NameCensus.

UK surname

Dyas

A surname thought to derive from a Latin word meaning "rich" or "wealthy".

In the 1881 census there were 351 people recorded with the Dyas surname, ranking it #8,742 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 975, ranked #5,924, up from #8,742 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, London parishes and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Halton and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dyas is 1,029 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 177.8%.

1881 census count

351

Ranked #8,742

Modern count

975

2016, ranked #5,924

Peak year

2010

1,029 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dyas had 351 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,742 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016, ranked #5,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dyas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dyas surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dyas 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 351 #8,742
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 498 #8,081
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 918 #5,886
1998 modern 972 #5,809
1999 modern 978 #5,807
2000 modern 976 #5,809
2001 modern 956 #5,791
2002 modern 982 #5,784
2003 modern 964 #5,771
2004 modern 959 #5,803
2005 modern 952 #5,770
2006 modern 960 #5,742
2007 modern 972 #5,737
2008 modern 987 #5,710
2009 modern 1,002 #5,754
2010 modern 1,029 #5,742
2011 modern 998 #5,839
2012 modern 979 #5,840
2013 modern 996 #5,846
2014 modern 997 #5,875
2015 modern 965 #5,987
2016 modern 975 #5,924

Geography

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Where Dyas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Shiffnal and Madeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Halton, Doncaster and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 Shiffnal Shropshire
5 Madeley Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
2 Halton 003 Halton
3 Halton 007 Halton
4 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dyas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dyas

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dyas, 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 Dyas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dyas 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dyas 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

Dyas 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

Dyas falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dyas

The surname DYAS originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dyas," which means a fool or simpleton. This name was likely used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was perceived as foolish or dull-witted.

The earliest known record of the DYAS surname dates back to the late 13th century in the county of Yorkshire. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a man named Adam Dyas was listed as a landowner in the village of Silsden.

During the 14th century, the DYAS name appeared in various records across northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. In the Poll Tax returns of 1379, a John Dyas was recorded as living in the village of Eccleshill, near Bradford.

One notable individual with the DYAS surname was Robert Dyas, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of York in the late 15th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1488 and was involved in the city's governance and trade affairs.

In the 16th century, the DYAS name was also found in the nearby county of Westmorland. In the Muster Roll of 1539, a Thomas Dyas was listed as a resident of the village of Crosby Ravensworth.

Another historical figure with this surname was William Dyas, a scholar and clergyman who lived in the 17th century. Born in Yorkshire in 1612, he attended the University of Cambridge and later became the rector of the parish of Naburn, near York. He was known for his writings on theological subjects.

During the 18th century, the DYAS surname spread to other parts of England, including London and the southern counties. One notable individual from this period was John Dyas, a successful merchant and philanthropist who lived in London in the mid-1700s. He contributed to various charitable causes and was involved in the establishment of several schools and almshouses.

In the 19th century, the DYAS name continued to be found across England, with some individuals emigrating to other parts of the world, such as Australia and North America.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dyas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dyas 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. Shropshire leads with 105 Dyas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.30x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 105 35.30x
Lincolnshire 50 9.08x
Middlesex 41 1.19x
Worcestershire 26 5.78x
Staffordshire 24 2.06x
Warwickshire 20 2.30x
Yorkshire 15 0.44x
Lancashire 14 0.34x
Montgomeryshire 14 17.74x
Perthshire 6 3.88x
Morayshire 5 9.35x
Cheshire 4 0.53x
Durham 4 0.39x
Surrey 4 0.24x
Denbighshire 3 2.31x
Derbyshire 3 0.56x
Essex 3 0.44x
Sussex 3 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.96x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Devon 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Isle of Man 1 1.56x
Kent 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shifnal in Shropshire leads with 26 Dyas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 321.78x.

Place Total Index
Shifnal 26 321.78x
Birmingham 16 5.53x
Pontesbury 13 359.12x
Cakemore 11 1486.49x
Worthen 10 316.46x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 76.66x
Featherstone 8 208.88x
Great Grimsby 8 22.90x
Kidderminster Borough 8 30.40x
Llangyniew 8 1379.31x
Louth 8 63.39x
Wombridge 8 217.98x
Islington London 7 2.10x
Madeley 7 64.16x
Chelsea London 6 5.78x
Kingswinford 6 14.22x
Shrewsbury St Julian 6 81.52x
St Dunstan In West London 6 560.75x
St Luke London 6 10.86x
Wolverhampton 6 6.71x
Elgin 5 48.03x
Guilsfield 5 174.22x
Kensington London 5 2.61x
Louth Park 5 3125.00x
South Cockerington 5 1851.85x
Aston 4 1.67x
Drayton In Hales 4 65.25x
Dunkeld Dowally 4 784.31x
Oldbury 4 18.08x
Paddington London 4 3.16x
Sherburn 4 128.21x
Stockport 4 10.22x
Toxteth Park 4 2.89x
Walsall Foreign 4 6.66x
Westbury 4 259.74x
Yarborough 4 1250.00x
Beelsby 3 1500.00x
Brighton 3 2.56x
Broughton 3 58.71x
Condover 3 143.54x
Denton 3 33.15x
Glossop Dale 3 11.88x
Holy Trinity 3 3.66x
Little Coates 3 4285.71x
Minsterley 3 272.73x
Newcastle Under Lyme 3 14.58x
Rushall 3 43.86x
St Pancras London 3 1.08x
Thorganby 3 1764.71x
Wold Newton 3 1578.95x
Wroxeter 3 517.24x
Barnoldby Le Beck 2 800.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.08x
Clee With Weelsby 2 16.60x
Croydon 2 2.15x
Gt Hanwood 2 526.32x
Kemberton 2 625.00x
Little Dunkeld 2 76.34x
Sculcoates 2 3.70x
Shrewsbury St Chad 2 19.16x
Stoke Poges 2 78.74x
Welton Le Wold 2 512.82x
West Ham 2 1.33x
Abbots Bromley 1 58.14x
Burwell 1 526.32x
Everton 1 0.77x
Farforth Cum Maidenwell 1 588.24x
Kettering 1 7.63x
Liverpool 1 0.40x
Llandrinio 1 105.26x
Malew 1 17.89x
Manningham 1 2.38x
Nether Wyresdale 1 140.85x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.85x
Shadwell London 1 10.37x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 30.40x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.65x
Whistones 1 30.67x
Winkfield 1 23.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 15
Martha 10
Ellen 9
Jane 8
Ann 7
Annie 5
Emma 5
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Elizebeth 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Helen 2
Mabel 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Eliz'th. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Geraldine 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Infant 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lear 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minney 1
Rebeca 1
Rossanah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 20
Edward 14
Charles 13
Richard 12
George 9
Thomas 8
James 6
Samuel 6
Henry 5
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Evan 2
Frank 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Bartholomew 1
Barthow. 1
Bryan 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Fredridk 1
Geo.D. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richd.J. 1
S.W.P. 1
Tom. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Dyas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dyas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 351 people were recorded with the Dyas surname. That placed it at #8,742 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dyas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016. That gives Dyas a modern rank of #5,924.

What does the Dyas surname mean?

A surname thought to derive from a Latin word meaning "rich" or "wealthy".

What does the Dyas map show?

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