UK surname
A surname derived from a French place name.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Dolen surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dolen is 110 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.7%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1851
110 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dolen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dolen surname density by area, 1851 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 | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 59 | #26,466 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 18 | #32,706 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Liverpool and Preston. 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 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dolen 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 Dolen, 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 Dolen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dolen 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, Dolen 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 Dolen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dolen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DOLEN has its origins in France, tracing back to the early 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old French word "dol" meaning a hill or mound, possibly referring to a person who lived near such a geographical feature.
The earliest known record of the name DOLEN dates back to 1198, when a certain Geoffroy Dolen was mentioned in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Maur in Normandy. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.
During the Middle Ages, the name DOLEN appeared in various spellings, such as Dolen, Dolyn, Doline, and Dollin, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the era. One notable bearer of the name was Jean Dolen, a prominent merchant from the city of Rouen, who lived in the latter half of the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name DOLEN was found in the records of the town of Châteaudun in the Loire Valley region of France. A certain Pierre Dolen, born in 1532, was a respected lawyer and landowner in the area.
As the name spread across France, it also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the 17th century, a Dutch merchant named Willem Dolen was known for his successful trade ventures in the East Indies.
The 19th century saw the rise of several notable figures with the surname DOLEN. Jean-Baptiste Dolen (1815-1892) was a renowned French architect who designed several iconic buildings in Paris, including the Palais Garnier, the home of the Paris Opera.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Marie Dolen (1842-1916), a French novelist and playwright whose works explored the societal struggles of women in her time.
In the realm of politics, Henri Dolen (1867-1941) served as a French diplomat and played a significant role in negotiating international agreements during the early 20th century.
While the surname DOLEN has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its rich history and ties to the French language and culture remain an integral part of its legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dolen 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. Durham leads with 9 Dolens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 9 | 7.05x |
| Surrey | 9 | 4.30x |
| Renfrewshire | 7 | 21.05x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 8.74x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 10.44x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.79x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 9 Dolens recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 9 | 70.42x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 6 | 400.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 6 | 25.94x |
| Kyo | 6 | 1000.00x |
| Port Glasgow | 6 | 372.67x |
| Bradford | 2 | 84.03x |
| Gateshead | 2 | 20.92x |
| Salford | 2 | 13.35x |
| Abbey | 1 | 19.72x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.85x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 18.08x |
| Rottingdean | 1 | 400.00x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 6.51x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dolen 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 Dolen 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 Dolen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Screener | 1 |
| Coal Screener (Miner) | 1 |
| Domestic (Serv) | 1 |
| Engine Cleaer (Factory Lab) | 1 |
| Engine Cleaner | 1 |
| Fitter (Engine) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Packer (Fac Lab) | 1 |
| Pony Putter In A Coal Mine | 1 |
| Schoolmistress (Officer) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Dolen surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Dolen a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname derived from a French place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dolen 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.