UK surname
A Romanian surname derived from a person's physical appearance or personality trait.
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Doar surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, London parishes and Sawley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doar is 114 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.0%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1901
114 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Doar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Doar surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 89 | #18,446 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 114 | #21,166 |
| 1911 | historical | 100 | #22,717 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 86 | #29,752 |
| 2004 | modern | 91 | #29,345 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 82 | #30,933 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, London parishes, Sawley, Sandiacre, Dale Abbey and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stapleford | Derbyshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Sawley | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Sandiacre, Dale Abbey | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Doar surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Doar, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Doar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Doar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Doar is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Doar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DOAR originated in Scotland in the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old Scots word "doir," meaning "to doze or slumber." The name likely referred to someone who had a tendency to fall asleep often or easily.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname DOAR can be found in the parish records of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in the year 1596. One entry mentions a John Doar, who was a farmer in the village of Tinwald.
In the early 17th century, the name appeared in various records throughout the Scottish Lowlands. A William Doar was mentioned in the Burgh Records of Peebles in 1612, while a Margret Doar was listed in the Kirk Session Records of Lanark in 1629.
The DOAR surname is also linked to the village of Doarhill, located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. This place name likely originated from the Old English words "dor," meaning "door," and "hyll," meaning "hill." It is possible that some early bearers of the DOAR surname came from or lived near this location.
One notable historical figure with the surname DOAR was Robert Doar, a Scottish minister and writer born in 1655. He served as the minister of Monkton and Prestwick parishes in Ayrshire and published several religious works, including "The Believer's Golden Chain" in 1685.
Another prominent individual was John Doar, an American lawyer and civil rights activist born in 1921. He served as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, playing a crucial role in enforcing civil rights legislation during the 1960s.
In the 19th century, the DOAR surname spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond. William Doar, born in 1820 in Northamptonshire, England, was a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
Additionally, Thomas Doar, born in 1845 in County Antrim, Ireland, was a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Doar Memorial Trust in Belfast, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
While the DOAR surname may have originated in Scotland, it has since been found in various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, the United States, and other countries, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doar surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Derbyshire leads with 68 Doars recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 68 | 42.82x |
| Nottinghamshire | 25 | 18.29x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.42x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.39x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandiacre in Derbyshire leads with 24 Doars recorded in 1881 and an index of 4210.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sandiacre | 24 | 4210.53x |
| Ilkestonderbypart | 19 | 4130.43x |
| Ilkeston | 11 | 247.19x |
| Stanton By Dale | 9 | 4090.91x |
| Stapleford | 9 | 810.81x |
| Snenton | 8 | 148.98x |
| Beeston | 6 | 382.17x |
| Samlesbury | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Breadsall | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Fulham London | 2 | 13.60x |
| Heanor | 2 | 84.39x |
| Screveton | 2 | 3333.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.69x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 14.37x |
| Broughton In Salford | 1 | 9.08x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 1 | 28.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Doar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Doar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Doar households.
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Doar surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Doar a modern rank of #33,100.
A Romanian surname derived from a person's physical appearance or personality trait.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Doar bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.