dundas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dundas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dundas 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 400 #6,412
1881 historical 563 #6,155
1891 historical 740 #5,376
1901 historical 844 #5,394
1911 historical 336 #10,563
1997 modern 943 #5,750
1998 modern 967 #5,832
1999 modern 998 #5,723
2000 modern 1,008 #5,655
2001 modern 948 #5,828
2002 modern 998 #5,699
2003 modern 1,010 #5,546
2004 modern 998 #5,616
2005 modern 1,001 #5,544
2006 modern 1,005 #5,548
2007 modern 987 #5,666
2008 modern 1,012 #5,598
2009 modern 1,035 #5,618
2010 modern 1,034 #5,718
2011 modern 1,037 #5,645
2012 modern 1,019 #5,649
2013 modern 1,035 #5,679
2014 modern 1,053 #5,610
2015 modern 1,041 #5,617
2016 modern 1,047 #5,569

Geography

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Where Dundas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Mearns South and Benholm, Darnley East, Erewash and Northumberland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire
3 Darnley East Glasgow City
4 Erewash 013 Erewash
5 Northumberland 005 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dundas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dundas

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dundas, 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 Dundas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dundas 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, Dundas 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

Dundas 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

Dundas 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 Dundas 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 Dundas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dundas

The surname Dundas originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the lands of Dundas in West Lothian, Scotland. The name is thought to be a territorial designation from the Gaelic word "dun" meaning a hill or fort, and "deas" meaning south, referring to the southern location of the lands.

The earliest recorded instance of the Dundas name can be traced back to the 12th century. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, the name Dundas appears as "Dondasse". This indicates the name's Scottish origins and its use as a territorial designation.

The Dundas family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding prominent positions and titles. One notable figure was Sir Archibald Dundas (1564-1640), who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James VI of Scotland.

Another historic individual was Sir Walter Dundas (c.1620-1675), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate and Lord President of the Court of Session. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Scottish legal system and was known for his impartiality and fairness.

In the 18th century, Sir Lawrence Dundas (1710-1781) was a influential Scottish merchant and politician. He amassed a considerable fortune through trade and investments, and was elected as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies. His wealth and influence helped establish the Dundas family as one of the most prominent in Scotland.

The Dundas name also has connections to the British Empire. Thomas Dundas (1750-1832) was a Scottish politician and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Prince Edward Island from 1794 to 1805. His role in the development of the island's infrastructure and governance left a lasting impact.

Another notable figure was Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas (1785-1862), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth, which trained officers for the Royal Navy.

Throughout history, the Dundas surname has been associated with landed gentry, politicians, lawyers, and military figures, reflecting its Scottish origins and the prominent role the family played in Scotland and the wider British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dundas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dundas 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. Angus leads with 100 Dundas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.52x.

County Total Index
Angus 100 19.52x
Midlothian 97 13.09x
Middlesex 63 1.14x
Lanarkshire 48 2.68x
Caithness 34 44.90x
Fife 26 7.94x
Yorkshire 24 0.44x
Aberdeenshire 18 3.51x
Surrey 15 0.56x
Hampshire 14 1.23x
Northumberland 14 1.70x
Kent 10 0.53x
Durham 9 0.55x
Devon 8 0.69x
Dunbartonshire 8 5.38x
Perthshire 7 2.82x
Sussex 7 0.75x
Gloucestershire 5 0.46x
Inverness-shire 5 3.03x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Argyllshire 4 2.60x
Ayrshire 4 0.97x
Lincolnshire 4 0.45x
Renfrewshire 4 0.93x
Stirlingshire 4 1.96x
Cheshire 3 0.25x
Essex 3 0.27x
Warwickshire 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.48x
Cumberland 2 0.42x
East Lothian 2 2.73x
Kincardineshire 2 2.97x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.27x
Royal Navy 2 3.03x
Banffshire 1 0.87x
Channel Islands 1 0.61x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.19x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Flintshire 1 0.67x
Hertfordshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.29x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 54 Dundas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.11x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 54 18.11x
Dundee 37 19.34x
Forfar 22 79.28x
Dalziel 17 88.36x
Barony 16 3.53x
South Leith 15 17.99x
Canisbay 14 281.69x
St George Hanover Square 14 14.37x
St Vigeans 12 43.38x
Dunnet 11 361.84x
Kensington London 11 3.58x
Edinburgh St Stephens 9 61.69x
St Andrews 9 60.40x
St Pancras London 9 2.02x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 7.48x
Edinburgh Greenside 8 81.72x
Glasgow 8 2.52x
Airlie 7 426.83x
Brighton 7 3.72x
Chertsey 7 40.21x
Southampton St Mary 7 9.82x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 7 27.49x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 6.26x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.50x
Blairgowrie 6 61.10x
Escomb 6 79.37x
Liff Benvie 6 7.71x
Paddington London 6 2.95x
Wallsend 6 22.99x
Aske 5 1190.48x
Boleskine Abertarff 5 182.48x
Chelsea London 5 3.00x
Govan 5 1.13x
Tormoham 5 10.26x
West Calder 5 34.25x
Albury 4 162.60x
Brechin 4 19.86x
Campbeltown 4 21.54x
Charlton Kings 4 53.26x
Cupar 4 28.09x
Epworth 4 97.09x
Farnborough 4 33.59x
Larbert 4 32.81x
Lewisham 4 3.98x
Lochee 4 87.53x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 8.14x
Rayne 4 164.61x
Reay 4 96.39x
Roseneath 4 140.35x
Row 4 20.80x
Thurso 4 33.87x
Barnsley 3 5.31x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.79x
Camberwell 3 0.85x
Ealing 3 6.07x
East Ham 3 14.81x
Kilbarchan 3 23.04x
Kinghorn 3 43.17x
Kirkcaldy 3 18.47x
Montrose 3 9.66x
Tannadice 3 125.52x
Abbotshall 2 16.35x
Benholm 2 69.20x
Clifton In York 2 17.45x
Corstorphine 2 48.90x
Dunfermline 2 3.97x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.79x
Edinburgh St Andrews 2 32.68x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 2 60.61x
Elswick 2 3.05x
Islington London 2 0.37x
Muirkirk 2 20.58x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.04x
Paignton 2 22.83x
Royal Navy 2 3.55x
Sale 2 13.35x
Tottenham 2 2.27x
Wavertree 2 9.52x
Westminster St James 2 3.52x
Woolwich 2 2.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Jane 8
Margaret 6
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Louisa 4
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Evelyn 2
Georgina 2
Ariabel 1
Bredalbane 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
E. 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethelred 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Horatia 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Isabelle 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lillies 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
M.E. 1
Margarett 1
Marie 1
Marion 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Robert 10
Charles 7
William 7
Thomas 6
Alexander 5
James 5
Henry 4
Frederick 3
George 3
Albert 2
Fred 2
Hugh 2
Lawrence 2
Alan 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn.W. 1
Claud 1
Colin 1
Cospatrick 1
David 1
Francis 1
Fredk.Jas. 1
Fredrick 1
Gibson 1
Harold 1
Jean 1
Laurance 1
Laurence 1
Lorcago 1
Mordaunt 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Vicent 1
Wedderburn 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Dundas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dundas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 563 people were recorded with the Dundas surname. That placed it at #6,155 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dundas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,047 in 2016. That gives Dundas a modern rank of #5,569.

What does the Dundas surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a location near Edinburgh named Dundas.

What does the Dundas map show?

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