These surnames are among the most common across the county.

These surnames are among the most common across the county.

The 30 most popular surnames in Derbyshire and their meanings – does yours make the list?

By Tom Hardwick

Trainee reporter

Published 14th Sep 2023, 16:21 BST

Updated 14th Sep 2023, 21:23 BST

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Have you ever wondered where your surname sits among the most common in Derbyshire?

We have compiled a list of the 30 most popular surnames across Derbyshire, so you can see how many other people bearing your family name are spread across the county.

As well as this, we have provided details of the hidden meanings behind each surname – with some of these historical names descending from the Normans, Hebrews and Germanic tribes, among others.

READ THIS: Derbyshire council opposes plans to merge county’s police and fire services with Nottinghamshire

All data relating to the popularity of surnames across Derbyshire was taken from Forebears, and information on the meaning of each surname was taken from Ancestry.

This list ranks the most common surnames across Derbyshire.

. Most common Derbyshire surnames

This list ranks the most common surnames across Derbyshire. Photo: GEORGE EYRE/JASON CHADWICK/JP/BRIAN EYRE

Smith is the most common surname in Derbyshire, with 15,357 people called Smith across the county - and it is also the most popular across England. According to Ancestry.com, Smith originates across England and Scotland as an occupational name, denoting a worker in metal - such as a blacksmith or farrier. Pictured here is one of the many Smiths to represent Chesterfield - Martin Smith.

. Smith

Smith is the most common surname in Derbyshire, with 15,357 people called Smith across the county - and it is also the most popular across England. According to Ancestry.com, Smith originates across England and Scotland as an occupational name, denoting a worker in metal - such as a blacksmith or farrier. Pictured here is one of the many Smiths to represent Chesterfield - Martin Smith. Photo: jason chadwick

Taylor is Derbyshire’s second most popular surname, held by 7,093 residents. Across England, Scotland and Ireland, Taylor is an occupational name for a tailor, deriving from from Anglo-Norman French Middle English word ‘taillour’. Pictured here at the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall are Jayne Taylor and Victoria Shinwell.

. Taylor

Taylor is Derbyshire’s second most popular surname, held by 7,093 residents. Across England, Scotland and Ireland, Taylor is an occupational name for a tailor, deriving from from Anglo-Norman French Middle English word ‘taillour’. Pictured here at the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall are Jayne Taylor and Victoria Shinwell. Photo: Brian Eyre

Brown is Derbyshire’s third most popular name - 6,201 people with this name live in the county. Brown is generally a nickname referring to the colour of the hair or complexion, deriving from the Middle English br(o)un, Old English brūn or Old French brun. Pictured here is Dawn Brown, of Dog Land Ltd - Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care.

. Brown

Brown is Derbyshire’s third most popular name - 6,201 people with this name live in the county. Brown is generally a nickname referring to the colour of the hair or complexion, deriving from the Middle English br(o)un, Old English brūn or Old French brun. Pictured here is Dawn Brown, of Dog Land Ltd - Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care. Photo: Marie Caley

There are 6,067 people called Jones in Derbyshire - making it the fourth most common surname across the county. Jones is derived from the Middle English personal name Jon(e), which comes from the Hebrew personal name Yoḥanan ‘Jehovah has favored (me with a son)’ or ‘may Jehovah favor (this child)’. This personal name was adopted into Latin (via Greek) as Johannes. Pictured here at the Rail Ale Beer Festival are Michael Jones and Nigel Mack.

. Jones

There are 6,067 people called Jones in Derbyshire - making it the fourth most common surname across the county. Jones is derived from the Middle English personal name Jon(e), which comes from the Hebrew personal name Yoḥanan ‘Jehovah has favored (me with a son)’ or ‘may Jehovah favor (this child)’. This personal name was adopted into Latin (via Greek) as Johannes. Pictured here at the Rail Ale Beer Festival are Michael Jones and Nigel Mack. Photo: Brian Eyre

Walker is Derbyshire’s fifth most common surnamed, held by 4,875 people across the county. Walker is an occupational name for a fuller from the Middle English ‘walker’ and Old English ‘wealcere’ - ‘one who trampled cloth in a bath of lye or kneaded it in order to strengthen it’. This was the regular term for the occupation during the Middle Ages in western and northern England. Pictured here are Richard Stephen and Julie Walker, East Midlands in Bloom judges.

