NameCensus.

UK surname

Doak

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place of the same name, likely meaning "oak grove" or "oak wood."

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Doak surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, up from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Beith and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, IZ04 and IZ06.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doak is 731 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 404.9%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

2010

731 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doak had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • 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.

Doak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doak surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doak 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 199 #14,977
1901 historical 215 #14,478
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 635 #7,808
1998 modern 672 #7,717
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 698 #7,506
2001 modern 679 #7,532
2002 modern 702 #7,492
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 684 #7,544
2005 modern 687 #7,460
2006 modern 696 #7,386
2007 modern 707 #7,362
2008 modern 704 #7,450
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 731 #7,524
2011 modern 721 #7,521
2012 modern 697 #7,631
2013 modern 709 #7,653
2014 modern 731 #7,530
2015 modern 721 #7,555
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Doaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Beith, Govan Combination, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, IZ04, IZ06, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray and Newington and Dalkeith Road. 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 Girvan Ayr
2 Beith Ayr
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 026 County Durham
2 IZ04 West Dunbartonshire
3 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
4 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
5 Newington and Dalkeith Road City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Doak, 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 Doak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Doak 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, Doak 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

Doak is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doak falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doak 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Doak

The surname Doak has its origins in the Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the word 'dubhachaidh', which means 'a dark place' or 'a black dwelling'. This suggests that the name may have been originally given to someone who lived in a remote or secluded area, or perhaps in a place that was surrounded by dense forests or hills.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Doak can be traced back to the 16th century in Ulster, Ireland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Doak, who was born in County Antrim around 1580. This was a turbulent period in Irish history, with frequent conflicts between the native Irish and English settlers.

In the 17th century, the name Doak began to spread to other parts of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone. During this time, the name also appeared in various historical records, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, which were tax records that listed householders and their dwellings.

As the centuries passed, the Doak family continued to establish roots in different parts of Ireland and Scotland. One notable figure was James Doak, a Scottish minister who lived in the late 17th century and was known for his fiery sermons and unwavering faith.

In the 18th century, the name Doak began to appear in North America, as many Irish and Scottish families sought new opportunities and freedoms in the colonies. One of the earliest recorded Doaks in America was John Doak, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1710 and later settled in Pennsylvania.

Another significant figure in the history of the Doak surname was Samuel Doak, an Irish-American Presbyterian minister and educator. Born in Pennsylvania in 1749, he founded several schools and colleges in the American frontier, including Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Virginia.

As the Doak family continued to grow and spread throughout the world, they left their mark in various fields, from literature and politics to science and the arts. One notable example is Frank Doak, an English novelist and playwright who lived in the late 19th century and was known for his works set in the American West.

Throughout its long and diverse history, the surname Doak has been a reflection of the resilience, determination, and adaptability of those who have carried it. From its humble beginnings in the remote corners of Ireland and Scotland to its present-day global reach, the name Doak has woven itself into the rich tapestry of human experience.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doak 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. Ayrshire leads with 42 Doaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.52x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 42 40.52x
Renfrewshire 42 39.13x
Lanarkshire 40 8.93x
Lancashire 5 0.30x
Stirlingshire 3 5.87x
Sussex 3 1.28x
Middlesex 2 0.14x
Staffordshire 2 0.43x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.78x
Cheshire 1 0.33x
Gloucestershire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 17 Doaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.22x.

Place Total Index
West Greenock 17 88.22x
Kilwinning 15 447.76x
Colmonell 9 865.38x
Govan 9 8.12x
Avondale 8 305.34x
Glasgow 7 8.80x
Neilston 7 129.87x
Newton On Ayr 7 225.81x
Barony 6 5.29x
Cathcart 6 103.27x
Old Monkland 6 33.75x
Beith 4 129.45x
Eastwood 4 60.51x
Paisley Low Church 4 117.65x
Brighton 3 6.37x
Cambuslang 3 66.37x
Falkirk 3 25.08x
Toxteth Park 3 5.39x
East Greenock 2 19.72x
Everton 2 3.82x
Girvan 2 76.92x
Sorn 2 98.04x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.20x
Wolverhampton 2 5.56x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 3.73x
Barr 1 357.14x
Birkenhead 1 4.10x
Bothwell 1 8.23x
Gloucester St John Baptist 1 57.14x
Irvine 1 34.72x
Mearns 1 53.19x
Paisley High Church 1 11.70x
Stewarton 1 48.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Adeline 1
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Harriett 1
Margaret 1
Marrianne 1
Minnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Harry 1
John 1
Joseph 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Doak households.

FAQ

Doak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Doak surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Doak a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Doak surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place of the same name, likely meaning "oak grove" or "oak wood."

What does the Doak map show?

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