Find out how popular the last name Denby is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Denby.

Denby, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Denby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Denby in America

Denby is the 17447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Denby surname appeared 1,616 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Denby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Denby to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Denby

The surname Denby originated in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is considered a locational name, derived from the place name Denby, which is found in various locations across England, particularly in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

The etymology of Denby is believed to be a combination of the Old English words "denu" meaning valley and "by" meaning a farmstead or village. This suggests that the name initially referred to a settlement or farmstead located in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denby appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a place called "Denebi" in Derbyshire.

During the 13th century, the name Denby appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where individuals with the surname were mentioned. For example, in 1219, a certain William de Denby was recorded as holding lands in Yorkshire.

Over time, the name Denby evolved into different spellings, including Denbie, Denebie, and Denbie. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during the medieval and early modern periods.

One notable individual with the surname Denby was Sir John Denby (c. 1438-1504), who served as a judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VII. He was born in Derbyshire and played a significant role in the legal system of his time.

Another prominent figure was Robert Denby (1612-1670), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1660 until his death. He was known for his theological works and contributions to the Church of England.

In the 18th century, the name Denby appears in connection with the Denby Pottery Company, founded in Derbyshire in 1809. This company became renowned for its high-quality stoneware and earthenware, contributing to the local economy and the pottery industry.

John Denby (1770-1853) was a notable English banker and philanthropist from Derbyshire. He established the Denby Trust, which provided financial support for various educational and charitable causes in the region.

Edward Denby (1870-1950) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1921 to 1924 under President Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Denby

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Denby.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Denby was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Denby has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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