NameCensus.

UK surname

Dundon

Originally a place name for someone from Dundon in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Dundon surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, up from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mynyddyslwyn, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Hambleton and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dundon is 407 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 555.1%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

2000

407 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dundon had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dundon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dundon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dundon 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 352 #12,117
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 394 #11,579
2000 modern 407 #11,252
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 372 #11,881
2004 modern 367 #12,028
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 358 #12,736
2010 modern 355 #13,099
2011 modern 345 #13,221
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 335 #13,720
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Dundons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mynyddyslwyn, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Hanney, West. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Hambleton and Halton. 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 Mynyddyslwyn Monmouthshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Hanney, West Berkshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Hambleton 009 Hambleton
3 Halton 006 Halton
4 Halton 004 Halton
5 Halton 013 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dundon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dundon

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dundon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dundon is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dundon 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 Dundon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dundon

The surname Dundon has its origins in England, where it can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning "hill" and "dun" meaning "brown" or "dark." This suggests that the name may have originated from someone who lived on or near a brown or dark hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dundon surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Dunden and Dundone, indicating its evolution over time.

The Dundon surname is also associated with several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Dorset. For example, the village of Dundon in Somerset is believed to have been named after an early bearer of the Dundon surname.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the Dundon surname was John Dundon (c. 1220-1290), who served as a knight and landowner in Somerset. Another early bearer of the name was William Dundon (c. 1300-1370), a merchant and alderman in the City of London.

During the 16th century, the Dundon family gained prominence in Dorset, where they were landowners and gentry. One notable member was Sir Edward Dundon (1520-1587), who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Dundon surname is associated with the English civil war. Captain Thomas Dundon (1610-1680) was a Royalist commander who fought for King Charles I against the Parliamentarians. After the Restoration, he was granted lands in Somerset for his loyalty.

Another significant figure from this time period was Reverend Richard Dundon (1635-1712), an Anglican clergyman who served as the Rector of Everdon in Northamptonshire. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and church history.

As the Dundon surname spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. However, the name's origins can be firmly traced back to its medieval English roots, where it was associated with various locations and prominent individuals throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dundon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dundon 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Dundons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 4.60x
Lanarkshire 14 9.06x
Surrey 5 2.15x
Lancashire 4 0.71x
Hampshire 2 2.04x
Monmouthshire 1 2.89x
Yorkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Dundons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.72x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 12 43.72x
Shoreditch London 10 48.26x
Liverpool 4 11.61x
St Pancras London 4 10.40x
Westminster St James 4 81.47x
Battersea 3 17.06x
Barony 2 5.11x
Mortlake 2 192.31x
Abergavenny 1 77.52x
Aldershot 1 30.49x
Bowling 1 21.32x
Chelsea London 1 6.94x
Fulham London 1 14.43x
Hound 1 151.52x
St Marylebone London 1 3.92x
Westminster St John 1 17.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 2
Michael 2
Edward 1
George 1
Jamie 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Dundon households.

FAQ

Dundon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dundon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Dundon surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dundon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Dundon a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Dundon surname mean?

Originally a place name for someone from Dundon in Somerset, England.

What does the Dundon map show?

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