NameCensus.

UK surname

Dyson

Son of Dennis, or one who comes from Dyson, a place in West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 9,699 people recorded with the Dyson surname, ranking it #443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,249, ranked #704, down from #443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Almondbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dyson is 12,141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

9,699

Ranked #443

Modern count

9,249

2016, ranked #704

Peak year

1911

12,141 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dyson had 9,699 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,249 in 2016, ranked #704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dyson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dyson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dyson 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 6,377 #432
1861 historical 6,863 #409
1881 historical 9,699 #443
1891 historical 10,364 #425
1901 historical 11,099 #471
1911 historical 12,141 #404
1997 modern 9,627 #652
1998 modern 9,740 #668
1999 modern 9,773 #673
2000 modern 9,778 #666
2001 modern 9,539 #668
2002 modern 9,667 #677
2003 modern 9,435 #678
2004 modern 9,361 #679
2005 modern 9,243 #680
2006 modern 9,202 #681
2007 modern 9,261 #682
2008 modern 9,330 #681
2009 modern 9,460 #693
2010 modern 9,618 #694
2011 modern 9,483 #698
2012 modern 9,268 #699
2013 modern 9,432 #697
2014 modern 9,470 #700
2015 modern 9,351 #699
2016 modern 9,249 #704

Geography

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Where Dysons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Almondbury, Sheffield and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 036 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 055 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 051 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 053 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dyson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dyson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Dyson 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

Dyson 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

Dyson 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 Dyson 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 Dyson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dyson

The surname Dyson originated in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "farm." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked at a deer enclosure or farm.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dersun." This variant spelling provides further evidence of the name's Old English roots.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name began to take on its more modern form, with records showing spellings such as "Dyreson" and "Dyrson." These variations likely emerged as the English language evolved and spelling conventions became more standardized.

One notable early bearer of the Dyson surname was William Dyson, who was born in Yorkshire, England, around 1280. He is mentioned in historical records as a landowner and prominent figure in his local community.

In the 16th century, the Dyson family established themselves in the county of Lancashire, England. John Dyson, born in 1524, was a successful merchant and landowner in the town of Bolton. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the local economy and governance over the following centuries.

Another prominent figure with the Dyson surname was Sir Jeremiah Dyson, born in 1662. He was a Member of Parliament and served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. Sir Jeremiah was known for his contributions to English jurisprudence and his efforts to reform the legal system.

During the Industrial Revolution, the Dyson name became associated with various manufacturing and engineering endeavors. Thomas Dyson, born in 1802 in Manchester, was a pioneering textile manufacturer who helped revolutionize the cotton industry through his innovative machinery designs.

In more recent times, James Dyson, born in 1947, is perhaps the most well-known bearer of the Dyson surname. He is a highly successful industrial designer and inventor, best known for his innovative vacuum cleaner designs and his company, Dyson Ltd.

