NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunscombe

A locational surname derived from a place in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 230 people recorded with the Dunscombe surname, ranking it #11,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 292, ranked #15,022, down from #11,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunscombe is 368 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

230

Ranked #11,748

Modern count

292

2016, ranked #15,022

Peak year

1911

368 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunscombe had 230 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016, ranked #15,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Dunscombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunscombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunscombe 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 230 #11,748
1891 historical 249 #12,813
1901 historical 295 #11,783
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 323 #12,888
1998 modern 327 #13,126
1999 modern 328 #13,183
2000 modern 317 #13,439
2001 modern 316 #13,258
2002 modern 339 #12,911
2003 modern 336 #12,786
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 317 #13,376
2007 modern 326 #13,260
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 335 #13,381
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 309 #14,236
2013 modern 312 #14,332
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 292 #15,022

Geography

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Where Dunscombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Roath. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bath and North East Somerset, Mendip and West Somerset. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Roath Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 005 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Bath and North East Somerset 022 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Mendip 009 Mendip
5 West Somerset 005 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunscombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunscombe

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Dunscombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Dunscombe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunscombe 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

Dunscombe is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunscombe falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dunscombe

The surname Dunscombe is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Dunscombe" in Devon, England. The name is composed of the Old English elements "dun" meaning hill and "cumb" meaning a short valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Dunscombe can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Dunescumbe." This reference suggests that the name was already well-established in Devon at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Taunton in Somerset, where a Walter de Dunscombe is mentioned in 1327. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its original locality.

During the 16th century, the surname Dunscombe appeared in several historical records, including the Wills and Administrations of Somerset from 1558 to 1603. One notable individual from this period was William Dunscombe, who was born around 1520 in Devon and served as a magistrate in the county.

In the 17th century, the surname continued to be well-represented in Devon and Somerset. One prominent figure was John Dunscombe, a merchant and member of the Society of Merchant Venturers in Bristol, who was born in 1625 and died in 1689.

The 18th century saw the surname Dunscombe maintain its presence in the West Country of England. Among the notable individuals bearing this name was Thomas Dunscombe, a clergyman and author who was born in 1724 in Devon and published several works on religious topics.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Dunscombe spread beyond its original geographical confines, with individuals bearing this name appearing in various parts of England and even venturing to other parts of the world.

While the surname Dunscombe is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, particularly in the counties of Devon and Somerset. The name's longevity and resilience testify to the enduring legacy of those who bore it throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunscombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunscombe 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. Glamorgan leads with 41 Dunscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.32x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 41 10.32x
Middlesex 32 1.40x
Somerset 32 8.71x
Devon 22 4.63x
Lancashire 20 0.74x
Sussex 20 5.20x
Gloucestershire 16 3.57x
Essex 13 2.89x
Monmouthshire 7 4.24x
Berkshire 5 2.92x
Dorset 5 3.34x
Kent 5 0.64x
Durham 4 0.59x
Channel Islands 3 4.44x
Surrey 3 0.27x
Suffolk 2 0.72x
Warwickshire 2 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 3.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Roath in Glamorgan leads with 20 Dunscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.80x.

Place Total Index
Roath 20 110.80x
Cardiff St Mary 13 59.39x
Lower Beeding 11 1078.43x
Clist St George 10 4761.90x
Barking 9 68.29x
Bradford 9 70.98x
Hove 9 53.29x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 83.16x
Westbury On Trym 8 52.74x
Newport 7 88.95x
Bath St James 6 156.66x
Hackney London 6 4.69x
St Marylebone London 6 4.92x
Lympsham 5 1388.89x
Reading St Mary 5 36.44x
Tiverton 5 61.12x
Walmer 5 147.49x
Woodbury 5 354.61x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 9.49x
Broadwinsor 4 408.16x
Cadoxton 4 1666.67x
Manchester 4 3.28x
Shotton 4 238.10x
St Anne Soho London 4 30.70x
Wellington 4 80.32x
Islington London 3 1.36x
Paddington London 3 3.57x
Radcliffe 3 22.97x
St Helier 3 13.62x
St Pancras London 3 1.63x
Sully 3 1875.00x
West Ham 3 3.02x
Aston 2 1.26x
Beccles 2 44.74x
Chelsea London 2 2.91x
Clifton 2 8.84x
Dulverton 2 185.19x
Everton 2 2.32x
Mile End New Town London 2 44.35x
Newington 2 2.37x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.97x
Bedminster 1 2.90x
Bicton 1 833.33x
Bleadon 1 208.33x
Bristol St Paul In 1 8.38x
Cardiff St John 1 7.70x
Harescombe 1 833.33x
Iwerne Courtnay 1 99.01x
Kewstoke 1 172.41x
Littleham 1 28.82x
Liverpool 1 0.61x
Royal Navy 1 4.30x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 21.28x
St Clement 1 37.04x
Taunton St James 1 18.66x
Toxteth Park 1 1.09x
Walcot 1 5.11x
Weston Super Mare 1 10.78x
Wimbledon 1 8.01x
Woodford 1 19.61x
Worle 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 9
Emily 6
Hannah 6
Kate 5
Eliza 4
Emma 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Alice 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Adaliza 1
Amelia 1
Barita 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Esther 1
Faith 1
Harrett 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Jane 1
Laneth 1
Laura 1
Letty 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mat. 1
Rebecca 1
Rosey 1
Ruth 1
Sally 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 14
Thomas 9
Charles 8
George 7
Henry 5
James 5
Albert 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
R. 2
Richard 2
Alfread 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Lot 1
Luke 1
Nicholas 1
Sam 1
Sam. 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Dunscombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunscombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 230 people were recorded with the Dunscombe surname. That placed it at #11,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunscombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016. That gives Dunscombe a modern rank of #15,022.

What does the Dunscombe surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Somerset, England.

What does the Dunscombe map show?

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