NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunsford

Locational surname derived from Dunsford, a parish in Devon, England.

In the 1881 census there were 435 people recorded with the Dunsford surname, ranking it #7,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 439, ranked #11,007, down from #7,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Teignbridge and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunsford is 578 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

435

Ranked #7,500

Modern count

439

2016, ranked #11,007

Peak year

1911

578 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunsford had 435 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016, ranked #11,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 578 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dunsford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunsford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunsford 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 285 #7,952
1861 historical 290 #8,686
1881 historical 435 #7,500
1891 historical 450 #8,074
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 578 #7,032
1997 modern 509 #9,181
1998 modern 524 #9,265
1999 modern 524 #9,319
2000 modern 519 #9,352
2001 modern 511 #9,304
2002 modern 509 #9,509
2003 modern 497 #9,526
2004 modern 478 #9,823
2005 modern 473 #9,841
2006 modern 460 #10,073
2007 modern 458 #10,190
2008 modern 449 #10,447
2009 modern 461 #10,462
2010 modern 482 #10,319
2011 modern 473 #10,376
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 462 #10,618
2014 modern 462 #10,676
2015 modern 441 #10,994
2016 modern 439 #11,007

Geography

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Where Dunsfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Paddington 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 Bristol, Teignbridge, Herefordshire and Tower Hamlets. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 035 Bristol, City of
2 Teignbridge 001 Teignbridge
3 Herefordshire 014 Herefordshire, County of
4 Tower Hamlets 014 Tower Hamlets
5 Herefordshire 016 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunsford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunsford

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dunsford is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunsford is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunsford falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dunsford

The surname Dunsford has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Dunsford, which itself derives from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a ford across a river in an area with hills or downs.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Dunsford, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were a record of financial accounts kept by the English Crown. This suggests the Dunsford family had established roots in the county of Devonshire by the late 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a manuscript recording the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to places that may have given rise to the Dunsford name. These include settlements called "Donesford" and "Donesforde" in the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset respectively.

The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Dunsforde, Dunsford, Donsford, and Dounsforde. These variations likely arose due to dialect differences and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Dunsford include:

1. John Dunsford (born c. 1539), an English merchant and politician who served as Mayor of Plymouth in 1588. 2. Martin Dunsford (1644-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1693 to 1718. 3. Elizabeth Dunsford (1696-1778), an English diarist and writer who kept a detailed journal of her life in the 18th century. 4. William Dunsford (1777-1849), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings of rural England. 5. Henry Dunsford (1832-1901), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1888 to 1895.

While the Dunsford name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to the name can be traced back to its English origins in the medieval and early modern periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunsford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunsford 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. Devon leads with 171 Dunsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.84x.

County Total Index
Devon 171 18.84x
Middlesex 67 1.54x
Gloucestershire 36 4.21x
Surrey 28 1.32x
Lancashire 18 0.35x
Somerset 17 2.42x
Glamorgan 16 2.11x
Cheshire 13 1.35x
Channel Islands 12 9.29x
Yorkshire 10 0.23x
Warwickshire 8 0.73x
Kent 7 0.47x
Worcestershire 6 1.05x
Cornwall 5 1.01x
Durham 5 0.39x
Dorset 4 1.40x
Shropshire 4 1.06x
Brecknockshire 3 3.44x
Hampshire 3 0.34x
Pembrokeshire 3 2.16x
Wiltshire 3 0.78x
Derbyshire 2 0.29x
Staffordshire 2 0.14x
Essex 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.37x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 27 Dunsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 172.74x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 27 172.74x
Islington London 21 4.97x
Roath 12 34.79x
Dawlish 11 162.48x
St Marylebone London 11 4.72x
Barnstaple 10 70.18x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 10 90.33x
Westbury On Trym 10 34.52x
Exminster 9 276.07x
Hornsey 9 16.32x
Stonehouse East 9 195.65x
Aston 8 2.64x
Bridgewater 8 41.99x
Exeter St David 8 103.23x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 38.48x
Stoke Damerel 8 12.59x
Uffculme 8 296.30x
Wigan 8 11.06x
Battersea 7 4.36x
Bristol St James In 7 55.64x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 25.17x
Marwood 7 578.51x
Moss Side 7 25.71x
Ottery St Mary 7 117.65x
Paddington London 7 4.37x
Awliscombe 6 750.00x
Clifton 6 13.88x
Kings Norton 6 11.75x
Seaton 6 171.43x
St Helier 6 14.27x
St Saviour 6 84.03x
Clapham 5 9.17x
East Budleigh 5 116.82x
Finchley 5 29.90x
Newington 5 3.10x
Northam 5 75.53x
Wells St Cuthbert 5 104.38x
Willington 5 66.67x
Bermondsey 4 3.08x
Bishops Castle Out 4 519.48x
East Stonehouse 4 22.37x
Exeter St Leonard 4 161.29x
Folkestone 4 13.86x
Great Torrington 4 77.67x
Lambeth 4 1.05x
Moreton Hampstead 4 170.21x
Saltash 4 104.44x
Swansea St Thomas 4 52.42x
Dale 3 600.00x
Exeter St Mary Major 3 54.84x
Frodsham 3 80.43x
Fulham London 3 4.74x
Holy Trinity 3 157.89x
Kensington London 3 1.24x
Lyme Regis 3 87.46x
Tetbury 3 61.86x
Basingstoke 2 19.46x
Bedminster 2 3.03x
Bristol St George 2 5.06x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.78x
Crigglestone 2 48.08x
Dartington 2 212.77x
Exeter St Lawrence 2 294.12x
Hackney London 2 0.82x
Llangenny 2 266.67x
Modbury 2 86.21x
Plymouth Charles The 2 5.00x
Westwood 2 250.00x
Arundel 1 24.27x
Astley 1 25.06x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.51x
Chilcompton 1 104.17x
Chingford 1 48.08x
Devonport 1 9.59x
Gillingham 1 3.26x
Great Little Marsden 1 4.22x
Otterton 1 68.49x
Oxford St Peter In East 1 96.15x
Shoreditch London 1 0.53x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 18
Ellen 13
Ann 10
Sarah 9
Emily 7
Emma 7
Annie 6
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Georgina 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Sally 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Ida 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Ellin 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isable 1
Janet 1
Jennette 1
Julia 1
Vina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
Henry 18
George 17
John 17
James 13
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Francis 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Frank 3
Sydney 3
Wm. 3
Ayshford 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Martin 2
Nicholas 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Chas.L. 1
Follett 1
Geo.Frd. 1
Grant 1
Hugh 1
Hy.James 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Julia 1
Lyde 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Reece 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
St. 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Dunsford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunsford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 435 people were recorded with the Dunsford surname. That placed it at #7,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunsford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016. That gives Dunsford a modern rank of #11,007.

What does the Dunsford surname mean?

Locational surname derived from Dunsford, a parish in Devon, England.

What does the Dunsford map show?

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