NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunstan

A locational surname referring to someone from Dunstan, Staffordshire or other places of that name.

In the 1881 census there were 1,694 people recorded with the Dunstan surname, ranking it #2,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,003, ranked #3,221, down from #2,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Feock and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunstan is 2,182 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.2%.

1881 census count

1,694

Ranked #2,540

Modern count

2,003

2016, ranked #3,221

Peak year

1998

2,182 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunstan had 1,694 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016, ranked #3,221.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,057 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dunstan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunstan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunstan 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 1,157 #2,439
1861 historical 806 #3,413
1881 historical 1,694 #2,540
1891 historical 1,576 #2,815
1901 historical 2,057 #2,605
1911 historical 1,821 #2,703
1997 modern 2,044 #3,006
1998 modern 2,182 #2,939
1999 modern 2,179 #2,959
2000 modern 2,154 #2,976
2001 modern 2,106 #2,977
2002 modern 2,134 #3,007
2003 modern 2,074 #3,021
2004 modern 2,067 #3,033
2005 modern 1,999 #3,092
2006 modern 2,007 #3,083
2007 modern 2,019 #3,097
2008 modern 2,034 #3,099
2009 modern 2,087 #3,101
2010 modern 2,085 #3,167
2011 modern 2,031 #3,201
2012 modern 2,004 #3,191
2013 modern 2,019 #3,217
2014 modern 2,032 #3,223
2015 modern 2,027 #3,201
2016 modern 2,003 #3,221

Geography

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Where Dunstans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Feock, London parishes, Wendron and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Feock Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wendron Cornwall
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 066 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 047 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunstan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunstan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dunstan, 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 Dunstan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dunstan 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunstan 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

Dunstan 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

Dunstan falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dunstan

The surname DUNSTAN originated in England and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning "hill" and "stan" meaning "stone," suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived near a rocky hill or a stony area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dunstanus." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Dunstan, Dunstone, and Dunstane. These spelling variations were common before standardized spelling became widespread.

One notable figure in history who bore this surname was St. Dunstan (909-988), an influential English abbot, bishop, and advisor to several kings. He played a significant role in the monastic and ecclesiastical reforms of the 10th century.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Geoffrey Dunstan, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1220 to 1290.

Another prominent individual was Sir William Dunstan (1468-1546), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

The name DUNSTAN is also associated with several place names in England, such as Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, which was built in the 14th century and takes its name from the nearby village of Dunstan.

Other notable figures with the surname DUNSTAN include Winifred Dunstan (1865-1955), a British chemist and one of the first female fellows of the Royal Society, and Sir Wyndham Dunstan (1861-1949), a British chemist and administrator who served as the Director of the Imperial Institute in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunstan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunstan 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. Cornwall leads with 969 Dunstans recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.46x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 969 51.46x
Yorkshire 164 1.00x
Middlesex 94 0.57x
Lancashire 88 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 58 2.59x
Devon 52 1.50x
Surrey 45 0.56x
Glamorgan 43 1.48x
Lincolnshire 34 1.28x
Hampshire 22 0.65x
Kent 20 0.35x
Derbyshire 15 0.58x
Durham 15 0.30x
Cumberland 13 0.91x
Gloucestershire 13 0.40x
Monmouthshire 11 0.91x
Sussex 9 0.32x
Channel Islands 8 1.62x
Somerset 8 0.30x
Cheshire 3 0.08x
Royal Navy 3 1.51x
Wiltshire 3 0.20x
Cardiganshire 2 0.49x
Dorset 2 0.18x
Essex 2 0.06x
Shropshire 2 0.14x
Anglesey 1 0.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Stithians in Cornwall leads with 174 Dunstans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1676.30x.

Place Total Index
St Stithians 174 1676.30x
Wendron 105 401.68x
Gwennap 71 199.89x
Camborne 60 77.33x
Kea 56 399.14x
Falmouth 52 78.02x
Feock 52 441.43x
St Gluvias 36 341.56x
Redruth 35 65.70x
Mabe 33 852.71x
St Gluvias Penryn 27 178.93x
Brightside Bierlow 21 6.50x
Kenwyn 19 38.59x
St Agnes 18 68.26x
St Columb Major 18 115.16x
Budock 17 119.97x
Constantine 17 155.11x
Barnsley 16 9.41x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 4.77x
Hackney London 16 1.72x
Calstock 15 40.62x
Helston 15 76.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 5.62x
Sheffield 15 2.86x
Towednack 15 406.50x
Portsea 14 2.10x
Nether Hallam 12 5.38x
Newton 12 7.89x
Scrooby 12 1071.43x
Uny Lelant 12 117.88x
Fenton 11 550.00x
Lambeth 11 0.76x
Newington 11 1.79x
Ulverston 11 19.14x
Arlecdon 10 26.26x
Bitton Oldland 10 29.99x
Mylor 10 79.24x
St Mellion 10 568.18x
Thornley 10 55.83x
Worksop 10 15.04x
Accrington 9 5.02x
Beswick 9 17.83x
Islington London 9 0.56x
St Blazey 9 54.45x
St John Near Swansea 9 25.13x
St Marylebone London 9 1.01x
Stoke Damerel 9 3.71x
Althorpe 8 132.23x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 5.21x
Battersea 8 1.31x
Doncaster 8 6.64x
Ecclesfield 8 6.62x
Edmonton 8 5.97x
Lewisham 8 2.64x
Llandaff 8 8.30x
Perranarworthal 8 127.19x
Perranzabuloe 8 49.26x
Aberdare 7 3.52x
Camberwell 7 0.66x
Soyland 7 35.41x
St Clement 7 35.62x
St Eval 7 463.58x
Bowling 6 3.68x
Cardiff St John 6 6.34x
Hammersmith London 6 1.46x
Ilkestonderbypart 6 78.74x
Leeds 6 0.64x
Leyland 6 17.47x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 2.16x
Minster In Sheppey 6 6.38x
Phillack 6 24.69x
Plymouth Charles The 6 3.93x
Snenton 6 6.81x
St George Hanover Square 6 2.05x
St Helier 6 3.74x
Tavistock 6 15.21x
Thornton In Bradford 6 10.93x
Nottingham St Mary 5 0.86x
Sithney 5 26.27x
St Ives 5 13.57x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 136
William 129
Thomas 75
James 62
George 32
Joseph 28
Richard 26
Edward 20
Henry 18
Charles 16
Alfred 15
Albert 12
Frederick 12
Nicholas 11
Samuel 11
Arthur 10
Robert 10
Stephen 7
Walter 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Ernest 5
Hugh 5
Willm. 5
Fred 4
Harry 4
Percy 4
Herbert 3
Martin 3
Peter 3
Tom 3
Wearne 3
Wm. 3
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Bennet 2
Bennett 2
Bernard 2
Caleb 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Georg 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Johnny 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Wearn 2
Wesley 2
Willm.H. 2

FAQ

Dunstan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunstan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,694 people were recorded with the Dunstan surname. That placed it at #2,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunstan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016. That gives Dunstan a modern rank of #3,221.

What does the Dunstan surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Dunstan, Staffordshire or other places of that name.

What does the Dunstan map show?

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