NameCensus.

UK surname

Donaghy

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Donnchadha meaning descendant of Donnchadh.

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Donaghy surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,964, ranked #3,277, up from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Auchterarder and Firhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donaghy is 2,010 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 533.5%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

1,964

2016, ranked #3,277

Peak year

2010

2,010 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donaghy had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,964 in 2016, ranked #3,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Donaghy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donaghy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donaghy 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 349 #9,857
1901 historical 514 #7,888
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 1,745 #3,417
1998 modern 1,811 #3,434
1999 modern 1,823 #3,434
2000 modern 1,811 #3,440
2001 modern 1,784 #3,415
2002 modern 1,809 #3,433
2003 modern 1,807 #3,386
2004 modern 1,797 #3,397
2005 modern 1,803 #3,364
2006 modern 1,808 #3,360
2007 modern 1,858 #3,314
2008 modern 1,882 #3,301
2009 modern 1,937 #3,299
2010 modern 2,010 #3,259
2011 modern 1,973 #3,269
2012 modern 1,927 #3,286
2013 modern 1,977 #3,276
2014 modern 1,983 #3,283
2015 modern 1,966 #3,279
2016 modern 1,964 #3,277

Geography

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Where Donaghys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Glasgow and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Auchterarder, Firhill and IZ03. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 010 County Durham
2 Auchterarder Perth and Kinross
3 County Durham 012 County Durham
4 Firhill Glasgow City
5 IZ03 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donaghy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donaghy

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Donaghy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Donaghy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donaghy 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

Donaghy 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

Donaghy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Donaghy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Donaghy

The surname Donaghy has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "O'Donnchadha," which translates to "descendant of Donnchadh." Donnchadh was a popular given name in Ireland, meaning "brown warrior" or "chief of the brown people."

The name is thought to have originated in the ancient territory of Munster, particularly in the counties of Cork and Kerry. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in Irish annals and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries, where it was often spelled as "O'Donoghue" or "O'Donoughoe."

One notable historical reference to the Donaghy name is found in the Annals of Innisfallen, a chronicle compiled by Irish monks in the 13th century. The annals mention several individuals bearing the name, including Donchadh Ó Donnchadha, who was the chieftain of the Clann Donnchadha, a prominent Irish clan in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Donaghy surname became more widespread across Ireland, with families bearing the name settling in various counties, such as Tyrone, Armagh, and Antrim. Some notable individuals from this period include:

1. Donough O'Donaghy (c. 1590-1660), an Irish poet and chronicler from County Cork. 2. Rory Donaghy (c. 1620-1690), a prominent landowner and member of the Irish Parliament, representing County Tyrone.

As the centuries progressed, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Donaghey, Donaghy, Donoughey, and Donohoe. Some notable figures from more recent history include:

1. John Donaghy (1839-1920), an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia. 2. Mary Donaghy (1878-1958), an Irish-American actress and vaudeville performer known for her comedic roles. 3. William Donaghy (1895-1973), an American baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox in the 1920s. 4. Timothy Donaghy (born 1967), a former professional basketball referee in the NBA, who was involved in a gambling scandal in 2007. 5. Bronagh Donaghy (born 1982), an Irish actress known for her roles in television shows like "Call the Midwife" and "Derry Girls."

While the Donaghy surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donaghy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donaghy 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. Lanarkshire leads with 97 Donaghys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.89x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 97 9.89x
Durham 55 6.09x
Lancashire 49 1.36x
Ayrshire 17 7.49x
Renfrewshire 15 6.38x
Middlesex 14 0.46x
Kent 9 0.87x
Cheshire 8 1.19x
Cumberland 8 3.06x
Angus 7 2.49x
Dunbartonshire 7 8.59x
Northumberland 7 1.55x
Yorkshire 7 0.23x
Essex 4 0.67x
Clackmannanshire 3 11.98x
Berwickshire 1 2.72x
Devon 1 0.16x
Kincardineshire 1 2.71x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 45 Donaghys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.83x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 45 25.83x
Govan 31 12.78x
Toxteth Park 29 23.79x
Conside Knitsley 17 242.17x
Barony 15 6.04x
Bromley London 12 17.98x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 23.02x
Herne 9 196.51x
Old Cumnock 9 178.22x
Kilwinning 8 109.14x
Paisley Middle Church 8 58.44x
Wolsingham 8 97.21x
Birkenhead 7 13.11x
Hedleyhope 6 384.62x
Liverpool 6 2.74x
West Greenock 6 14.22x
Birtley 5 135.87x
Iveston 5 120.19x
Southcoates 5 29.96x
Westgate 5 17.89x
Whitehaven 5 35.92x
Bonhill 4 30.56x
Copford 4 579.71x
Liff Benvie 4 9.38x
Alloa 3 24.69x
Barmston 3 447.76x
Barrow In Furness 3 6.13x
Blantyre 3 29.38x
Dundee 3 2.86x
Kirkdale 3 4.95x
New Kilpatrick 3 38.71x
Cambuslang 2 20.22x
Great Bolton 2 4.19x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 33.73x
Preston Quarter 2 27.32x
Salford 2 1.89x
Wigan 2 3.98x
Burslem 1 3.41x
Ebchester 1 71.43x
Eston 1 15.27x
Greenlaw 1 76.92x
Hackney London 1 0.59x
Hamilton 1 3.66x
Holy Trinity 1 1.38x
Maryculter 1 90.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.06x
Port Glasgow 1 8.80x
Preston 1 1.04x
Seaton 1 32.79x
Tranmere 1 4.06x
Westminster St John 1 2.71x
Westoe 1 1.95x
Withington 1 8.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Catherine 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Jane 5
Bridget 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Lucy 3
Amy 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Loiuis 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Rachel 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
James 12
William 9
Edward 6
Patrick 6
Bernard 5
Michael 5
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Bridget 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Issac 1
Janess 1
Lewis 1
Michal 1
Oliver 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Pete 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Donaghy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donaghy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Donaghy surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donaghy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,964 in 2016. That gives Donaghy a modern rank of #3,277.

What does the Donaghy surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Donnchadha meaning descendant of Donnchadh.

What does the Donaghy map show?

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