. Walker

Walker is Derbyshire’s fifth most common surnamed, held by 4,875 people across the county. Walker is an occupational name for a fuller from the Middle English ‘walker’ and Old English ‘wealcere’ - ‘one who trampled cloth in a bath of lye or kneaded it in order to strengthen it’. This was the regular term for the occupation during the Middle Ages in western and northern England. Pictured here are Richard Stephen and Julie Walker, East Midlands in Bloom judges. Photo: Brian Eyre

There are 4,587 Wright’s across Derbyshire, making it the county’s sixth most popular surname. Wright is an occupational name for a craftsman or maker of machinery, mostly in wood of any kind. Pictured here are Nikki Perrins, Selena Richardson, Simon Davidson and Alicia Wright, from R.P.Davidson Cheese Factor, Chesterfield.

. Wright

There are 4,587 Wright’s across Derbyshire, making it the county’s sixth most popular surname. Wright is an occupational name for a craftsman or maker of machinery, mostly in wood of any kind. Pictured here are Nikki Perrins, Selena Richardson, Simon Davidson and Alicia Wright, from R.P.Davidson Cheese Factor, Chesterfield. Photo: Brian Eyre

Johnson is the seventh most common surname across the county, held by 4,583 Derbyshire residents. The history of this surname is similar to that of Jones - and it is also the second most frequent surname in the US. Pictured here at Bolsover Beer Festival Fun Day are Pete Johnson, Josh Ludlam, Keith Sayer, Andy Poulton and Jeff Machin.

. Johnson

Johnson is the seventh most common surname across the county, held by 4,583 Derbyshire residents. The history of this surname is similar to that of Jones - and it is also the second most frequent surname in the US. Pictured here at Bolsover Beer Festival Fun Day are Pete Johnson, Josh Ludlam, Keith Sayer, Andy Poulton and Jeff Machin. Photo: jason chadwick

Wilson is eighth on this list, the surname of 4,216 people across Derbyshire. This is derived from the Middle English personal name Will and the patronymic ‘son of Will’. Will is a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream in Middle English. Pictured here is Paul Wilson, funeral director at Spire Funeral Services in Staveley.

. Wilson

Wilson is eighth on this list, the surname of 4,216 people across Derbyshire. This is derived from the Middle English personal name Will and the patronymic ‘son of Will’. Will is a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream in Middle English. Pictured here is Paul Wilson, funeral director at Spire Funeral Services in Staveley. Photo: Brian Eyre

Hall is Derbyshire’s ninth most popular surname, held by 4,205 people across the county. It derives from the Middle English hall, Old English heall, Middle High German halle and Old Norse hǫll - all meaning ‘hall’ (a spacious residence). It is a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a hall, or an occupational name for a servant employed at a hall. Pictured here from the Brown Suga salon in Inkersall are Leanne Reidy, Joanne Bennett and Chloe Hall.

. Hall

Hall is Derbyshire’s ninth most popular surname, held by 4,205 people across the county. It derives from the Middle English hall, Old English heall, Middle High German halle and Old Norse hǫll - all meaning ‘hall’ (a spacious residence). It is a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a hall, or an occupational name for a servant employed at a hall. Pictured here from the Brown Suga salon in Inkersall are Leanne Reidy, Joanne Bennett and Chloe Hall. Photo: Brian Eyre

There are 3,981 Clarke’s across Derbyshire, with the surname coming in at 10th on this list. It derives from Middle English ‘clerk’ and ‘clark’. The original sense was ‘man in a religious order cleric clergyman’. As all writing and secretarial work in medieval Christian Europe was normally done by members of the clergy, the term clerk came to mean ‘scholar secretary recorder or penman’ as well as ‘cleric’. As a surname it was particularly common for one who had taken only minor holy orders.

Pictured here at the John Smedley Factory are Brian Clarke and Mike Geary.

