NameCensus.

UK surname

Doig

A surname originating from a Scottish place name meaning "dark burn" or "dark stream".

In the 1881 census there were 1,766 people recorded with the Doig surname, ranking it #2,450 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,239, ranked #2,901, down from #2,450 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blairgowrie West, Coupar Angus and Meigle and Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doig is 2,290 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.8%.

1881 census count

1,766

Ranked #2,450

Modern count

2,239

2016, ranked #2,901

Peak year

2010

2,290 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doig had 1,766 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,450 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,239 in 2016, ranked #2,901.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,281 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Doig surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doig surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doig 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 1,379 #2,081
1861 historical 1,356 #2,114
1881 historical 1,766 #2,450
1891 historical 1,966 #2,352
1901 historical 2,281 #2,383
1911 historical 379 #9,672
1997 modern 2,168 #2,856
1998 modern 2,273 #2,840
1999 modern 2,245 #2,891
2000 modern 2,223 #2,898
2001 modern 2,135 #2,943
2002 modern 2,217 #2,900
2003 modern 2,178 #2,887
2004 modern 2,182 #2,891
2005 modern 2,175 #2,865
2006 modern 2,163 #2,874
2007 modern 2,223 #2,834
2008 modern 2,241 #2,837
2009 modern 2,269 #2,867
2010 modern 2,290 #2,909
2011 modern 2,241 #2,932
2012 modern 2,194 #2,924
2013 modern 2,205 #2,958
2014 modern 2,248 #2,922
2015 modern 2,235 #2,908
2016 modern 2,239 #2,901

Geography

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Where Doigs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Scoonie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blairgowrie West, Coupar Angus and Meigle, Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes, Perth Road and Cardenden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Scoonie Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blairgowrie West Perth and Kinross
2 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
3 Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes Perth and Kinross
4 Perth Road Dundee City
5 Cardenden Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doig

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doig

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Doig surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Doig household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Doig is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doig is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doig falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doig 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 Doig, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Doig

The surname DOIG is of Scottish origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the 13th century in the region of Perthshire. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "dogha," meaning "small brook" or "ditch," referring to a topographical feature or a place name. The name was likely adopted by families who resided near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DOIG can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the swearing of feudal allegiance to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. The name appears as "Doge" in these records, indicating its initial spelling variation.

In the 16th century, the DOIG surname is mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, a series of historical records that documented various legal transactions, land grants, and charters. This suggests that the family had established itself as landowners or individuals of some prominence during this period.

The earliest known bearer of the DOIG surname was Sir John Doig, a Scottish knight who lived in the late 13th century. He was a participant in the Wars of Scottish Independence and is believed to have fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

Another notable figure was Robert Doig, a Scottish writer and historian born in 1592 in Perthshire. He is best known for his work "The Historie of the Kirk of Scotland," which chronicled the events of the Scottish Reformation.

In the 18th century, James Doig (1720-1805) was a prominent Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the parish of Stirling. He was known for his theological writings and played a significant role in the intellectual and religious discourse of his time.

The DOIG surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Doig's Glen, a scenic valley located in the Scottish Borders region, and Doig's Burn, a stream in Perthshire.

Throughout history, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Doig, Doeg, Dogue, and Doog, reflecting the regional variations and language influences of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doig families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doig 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. Angus leads with 709 Doigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.52x.

County Total Index
Angus 709 44.52x
Fife 290 28.50x
Perthshire 163 21.13x
Lanarkshire 142 2.55x
Midlothian 136 5.91x
Lancashire 57 0.28x
Middlesex 55 0.32x
Stirlingshire 34 5.36x
Renfrewshire 26 1.95x
Cheshire 21 0.55x
Aberdeenshire 17 1.07x
Ayrshire 15 1.17x
Surrey 12 0.14x
East Lothian 11 4.83x
Northumberland 11 0.43x
Sussex 7 0.24x
Essex 5 0.15x
Hampshire 5 0.14x
Kent 5 0.09x
Banffshire 4 1.12x
Cumberland 4 0.27x
Norfolk 4 0.15x
Ross-shire 4 0.85x
Wigtownshire 4 1.75x
Durham 3 0.06x
West Lothian 3 1.16x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.19x
Devon 2 0.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.80x
Royal Navy 2 0.98x
Wiltshire 2 0.13x
Argyllshire 1 0.21x
Buteshire 1 0.96x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.22x
Merionethshire 1 0.32x
Oxfordshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 201 Doigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.81x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 201 33.81x
Kilrenny 90 478.21x
Forfar 84 97.43x
Liff Benvie 84 34.75x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 72 7.77x
Kirriemuir 56 142.53x
St Vigeans 45 52.36x
Monifieth 41 72.89x
Barony 37 2.63x
Glasgow 35 3.55x
Govan 34 2.47x
Scoonie 31 140.72x
Arbroath 28 53.06x
Alyth 24 115.61x
St Andrews 24 51.84x
South Leith 22 8.49x
Brechin 19 30.36x
Dysart 19 27.73x
Perth East Church 16 22.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 5.04x
Kincardine 15 188.68x
Maryhill 15 13.78x
Tannadice 15 202.43x
Kemback 14 278.33x
Errol 13 90.97x
Monikie 13 155.69x
Dunfermline 12 7.67x
Kingoldrum 12 524.02x
Montrose 12 12.44x
Rattray 12 66.82x
Blairgowrie 11 36.05x
Campsie 11 31.62x
Kinghorn 11 50.93x
Clunie 10 293.26x
Collessie 10 85.40x
Kilmarnock 10 6.53x
North Leith 10 9.38x
West Greenock 10 4.18x
Lochee 9 63.38x
Logie 9 32.51x
Mile End Old Town London 9 2.46x
Monks Coppenhall 9 6.29x
Monzie 9 203.62x
Barry 8 41.86x
Cathcart 8 11.10x
Falkirk 8 5.39x
Hackney London 8 0.83x
Inverarity 8 156.56x
Islington London 8 0.48x
Leuchars 8 62.16x
Prestonpans 8 52.39x
Toxteth Park 8 1.16x
Whitechapel London 8 4.72x
Barrow In Furness 7 2.52x
East Preston 7 283.40x
Forgan 7 35.92x
Glamis 7 72.84x
Liberton 7 19.70x
Markinch 7 20.27x
Aberlemno 6 102.04x
Coupar Angus 6 39.81x
Cults 6 144.58x
Dairsie 6 145.63x
Entwistle 6 298.51x
Kinnettles 6 264.32x
Kirkcaldy 6 11.89x
New Monkland 6 3.65x
Perth St Pauls 6 33.59x
Slamannan 6 17.29x
Stirling 6 7.51x
Tranmere 6 4.30x
Auchterarder 5 23.22x
Bromley London 5 1.32x
Carmyllie 5 73.75x
Hulme 5 1.17x
Kettle 5 40.95x
Penicuik 5 15.98x
Perth West Church 5 13.66x
St George Martyr London 5 14.36x
Strathmartine 5 70.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 10
Margaret 10
Ann 6
Jane 6
Agnes 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Jessie 3
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Elizb. 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Margarett 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Hamilton 1
Hannah 1
Janet 1
Jean 1
Jennie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margery 1
Margreat 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Melacine 1
Priscilla 1
Rhoda 1
Robert 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Doig surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doig surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,766 people were recorded with the Doig surname. That placed it at #2,450 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doig surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,239 in 2016. That gives Doig a modern rank of #2,901.

What does the Doig surname mean?

A surname originating from a Scottish place name meaning "dark burn" or "dark stream".

What does the Doig map show?

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