UK surname
A surname referring to a sandy hill or ridge.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Dune surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dune is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 338.5%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dune surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dune surname density by area, 1861 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 | 34 | #27,194 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 17 | #32,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 6 | #33,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 39 | #34,932 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Manchester, Jedburgh and St Marylebone. 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 | Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) | Northumberland |
| 2 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Jedburgh | Roxburgh |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dune 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 Dune, 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 Dune surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dune 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, Dune 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 Dune is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dune, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dune has its origins in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas of Normandy and Brittany. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "dune," which means "sand dune" or "hill."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dune can be found in the Calendars of the Exchequer Rolls of Normandy, dated around 1180-1195. These ancient records document individuals with the surname Dune residing in various towns and villages across Normandy.
The name Dune was likely attributed to individuals who lived near or owned lands situated near sand dunes or hillocks, indicating a connection to a specific geographical feature. It is possible that the name was originally a descriptive nickname or a topographic surname, which later became a hereditary family name.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a compilation of census-like records from 1273-1279. This suggests that individuals bearing the Dune surname had migrated from northern France to England during this period.
Notable historical figures with the surname Dune include:
1. Robert Dune (c. 1285 - 1345), a prominent merchant and landowner from Caen, Normandy. 2. Jehan Dune (c. 1410 - 1478), a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 3. Elizabeth Dune (c. 1520 - 1589), an English noblewoman and landowner from Gloucestershire. 4. Thomas Dune (c. 1570 - 1631), an English scholar and theologian from Oxford. 5. William Dune (c. 1610 - 1668), a Scottish physician and author of medical treatises.
Over time, the surname Dune evolved into various spellings, such as Dun, Dunn, and Dunne, reflecting regional and linguistic variations. These alternate spellings can be found in historical records across England, Scotland, and Ireland, where families bearing this name eventually settled.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dune 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. Middlesex leads with 5 Dunes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 3.94x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 3.57x |
| Durham | 1 | 2.65x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.31x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 2.34x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 52.36x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 6.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Dunes recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 3 | 24.41x |
| Barony | 1 | 9.63x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 30.86x |
| Brenenden | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Carriden | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 80.65x |
| Manchester | 1 | 14.77x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 49.26x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 14.77x |
| The Hill | 1 | 909.09x |
| Wolstanton | 1 | 76.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dune 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 Dune 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 Dune households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Labour | 1 |
| Artist | 1 |
| Asst To Oilman | 1 |
| Dividends | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Governess (Private) (Prof) | 1 |
| Income From House Property | 1 |
| Labr At Colliery | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Dune surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Dune a modern rank of #34,511.
A surname referring to a sandy hill or ridge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dune 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.