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Origins of the Day surname

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What does the name Day mean?

The Day surname has English, Welsh and Scottish roots. In Scotland and Wales it is sometimes used as a patronymic, a derivation of those who are the son or descendant of Dai (a Welsh diminutive of Dafydd) or David. More prevalently, in England Day comes from the Middle English 'Deye' (dairy-servant), and is occupational. This version of the Day surname would be given to those who made their living as dairy workers, and their descendants.

Alternative variations of the name Day

Day, Dea, Daye, Dey, Deay

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Where do most Days live?

In 1921, most Days lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Days

How common is your surname?

110th most common surname in the UK

We have 298,000 records for the Day surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Days most likely to marry?

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Days.

What are the most common Day first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Day family members

Common jobs for Days

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Days in 1921
Dressmaker

1,270

Laundress

1,013

Domestic Servant

779

General Servant Domestic

663

General Servant

606

Common Male occupations for Days in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,022

General Labourer

1,273

Carpenter

1,002

Farm Labourer

981

Farmer

731

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