NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunningham

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Dunningham surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egham, Raydon and Hadleigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Sunderland and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunningham is 181 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.2%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1999

181 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunningham had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dunningham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunningham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunningham 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 166 #16,756
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 173 #20,043
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Dunninghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egham, Raydon, Hadleigh, Harwich Dovercourt and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, Sunderland, Mid Suffolk and Bexley. 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 Egham Berkshire
2 Raydon Suffolk
3 Hadleigh Suffolk
4 Harwich Dovercourt Essex
5 London parishes London 1

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 013 Horsham
2 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
3 Sunderland 006 Sunderland
4 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
5 Bexley 010 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunningham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunningham

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

Ageing Communities

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

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunningham 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

Dunningham is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunningham falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dunningham 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 Dunningham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Dunningham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunningham 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. Essex leads with 35 Dunninghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.57x.

County Total Index
Essex 35 13.57x
Suffolk 31 19.47x
Middlesex 20 1.53x
Aberdeenshire 18 14.87x
Surrey 12 1.88x
Berkshire 6 6.12x
Inverness-shire 5 12.81x
Durham 2 0.51x
Kent 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.57x
Somerset 1 0.48x
Staffordshire 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Raydon in Suffolk leads with 10 Dunninghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4166.67x.

Place Total Index
Raydon 10 4166.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 9 35.62x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 9 39.74x
Staines 7 338.16x
Colchester St James 6 571.43x
Great Coggeshall 6 447.76x
Hadleigh 6 389.61x
Lambeth 6 5.26x
Lambourn 6 618.56x
Shelley 6 12000.00x
Colchester St Giles 5 196.08x
Dovercourt 5 549.45x
Great Bromley 5 1562.50x
Inverness 5 50.92x
Holy Trinity Less London 4 1212.12x
Newington 4 8.29x
Dedham 3 384.62x
East Bergholt 3 566.04x
Ardleigh 2 277.78x
Beccles 2 78.13x
Brightlingsea 2 136.05x
Hammersmith London 2 6.21x
Heworth 2 26.11x
Hintlesham 2 800.00x
Paddington London 2 4.16x
St Pancras London 2 1.90x
Batheaston 1 138.89x
Broadwater 1 19.80x
Cobham 1 95.24x
Fulham London 1 5.27x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 1 67.57x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 22.42x
Little Clacton 1 370.37x
Reigate Borough 1 68.03x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 71.94x
South Leith 1 5.08x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 37.17x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 76.34x
West Bromwich 1 3.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Louisa 3
Mary 3
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Priscilla 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Marcus 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Mira 1
Myra 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Sussannah 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Dunningham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunningham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Dunningham surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunningham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Dunningham a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Dunningham map show?

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