Find out how popular the first name Dacre has been for the last 6 years (from 2019 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dacre by gender

Based on the last 6 years of data, Dacre is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dacre.

The history of the first name Dacre

The name Dacre is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dæc" and "cræftig," which together mean "a skilled or crafty person." This name was likely given to individuals who were skilled in a particular trade or craft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dacre can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name in Cumberland, England. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname or location name during the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, the Dacre family rose to prominence in England, with their ancestral seat located in the village of Dacre, near Penrith, Cumbria. This family played an important role in the Wars of the Roses, with members supporting both the Yorkist and Lancastrian causes.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Dacre was Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre (c. 1468-1544), who served as Lord Warden of the West Marches and fought against the Scots during the Anglo-Scottish Wars. His grandson, Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre (c. 1527-1566), was a renowned poet and patron of the arts.

Another famous individual with the name Dacre was Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine (1640-1718), a mistress of King Charles II of England. She was born Barbara Palmer and took the surname Villiers after her marriage to Roger Palmer, but she was also known as Lady Dacre, as her family held the feudal barony of Dacre.

In the literary world, the name Dacre is associated with Charlotte Dacre (1771-1825), an English novelist and poet who wrote Gothic novels such as "Zofloya, or The Moor" and "The Confessions of the Nun of St. Omer."

Lastly, Randal Dacre (1782-1843) was a British Army officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Gatton.

While the name Dacre has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the English heritage and medieval era.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dacre was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dacre, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!