NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunkerley

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a hillock or dun.

In the 1881 census there were 1,039 people recorded with the Dunkerley surname, ranking it #3,777 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 937, ranked #6,112, down from #3,777 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunkerley is 1,431 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.8%.

1881 census count

1,039

Ranked #3,777

Modern count

937

2016, ranked #6,112

Peak year

1911

1,431 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunkerley had 1,039 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,777 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016, ranked #6,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,431 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dunkerley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunkerley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunkerley 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 555 #4,565
1861 historical 650 #4,130
1881 historical 1,039 #3,777
1891 historical 1,208 #3,551
1901 historical 1,309 #3,813
1911 historical 1,431 #3,379
1997 modern 998 #5,508
1998 modern 1,034 #5,523
1999 modern 1,064 #5,417
2000 modern 1,058 #5,437
2001 modern 1,030 #5,460
2002 modern 1,047 #5,479
2003 modern 1,043 #5,409
2004 modern 1,017 #5,519
2005 modern 987 #5,607
2006 modern 973 #5,673
2007 modern 975 #5,723
2008 modern 969 #5,786
2009 modern 997 #5,775
2010 modern 994 #5,905
2011 modern 957 #6,041
2012 modern 927 #6,109
2013 modern 944 #6,111
2014 modern 939 #6,182
2015 modern 940 #6,123
2016 modern 937 #6,112

Geography

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Where Dunkerleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham and Cornwall. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
4 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 018 Oldham
2 Oldham 012 Oldham
3 Oldham 003 Oldham
4 Oldham 007 Oldham
5 Cornwall 007 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunkerley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunkerley

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Dunkerley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dunkerley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Dunkerley is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunkerley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunkerley 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 Dunkerley 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dunkerley

The surname DUNKERLEY has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period of the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the town of Dunkerly or Dunkerley in Devonshire, formerly known as Donekereleia. This place name is thought to come from the Old English words "dun" meaning a hill and "cær" meaning a rocky place, referring to the geography of the area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name DUNKERLEY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry referred to a landowner named Radulfus de Donekereleia, indicating the surname's connection to the aforementioned town.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records with slightly different spellings, such as Dunkerly, Dunkerlegh, and Dunkyrly, reflecting the evolving nature of English language and naming conventions during that time period.

Notable individuals bearing the DUNKERLEY surname include Sir Robert Dunkerley (1675-1733), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Liverpool. Another prominent figure was John Dunkerley (1719-1775), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed significantly to the field of celestial mechanics.

In the 19th century, Edward Dunkerley (1806-1879) made a name for himself as a renowned English architect, responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Town Hall in Wednesbury, Staffordshire.

Moving into the 20th century, Rodney Dunkerley (1928-2009) was a British academic and author, known for his works on British education and social history.

Another individual of note is Susanna Dunkerley (1837-1909), an English author and activist who campaigned for women's rights and was a prominent figure in the suffragette movement.

These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the DUNKERLEY surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and contributions across various fields and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunkerley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunkerley 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. Lancashire leads with 870 Dunkerleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 870 7.24x
Cheshire 78 3.49x
Yorkshire 71 0.71x
Middlesex 7 0.07x
Staffordshire 6 0.18x
Lanarkshire 3 0.09x
Merionethshire 2 1.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 424 Dunkerleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.33x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 424 109.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 59 22.47x
Royton 38 103.40x
Crompton 29 84.75x
Droylsden 27 68.88x
Failsworth 26 94.58x
Blackburn 23 7.19x
Manchester 21 3.89x
Openshaw 21 37.32x
Chadderton 20 34.05x
Saddleworth 19 24.55x
Moss Side 18 28.47x
Macclesfield 15 15.10x
Hulme 14 5.58x
Scarborough 14 15.36x
Werneth 13 185.71x
Denton 12 45.06x
Moston 12 99.59x
Salford 12 3.40x
Bradford 11 19.56x
Barrow In Furness 9 5.51x
Spotland 9 6.74x
Reddish 8 48.34x
Stayley 8 31.31x
Cheetham 7 7.81x
Dukinfield 7 6.78x
Habergham Eaves 7 6.37x
Hyde 7 10.61x
Sutton 7 61.24x
Bowdon 6 67.64x
Haughton 6 34.23x
Newton 6 172.91x
Southcoates 6 10.77x
Stockport 6 5.22x
Timperley 6 77.22x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 6 17.35x
Ardwick 5 4.61x
Leeds 5 0.88x
St Luke London 5 3.08x
Stretford 5 7.56x
Birkdale 4 13.16x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.10x
Crumpsall 4 14.12x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 1.96x
Middlesbrough 4 3.06x
Settle 4 52.08x
Turton 4 20.34x
Yoxall 4 88.69x
Barony 3 0.36x
Butterworth 3 10.25x
Castleton 3 2.50x
Church 3 17.68x
North Meols 3 2.55x
Pendleton In Salford 3 2.10x
Preston 3 0.93x
Brampton Bierlow 2 15.56x
Doncaster 2 2.73x
Elton 2 4.82x
Llanaber 2 27.29x
Shoreditch London 2 0.46x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 6.97x
Cheadle 1 2.34x
Heap 1 1.57x
Huddersfield 1 0.68x
Linthorpe 1 1.67x
Lytham 1 5.45x
Newton 1 1.08x
Oxford St Aldate 1 15.20x
Sale 1 3.65x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 4.31x
Tintwistle 1 8.38x
Tipton 1 0.96x
Tonge 1 3.97x
Worsley 1 1.35x
Yarlett 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 96
Elizabeth 44
Sarah 43
Ann 29
Hannah 26
Jane 18
Alice 17
Betty 17
Ellen 17
Annie 15
Eliza 14
Emma 11
Martha 11
Ada 9
Esther 9
Harriet 9
Clara 7
Lucy 7
Margaret 6
Florence 5
Ruth 5
Elizth. 4
Emily 4
Nancy 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Nanny 3
Susannah 3
Beatrice 2
Betsey 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lillian 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Miriam 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Bessy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliabeth 1
Elizabath 1
Inez 1
Unice 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
James 65
William 46
Joseph 41
Thomas 31
George 25
Samuel 25
Daniel 21
Enoch 9
Luke 9
Benjamin 8
Charles 8
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Henry 6
Herbert 6
Alfred 5
Fred 5
Ben 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Elias 3
Elijah 3
Frederick 3
Mark 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
David 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Squire 2
Stanley 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Chorlton 1
Cyrus 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Ezra 1
Zacheus 1

FAQ

Dunkerley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunkerley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,039 people were recorded with the Dunkerley surname. That placed it at #3,777 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunkerley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016. That gives Dunkerley a modern rank of #6,112.

What does the Dunkerley surname mean?

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a hillock or dun.

What does the Dunkerley map show?

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