NameCensus.

UK surname

Dust

A surname possibly derived from an ancestor's occupation as a builder or thatcher.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Dust surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, St Dunstan Stepney and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Wyre and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dust is 168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.8%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2010

168 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dust had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dust surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dust surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dust 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 132 #23,623
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 150 #22,429
2009 modern 156 #22,351
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 165 #22,356
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Dusts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, St Dunstan Stepney, Portsmouth, Portsea, London parishes and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Wyre, Northumberland and Powys. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 003 Burnley
2 Wyre 011 Wyre
3 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
4 Burnley 002 Burnley
5 Powys 013 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dust

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dust

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dust is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dust is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dust 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 Dust is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dust

The surname Dust originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a toponymic name derived from the Old English words "dust" or "dust-ere," meaning "dust" or "one who raises dust." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone whose occupation involved working with dust, such as a miller or a thresher.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Dust appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a William Duste is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279 also list a Robert le Duster, suggesting the name was present in different regions of England during that period.

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various spellings, including Duste, Dustere, and Dustar. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 record a John Duster, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 list a Thomas Duster.

The Dust surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Duston in Northamptonshire. It is possible that some instances of the surname may have derived from these place names, although the precise connection is not always clear.

One notable figure in history bearing the Dust surname was John Dust (c. 1620-1676), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire.

Other notable individuals with the Dust surname include:

1. Samuel Dust (1677-1737), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works. 2. Henry Dust (1744-1809), an English architect and surveyor who designed buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 3. William Dust (1803-1867), a British artist and illustrator known for his landscapes and historical paintings. 4. Emily Dust (1829-1901), an American educator and suffragist who fought for women's rights and educational reform. 5. George Dust (1856-1932), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of steam engines and machinery.

While the Dust surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has a long and intriguing history that can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with various individuals bearing this name making their mark across different fields and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dust families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dust 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Dusts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 3.92x
Gloucestershire 12 6.15x
Lancashire 12 1.02x
Lincolnshire 11 6.92x
Huntingdonshire 5 25.32x
Surrey 5 1.03x
Bedfordshire 3 5.82x
Kent 3 0.88x
Somerset 3 1.87x
Derbyshire 2 1.28x
Worcestershire 2 1.54x
Hampshire 1 0.49x
Staffordshire 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.60x
Warwickshire 1 0.40x
Yorkshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 18 Dusts recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.03x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 18 85.03x
Iron Acton 7 1794.87x
Kensington London 7 12.66x
Cheetham 6 68.18x
Higher Booths 6 281.69x
Godmanchester 5 666.67x
Spalding 5 158.23x
St Marylebone London 5 9.41x
Abbots Leigh 3 2500.00x
Bedford St Paul 3 84.99x
Stoke Gifford 3 2500.00x
Wigtoft 3 1304.35x
Clapham 2 16.08x
Eckington 2 52.91x
Gedney 2 307.69x
Hornsey 2 15.90x
Isleworth 2 45.25x
Lambeth 2 2.31x
Ratcliffe London 2 36.43x
St Pancras London 2 2.50x
Woolwich 2 15.95x
Yardley 2 60.24x
Aldershot 1 14.64x
Birmingham 1 1.20x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 15.36x
Bromley 1 19.34x
Camberwell 1 1.57x
Henbury 1 105.26x
Holbeach 1 56.50x
Hove 1 13.59x
Norton In Moors 1 56.18x
Paddington London 1 2.73x
Scarborough 1 11.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Emily 4
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Abigal 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annette 1
Armella 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Lois 1
Lucey 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 5
William 5
Charles 3
George 3
Richard 3
Henry 2
James 2
John 2
Robert 2
Alfd. 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Elau 1
Enos 1
Ephraim 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Mark 1
Stanly 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Harris 1

FAQ

Dust surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dust surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Dust surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dust surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Dust a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Dust surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from an ancestor's occupation as a builder or thatcher.

What does the Dust map show?

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