NameCensus.

UK surname

Devoy

Of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Irish Gaelic word "deabhadh" meaning argument or dispute.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Devoy surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 517, ranked #9,761, up from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Llangafelach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Copeland and Isles.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Devoy is 517 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 417.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

517

2016, ranked #9,761

Peak year

2015

517 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Devoy had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016, ranked #9,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Devoy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Devoy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Devoy 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 215 #14,478
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 475 #9,676
1998 modern 505 #9,518
1999 modern 504 #9,606
2000 modern 507 #9,530
2001 modern 507 #9,364
2002 modern 511 #9,484
2003 modern 487 #9,677
2004 modern 497 #9,558
2005 modern 483 #9,676
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 476 #9,916
2008 modern 485 #9,864
2009 modern 499 #9,879
2010 modern 513 #9,853
2011 modern 510 #9,805
2012 modern 492 #9,989
2013 modern 511 #9,862
2014 modern 515 #9,872
2015 modern 517 #9,777
2016 modern 517 #9,761

Geography

Back to top

Where Devoys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Llangafelach, Cleator and Dalmellington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Copeland, Isles, Swansea and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
4 Cleator Cumberland
5 Dalmellington Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 Isles Orkney Islands
4 Swansea 009 Swansea
5 Cheshire West and Chester 008 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Devoy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Devoy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Devoy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Devoy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Devoy 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

Devoy is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Devoy falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Devoy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Devoy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Devoy

The surname DEVOY originates from Ireland, tracing its roots back to the Irish Gaelic language and culture. This name is believed to have emerged in the early medieval period, possibly around the 10th or 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DEVOY can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a ancient chronicle of medieval Irish history. The entry from the year 1050 mentions a certain "Dubhghall Ua Demhaidh," which translates to "Duval O'Devoy" in English.

The name DEVOY is derived from the Old Irish personal name "Damhadh," which means "poet" or "learned one." It is likely that the earliest bearers of this surname were scholars, poets, or individuals associated with the preservation of ancient Irish literature and traditions.

In the 14th century, the name DEVOY appeared in a manuscript known as the "Rent Roll of the Cistercian Abbey of Duiske," which documented land holdings and tenants in County Kilkenny, Ireland. This suggests that the DEVOY family had established itself as landowners in that region during that time period.

Over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, such as DeVoy, DeVoye, and DeVoix, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in the past. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Norman-French language introduced to Ireland after the Norman invasion in the 12th century.

Notable individuals with the surname DEVOY include:

1. John Devoy (1842-1928), a prominent Irish republican and leader of the Clan na Gael organization, which supported Irish independence from Britain. 2. Patrick Devoy (1859-1923), a Fenian activist and younger brother of John Devoy, who was involved in the Irish Republican Brotherhood. 3. Michael Devoy (1876-1957), an Irish-American journalist and writer, known for his work in promoting Irish culture and literature. 4. Constance Markievicz (née Constance Georgine Gore-Booth; 1868-1927), an Irish republican revolutionary and the first woman elected to the British House of Commons as a Sinn Féin candidate, whose mother's maiden name was Devoy. 5. Brian Devoy (born 1972), an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for several clubs in Ireland and England.

While the surname DEVOY has evolved over time, its Irish origins and association with the preservation of cultural traditions and intellectual pursuits have remained a significant part of its heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Devoy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Devoy 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. Surrey leads with 12 Devoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Surrey 12 2.72x
Lancashire 11 1.02x
Glamorgan 10 6.33x
Northumberland 10 7.41x
Ayrshire 9 13.26x
Warwickshire 7 3.06x
Lanarkshire 6 2.05x
Middlesex 5 0.55x
Wigtownshire 5 41.53x
Carmarthenshire 4 10.46x
Cheshire 4 2.00x
Cumberland 4 5.12x
Durham 2 0.74x
Yorkshire 2 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.54x
Wiltshire 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne St in Northumberland leads with 10 Devoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.86x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 142.86x
Birmingham 7 9.18x
Clase 6 102.21x
Lambeth 6 7.59x
Girvan 5 294.12x
Liverpool 5 7.65x
Old Monkland 5 42.96x
Rotherhithe 5 44.60x
Salford 5 15.79x
Stranraer 5 454.55x
Carmarthen St Ishmael 4 1000.00x
Dalmellington 4 200.00x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 173.91x
Cleator 3 92.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 17.11x
St George In East London 2 23.45x
Swansea Town 2 15.44x
Cwmdu 1 52.08x
Devizes St John 1 166.67x
Everton 1 2.91x
Govan Church 1 2500.00x
Isleworth 1 24.81x
Leeds 1 1.97x
Newington 1 2.98x
Penarth 1 64.94x
Portsea 1 2.74x
Shoreditch London 1 2.54x
St Marylebone London 1 2.06x
Stansfield 1 30.21x
Workington 1 22.37x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Devoy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Devoy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Devoy surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Devoy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016. That gives Devoy a modern rank of #9,761.

What does the Devoy surname mean?

Of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Irish Gaelic word "deabhadh" meaning argument or dispute.

What does the Devoy map show?

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