NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunsmore

A location surname referring to someone from the town of Dunsmore.

In the 1881 census there were 772 people recorded with the Dunsmore surname, ranking it #4,795 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,213, ranked #4,903, down from #4,795 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Cumnock, New Monkland and Rutherglen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stonehouse, Strutherhill and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunsmore is 1,251 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

772

Ranked #4,795

Modern count

1,213

2016, ranked #4,903

Peak year

2010

1,251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunsmore had 772 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,795 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016, ranked #4,903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 936 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dunsmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunsmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunsmore 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 471 #5,275
1861 historical 466 #5,573
1881 historical 772 #4,795
1891 historical 748 #5,323
1901 historical 936 #4,988
1911 historical 250 #12,918
1997 modern 1,101 #5,060
1998 modern 1,131 #5,130
1999 modern 1,147 #5,122
2000 modern 1,166 #5,024
2001 modern 1,137 #5,040
2002 modern 1,158 #5,068
2003 modern 1,156 #4,961
2004 modern 1,149 #5,003
2005 modern 1,150 #4,949
2006 modern 1,164 #4,891
2007 modern 1,186 #4,859
2008 modern 1,213 #4,802
2009 modern 1,220 #4,870
2010 modern 1,251 #4,869
2011 modern 1,223 #4,899
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,203 #4,969
2014 modern 1,230 #4,914
2015 modern 1,214 #4,918
2016 modern 1,213 #4,903

Geography

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Where Dunsmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Cumnock, New Monkland, Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stonehouse, Strutherhill, Salford, Bathgate and Boghall and Armadale South. 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 Old Cumnock Ayr
2 New Monkland Lanark
3 Rutherglen Lanark
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stonehouse South Lanarkshire
2 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
3 Salford 016 Salford
4 Bathgate and Boghall West Lothian
5 Armadale South West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunsmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunsmore

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Dunsmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dunsmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dunsmore is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunsmore is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunsmore 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 Dunsmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dunsmore

The surname Dunsmore has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Dunsmore in Warwickshire. The name itself is composed of two elements: "dun," meaning a hill or low ridge, and "mor," meaning a moor or wasteland.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dunesmore." This historical record provides evidence of the existence of the name during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the surname is documented in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Warwickshire in 1275, which mentions a "Roger de Dunsmore." This suggests that the name was well-established in the region of Warwickshire by this time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Dunsmore was John Dunsmore, born in 1548 in Warwickshire. He was a prominent landowner and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Dunsmore (1592-1668), a military commander who served in the English Civil War. He fought for the Royalist cause and was knighted by King Charles I for his bravery and loyalty.

In the 18th century, William Dunsmore (1717-1786) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Foundling Hospital.

The name Dunsmore also has connections to Scotland, where it is believed to have originated from a place called Dunsmore near Edinburgh. One prominent individual with this Scottish connection was James Dunsmore (1798-1875), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland.

Another notable figure was Sir John Dunsmore (1810-1892), a British diplomat and politician. He served as the Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1868 to 1872 and played a significant role in the development of the colony.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the surname Dunsmore across different regions and time periods, with individuals making notable contributions in various fields, including military, architecture, law, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunsmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunsmore 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. Lanarkshire leads with 298 Dunsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.27x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 298 12.27x
Renfrewshire 94 16.15x
Ayrshire 74 13.16x
Stirlingshire 48 17.33x
Midlothian 31 3.08x
Leicestershire 29 3.48x
Yorkshire 22 0.30x
Dunbartonshire 21 10.40x
Perthshire 18 5.34x
Lincolnshire 17 1.42x
Northumberland 16 1.43x
Argyllshire 13 6.22x
Lancashire 11 0.12x
Middlesex 11 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.09x
Durham 7 0.31x
Warwickshire 7 0.37x
Kent 6 0.23x
Selkirkshire 6 8.83x
Clackmannanshire 5 8.06x
Wigtownshire 5 5.01x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.58x
Surrey 4 0.11x
Sussex 4 0.32x
Devon 3 0.19x
Cumberland 2 0.31x
Angus 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 52 Dunsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.46x.

Place Total Index
Barony 52 8.46x
Govan 41 6.82x
Glasgow 40 9.27x
Old Cumnock 37 295.53x
Paisley High Church 33 71.21x
Cambusnethan 31 57.46x
Rutherglen 31 86.98x
Blantyre 30 118.62x
New Monkland 22 30.64x
Old Monkland 18 18.67x
Kilmarnock 17 25.41x
Bedlington 16 42.87x
Falkirk 13 20.05x
Campbeltown 12 47.58x
Cathcart 11 34.93x
Kirkintilloch 11 40.12x
Edinburgh St Georges 10 47.89x
Dumbarton 9 32.04x
East Greenock 9 16.37x
Kilbarchan 9 50.91x
Levenshulme 9 98.15x
Polmont 9 87.98x
York All Sts North 9 244.57x
Alva 8 60.56x
Cambuslang 8 32.67x
Colinton 8 71.30x
Dalserf 8 33.00x
Hackney London 8 1.90x
Kirby Wiske 8 1403.51x
Port Glasgow 8 28.43x
Methven 7 141.70x
Riccarton 7 82.55x
Stirling 7 20.04x
Woolsthorpe 7 454.55x
Aston 6 1.15x
Bottesford 6 175.44x
Carluke 6 27.20x
Denny 6 40.73x
Erskine 6 141.84x
Galashiels 6 23.89x
Lochwinnoch 6 69.20x
Maidstone 6 7.86x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.29x
Perth Middle Church 6 47.32x
Spittlegate 6 36.12x
Walton On The Wolds 6 1034.48x
West Greenock 6 5.74x
Ayr 5 18.85x
Clackmannan 5 42.66x
Westoe 5 3.95x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 2.75x
Fenwick 4 134.68x
Harby 4 263.16x
Newington 4 1.44x
Paisley Low Church 4 21.70x
Sewstern 4 784.31x
Sorbie 4 91.74x
West Calder 4 20.17x
Dalziel 3 11.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.74x
Scone 3 50.08x
Sompting 3 171.43x
Buckminster 2 307.69x
Devonport 2 11.13x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 10.22x
Flimby 2 36.63x
Hamilton 2 2.95x
Maryhill 2 4.21x
Muiravonside 2 28.41x
Perth St Pauls 2 25.61x
Quorndon 2 42.83x
Shotton 2 36.17x
St George Bloomsbury 2 4.64x
Walton On Hill 2 4.14x
Woodhouse 2 60.42x
York Holy Trinity 2 31.10x
York St Maurice 2 14.27x
Belton 1 20.49x
Kilwinning 1 5.51x
Rugby 1 3.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Jane 7
Ellen 4
Mary 4
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Sarah 3
Edith 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ada 1
Adela 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christine 1
E.F. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Jessie 1
Joan 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Mareman 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
S. 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 7
George 6
James 5
Charles 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Thomas 2
Wm. 2
Alfed 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Austin 1
Duncan 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Joel 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Roland 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1
Willim 1

FAQ

Dunsmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunsmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 772 people were recorded with the Dunsmore surname. That placed it at #4,795 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunsmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016. That gives Dunsmore a modern rank of #4,903.

What does the Dunsmore surname mean?

A location surname referring to someone from the town of Dunsmore.

What does the Dunsmore map show?

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