NameCensus.

UK surname

Doan

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Duan, meaning "forge" or "smithy."

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Doan surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 257, ranked #16,485, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Bexley and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doan is 257 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1735.7%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

2016

257 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doan had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Doan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Doan 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 205 #18,005
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 240 #17,230
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 251 #16,734
2014 modern 256 #16,643
2015 modern 255 #16,564
2016 modern 257 #16,485

Geography

Back to top

Where Doans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenwich, Bexley, Cambridge, Bolsover and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
2 Bexley 002 Bexley
3 Cambridge 003 Cambridge
4 Bolsover 003 Bolsover
5 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Doan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Doan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Doan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Doan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Doan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doan falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Doan

The surname DOAN has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dun," which means "hill" or "down." The name was likely initially given to someone who lived on or near a hill or a down.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DOAN surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Walter Doun was mentioned. This spelling variation, "Doun," highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the DOAN surname appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, which listed a Richard Doun. This suggests that the name was present in different parts of England during this period.

The DOAN surname has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Downham in Essex and Downton in Wiltshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Old English word "dun."

One notable individual with the DOAN surname was John Donne (1572-1631), an English poet, scholar, and priest. His works, including "Holy Sonnets" and "Meditations," are considered among the greatest in English literature.

Another prominent figure was Sir James Doane (1668-1741), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Woodstock. He played a significant role in the political landscape of his time.

In the 18th century, the DOAN surname was associated with Samuel Doan (1722-1807), an American Quaker minister and abolitionist. He was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and worked tirelessly to promote social justice.

During the 19th century, John Wesley Doane (1799-1859) made a name for himself as an American Episcopal bishop. He served as the first Bishop of New Jersey and played a crucial role in the growth of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Lastly, Gustavus Adolphus Doane (1837-1923) was an American soldier and civil engineer. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later became a prominent figure in the field of civil engineering, contributing to various infrastructure projects.

These individuals, spanning different eras and professions, demonstrate the historical significance of the DOAN surname and its enduring presence across various fields and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Doan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doan 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Doans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 4.33x
Lanarkshire 4 12.71x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 4 Doans recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.41x.

Place Total Index
Govan 4 51.41x
Lytham 3 1666.67x
Bradford 1 185.19x
Gildersome 1 833.33x
Liverpool 1 14.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Harriett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
George 1
Samuel 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 Doan households.

FAQ

Doan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Doan surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Doan a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Doan surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname derived from the Chinese surname Duan, meaning "forge" or "smithy."

What does the Doan map show?

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