Other notable individuals with the Dyson surname include the English artist and printmaker Will Dyson (1880-1938), the American writer and critic Michael Eric Dyson (born 1958), and the English cricketer Gerald Dyson (1909-1997).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dyson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dyson 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. Yorkshire leads with 5,658 Dysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.03x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 5,658 6.03x
Lancashire 2,013 1.79x
Middlesex 296 0.31x
Worcestershire 149 1.21x
Cheshire 137 0.66x
Essex 136 0.73x
Durham 116 0.41x
Derbyshire 114 0.77x
Suffolk 111 0.96x
Warwickshire 109 0.46x
Surrey 103 0.22x
Kent 81 0.25x
Leicestershire 73 0.70x
Staffordshire 57 0.18x
Northamptonshire 56 0.63x
Cambridgeshire 48 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 47 0.37x
Berkshire 43 0.61x
Norfolk 40 0.27x
Gloucestershire 38 0.20x
Hampshire 35 0.18x
Flintshire 24 0.94x
Hertfordshire 22 0.34x
Lincolnshire 22 0.15x
Northumberland 17 0.12x
Dorset 14 0.23x
Wiltshire 14 0.17x
Devon 13 0.07x
Sussex 13 0.08x
Bedfordshire 10 0.20x
Channel Islands 8 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.20x
Westmorland 6 0.29x
Clackmannanshire 5 0.64x
Cumberland 5 0.06x
Morayshire 5 0.34x
Selkirkshire 5 0.58x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.07x
Oxfordshire 4 0.07x
Renfrewshire 4 0.05x
Somerset 4 0.03x
Argyllshire 3 0.11x
Cornwall 3 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.16x
Lanarkshire 3 0.01x
Royal Navy 3 0.27x
Ayrshire 2 0.03x
Cardiganshire 2 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.05x
Herefordshire 2 0.05x
Isle of Man 2 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.15x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Fife 1 0.02x
Stirlingshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 386 Dysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.26x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 386 28.26x
Linthwaite 287 145.64x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 217 91.75x
Oldham 205 5.66x
Lockwood 179 53.06x
Golcar 171 68.98x
Leeds 168 3.17x
Elland Cum Greetland 165 39.06x
Ashton Under Lyne 143 5.83x
Saddleworth 128 17.70x
Halifax 126 9.15x
Bradfield 115 31.81x
Slaithwaite 115 117.80x
Longwood 114 75.43x
Almondbury 113 24.92x
Sheffield 108 3.62x
Skelmanthorpe 103 101.76x
Marsden In Almondbury 97 113.70x
Castleton 94 8.38x
Great Little Marsden 89 17.30x
Brightside Bierlow 86 4.68x
Mirfield 83 16.12x
Rastrick 83 31.87x
Northowram 81 12.32x
Chadderton 79 14.39x
Skircoat 79 21.37x
Tonge 77 32.69x
Barnsley 68 7.03x
Honley 67 40.82x
Dewsbury 66 6.86x
Clare 65 117.78x
Dalton In Huddersfield 64 30.47x
Kirkburton 61 55.18x
Burnley 60 6.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 59 6.75x
Barrowford Booth 59 47.48x
Bowling 59 6.35x
Manchester 59 1.17x
Meltham 59 40.46x
Batley 56 6.28x
Worsley 56 8.09x
Hunslet 55 3.76x
Horton In Bradford 51 3.48x
Bradford 50 2.20x
Habergham Eaves 50 4.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 48 2.52x
Islington London 48 0.52x
Stainland Cum Old 47 29.29x
Manningham 45 3.90x
Toxteth Park 44 1.16x
Birmingham 42 0.53x
Castle Hedingham 42 124.67x
North Meols 42 3.82x
Fixby 41 251.23x
Silkstone 41 88.34x
Ecclesfield 40 5.82x
Soyland 40 35.56x
Colne 37 11.06x
Nether Hallam 37 2.92x
Wakefield 37 5.14x
Crompton 36 11.26x
South Crosland 36 36.47x
Spotland 36 2.88x
Warley 35 12.91x
Farnworth 34 5.05x
Pendleton In Salford 34 2.54x
Wortley In Bramley 34 4.58x
Chorlton On Medlock 32 1.79x
Newchurch 32 3.48x
Sculcoates 32 2.15x
Hackney London 31 0.58x
Rawmarsh 31 9.36x
Aston 30 0.46x
Barkisland 30 44.07x
Broughton In Salford 30 2.92x
Lingards 30 105.97x
Wath On Dearne 30 16.04x
Hulme 28 1.19x
Marsden In Huddersfield 28 126.01x
Prescot 28 13.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 689
Sarah 479
Elizabeth 342
Ann 224
Hannah 210
Jane 177
Annie 171
Martha 169
Emma 162
Alice 151
Eliza 136
Ellen 118
Emily 110
Clara 86
Harriet 86
Margaret 71
Florence 61
Ada 57
Fanny 56
Edith 52
Charlotte 51
Louisa 48
Ruth 38
Maria 36
Betty 35
Lucy 34
Agnes 29
Caroline 28
Amelia 27
Amy 24
Gertrude 23
Kate 23
Anne 22
Harriett 22
Grace 21
Nancy 21
Selina 21
Esther 19
Rebecca 19
Rose 19
Susannah 19
Betsy 18
Matilda 18
Sophia 18
Lydia 17
Frances 16
Susan 16
Lizzie 15
Rachel 15
Eleanor 14

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 587
William 449
George 298
James 288
Thomas 245
Joseph 231
Henry 140
Charles 123
Fred 100
Arthur 96
Samuel 93
Robert 88
Edward 87
Harry 75
Walter 74
Albert 72
Alfred 70
Frank 51
Herbert 51
David 49
Joe 47
Tom 43
Benjamin 42
Richard 42
Frederick 39
Ernest 34
Wm. 32
Eli 27
Sam 27
Edwin 26
Willie 25
Joshua 22
Thos. 18
Abraham 17
Daniel 17
Ben 16
Allen 15
Edmund 14
Humphrey 14
Edgar 13
Geo. 13
Oliver 11
Alexander 10
Amos 10
Emanuel 10
Law 10
Jno. 9
Percy 9
Francis 8
Leonard 8

FAQ

Dyson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dyson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,699 people were recorded with the Dyson surname. That placed it at #443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dyson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,249 in 2016. That gives Dyson a modern rank of #704.

What does the Dyson surname mean?

Son of Dennis, or one who comes from Dyson, a place in West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

What does the Dyson map show?

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