NameCensus.

UK surname

Doda

A surname potentially derived from a nickname for a stout or plump person.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Doda surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, Sunderland and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doda is 107 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3466.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

2016

107 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doda had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 34 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Doda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doda 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 11 #36,912
1998 modern 13 #36,679
1999 modern 16 #36,371
2000 modern 13 #36,635
2001 modern 13 #36,483
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 15 #36,415
2004 modern 22 #35,878
2005 modern 27 #35,588
2006 modern 42 #34,714
2007 modern 45 #34,699
2008 modern 49 #34,580
2009 modern 71 #33,102
2010 modern 73 #33,249
2011 modern 76 #32,989
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 85 #32,658
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Dodas 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 Havering, Sunderland, Warwick, Barking and Dagenham and Harrow. 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 Havering 017 Havering
2 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
3 Warwick 006 Warwick
4 Barking and Dagenham 001 Barking and Dagenham
5 Harrow 003 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doda

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doda

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Doda surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Doda household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Doda is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doda 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

Doda 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 Doda is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Doda

The surname DODA has its origins in India, with the name first appearing in historical records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "doda," which means "a small drum" or "a tambourine." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with musicians or performers who played these instruments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DODA surname can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document from the Mughal Empire. This text mentions a certain Mir Doda, who held a position of authority during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

In the 17th century, the DODA surname is mentioned in various Persian manuscripts and chronicles, indicating that individuals with this name held important roles in the Mughal court and administration. One notable figure was Mirza Doda Beg, a renowned poet and courtier who served under Emperor Shah Jahan.

As the Mughal Empire expanded its influence across the Indian subcontinent, the DODA surname spread to different regions. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals with this name in the princely states of Rajasthan, such as Jaipur and Jodhpur.

One of the most famous individuals with the DODA surname was Rai Bahadur Doda, a prominent social reformer and educationist from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Born in 1854, he played a crucial role in establishing schools and promoting education in the region.

Another notable figure was Doda Vaidyanathan, a renowned Carnatic music composer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He contributed significantly to the development of South Indian classical music and composed several critically acclaimed works.

In the early 20th century, the DODA surname gained prominence in the field of literature and arts. Doda Dhamarajanagar, a celebrated Kannada poet and playwright, was born in 1905 and is widely recognized for his influential works that explored social and cultural themes.

The DODA surname has also been associated with several prominent businessmen and industrialists in modern India. One such individual was Doda Chidambaram, a successful entrepreneur who founded the Doda Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in various sectors.

Throughout its history, the DODA surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and traditions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doda families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doda 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 2 Dodas recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.76x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 2 50.76x
Cumberland 1 39.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arnold in Nottinghamshire leads with 2 Dodas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Arnold 2 3333.33x
Wreay 1 0.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarahann 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Joseph 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 Doda households.

Occupation Count
Baker 1
Farm Servant (Indoor) 1

FAQ

Doda surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doda surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Doda surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Doda a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Doda surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from a nickname for a stout or plump person.

What does the Doda map show?

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