. Clarke

There are 3,981 Clarke’s across Derbyshire, with the surname coming in at 10th on this list. It derives from Middle English ‘clerk’ and ‘clark’. The original sense was ‘man in a religious order cleric clergyman’. As all writing and secretarial work in medieval Christian Europe was normally done by members of the clergy, the term clerk came to mean ‘scholar secretary recorder or penman’ as well as ‘cleric’. As a surname it was particularly common for one who had taken only minor holy orders. Pictured here at the John Smedley Factory are Brian Clarke and Mike Geary. Photo: Brian Eyre

Harrison is the 11th name on this list, held by 3,958 Derbyshire residents. Harrison is derived from the medieval personal name Harry, a common form of Henry - composed of the ancient Germanic elements ‘haim‘ or ‘heim’ (home) and rīc (power ruler). Pictured here at the MD Hair Salon in Chesterfield are Michelle Dalman, Amy Carty and Sarah Harrison.

. Harrison

Harrison is the 11th name on this list, held by 3,958 Derbyshire residents. Harrison is derived from the medieval personal name Harry, a common form of Henry - composed of the ancient Germanic elements ‘haim‘ or ‘heim’ (home) and rīc (power ruler). Pictured here at the MD Hair Salon in Chesterfield are Michelle Dalman, Amy Carty and Sarah Harrison. Photo: Brian Eyre

Wood is the 12th surname on this list, held by 3,812 Derbyshire residents. It is mainly a topographic name for someone who lived in or by a wood, coming from the Middle English wode. Pictured here are Rachel Stevenson, Vanessa Males, Dennis Jackson and Natalie Wood.

. Wood

Wood is the 12th surname on this list, held by 3,812 Derbyshire residents. It is mainly a topographic name for someone who lived in or by a wood, coming from the Middle English wode. Pictured here are Rachel Stevenson, Vanessa Males, Dennis Jackson and Natalie Wood. Photo: Brian Eyre

Smith is the most common surname in Derbyshire, with 15,357 people called Smith across the county - and it is also the most popular across England. According to Ancestry.com, Smith originates across England and Scotland as an occupational name, denoting a worker in metal - such as a blacksmith or farrier. Pictured here is one of the many Smiths to represent Chesterfield - Martin Smith.

1. Smith

Smith is the most common surname in Derbyshire, with 15,357 people called Smith across the county - and it is also the most popular across England. According to Ancestry.com, Smith originates across England and Scotland as an occupational name, denoting a worker in metal - such as a blacksmith or farrier. Pictured here is one of the many Smiths to represent Chesterfield - Martin Smith. Photo: jason chadwick

Taylor is Derbyshire’s second most popular surname, held by 7,093 residents. Across England, Scotland and Ireland, Taylor is an occupational name for a tailor, deriving from from Anglo-Norman French Middle English word ‘taillour’. Pictured here at the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall are Jayne Taylor and Victoria Shinwell.

2. Taylor

Taylor is Derbyshire’s second most popular surname, held by 7,093 residents. Across England, Scotland and Ireland, Taylor is an occupational name for a tailor, deriving from from Anglo-Norman French Middle English word ‘taillour’. Pictured here at the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall are Jayne Taylor and Victoria Shinwell. Photo: Brian Eyre

Brown is Derbyshire’s third most popular name - 6,201 people with this name live in the county. Brown is generally a nickname referring to the colour of the hair or complexion, deriving from the Middle English br(o)un, Old English brūn or Old French brun. Pictured here is Dawn Brown, of Dog Land Ltd - Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care.

3. Brown

Brown is Derbyshire’s third most popular name - 6,201 people with this name live in the county. Brown is generally a nickname referring to the colour of the hair or complexion, deriving from the Middle English br(o)un, Old English brūn or Old French brun. Pictured here is Dawn Brown, of Dog Land Ltd - Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care. Photo: Marie Caley

There are 6,067 people called Jones in Derbyshire - making it the fourth most common surname across the county. Jones is derived from the Middle English personal name Jon(e), which comes from the Hebrew personal name Yoḥanan ‘Jehovah has favored (me with a son)’ or ‘may Jehovah favor (this child)’. This personal name was adopted into Latin (via Greek) as Johannes. Pictured here at the Rail Ale Beer Festival are Michael Jones and Nigel Mack.

4. Jones

There are 6,067 people called Jones in Derbyshire - making it the fourth most common surname across the county. Jones is derived from the Middle English personal name Jon(e), which comes from the Hebrew personal name Yoḥanan ‘Jehovah has favored (me with a son)’ or ‘may Jehovah favor (this child)’. This personal name was adopted into Latin (via Greek) as Johannes. Pictured here at the Rail Ale Beer Festival are Michael Jones and Nigel Mack. Photo: Brian Eyre

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