NameCensus.

UK surname

Doane

Derived from the Old English words "dun" (hill) and "tun" (enclosure or settlement), referring to someone who lived in a hill town.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Doane surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Sheffield and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doane is 123 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 293.5%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2015

123 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doane had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 63 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Doane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doane surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doane 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 56 #27,952
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 113 #25,731
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Doanes 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 Rotherham, Sheffield, South Gloucestershire and Pendle. 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 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
2 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 016 Sheffield
4 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
5 Pendle 002 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doane

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Doane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Doane 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Doane 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

Doane is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doane falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Doane

The surname Doane originated in England. It is derived from the Old English words 'dun' meaning a hill and 'holm' meaning a flat land near hills. The name initially referred to someone who lived near a hill or a flat area near hills.

The surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various records from different parts of England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where it is spelled as 'de Dun'. The Doane family was prominent in Yorkshire during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, the name is found in various historical records with different spellings such as 'Dun', 'Dune', and 'Doune'. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a William Dun in Oxfordshire.

The surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'de Duna' in this important historical document.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Doane, who was born in Yorkshire in 1298. He was a knight and served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable figure was William Doane, a wealthy merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century. He was involved in the cloth trade and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers.

In the 17th century, the name was also found in various places in England, including the village of Doane in Derbyshire, which is believed to have derived its name from the surname.

During the Colonial era, several Doane families migrated to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded Doanes in America was John Doane, who was born in England in 1590 and settled in Plymouth Colony in 1630.

Another significant figure was Deacon John Doane, who was born in England in 1629 and was one of the early settlers of Eastham, Massachusetts. He played an important role in the establishment of the town and served as a deacon in the local church.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doane 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. Gloucestershire leads with 15 Doanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.30x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 15 25.30x
Lancashire 6 1.67x
Suffolk 5 13.58x
Middlesex 2 0.66x
Midlothian 2 4.94x
Leicestershire 1 2.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 10 Doanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.34x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 10 218.34x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 510.20x
Sutton 5 416.67x
West Dean 5 520.83x
North Leith 2 106.95x
St George Bloomsbury 2 115.61x
Kirkdale 1 16.56x
Stoke Golding 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Annie 1
Charlote 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Alfred 2
James 2
Bertie 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Thomas 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 Doane households.

FAQ

Doane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Doane surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Doane a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Doane surname mean?

Derived from the Old English words "dun" (hill) and "tun" (enclosure or settlement), referring to someone who lived in a hill town.

What does the Doane map show?

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