UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Donohoe, derived from the Gaelic "Donnchadh," meaning "brown-haired warrior."
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Donahoe surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Toxteth Park and Mearns. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donahoe is 106 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.0%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1851
106 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donahoe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donahoe 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 | 106 | #16,512 |
| 1861 | historical | 76 | #24,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 7 | #33,665 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Toxteth Park, Mearns, St Pancras and Manchester. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Mearns | Renfrew |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donahoe 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 Donahoe, 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 Donahoe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donahoe 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, Donahoe 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 Donahoe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donahoe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Donahoe is believed to have originated in Ireland during the medieval period. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Donnchadha, which means "descendant of Donnchadh." Donnchadh was a personal name derived from the words "donn" meaning brown, and "cath" meaning battle or warrior.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Donahoe can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the name O'Donnchadha, indicating that the name was well-established in various parts of Ireland by that time.
The Donahoe name was particularly prevalent in County Cork and County Tipperary, where several notable families bearing the name resided. One of the earliest known members of the Donahoe clan was Donal O'Donnchadha, who lived in the 14th century and served as a chief of the O'Donnchadha sept in Tipperary.
As the name spread across Ireland, it evolved into various spelling variations, such as Donoghue, Donohoe, and Donohue. These variations were often adopted due to the anglicization of Irish names and the inability of English scribes to accurately transcribe the Gaelic spelling.
In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, several members of the Donahoe family were recorded in historical documents. One notable figure was Teige Donahoe, a chieftain from County Cork who fought against the English forces during the Desmond Rebellions in the 1580s.
Over the centuries, the Donahoe name has been carried by numerous individuals of note, including:
1. Robert Donahoe (1776-1834), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
2. Mary Donahoe (1805-1886), an Irish-born American philanthropist and advocate for women's rights, known for her work in establishing schools and hospitals in Cincinnati, Ohio.
3. Patrick Donahoe (1811-1901), an Irish-American journalist and publisher who founded the influential Catholic newspaper, The Pilot, in Boston, Massachusetts.
4. Brendan Donahoe (1887-1956), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Labor Party.
5. Michael Donahoe (1923-2011), an American actor and voice artist, best known for his role as Grandpa Walton in the television series The Waltons.
While the Donahoe name has undergone various spelling changes and has been adopted across different regions, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic traditions of Ireland, where it was borne by prominent families and individuals who left their mark on the country's history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donahoe 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. Lancashire leads with 22 Donahoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 22 | 3.07x |
| Renfrewshire | 19 | 40.55x |
| Carmarthenshire | 5 | 19.62x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.70x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 4.45x |
| Huntingdonshire | 2 | 16.65x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.33x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.56x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.84x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mearns in Renfrewshire leads with 10 Donahoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1219.51x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mearns | 10 | 1219.51x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 9 | 329.67x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 13.77x |
| Toxteth Park | 6 | 24.69x |
| Carmarthen St Peter | 5 | 229.36x |
| Salford | 5 | 23.70x |
| Alnwick | 4 | 258.06x |
| Battersea | 4 | 17.98x |
| Hulme | 3 | 20.03x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 5.90x |
| Huntingdon St John | 2 | 571.43x |
| East Ham | 1 | 45.05x |
| Elvet | 1 | 76.92x |
| Epsom | 1 | 69.44x |
| Everton | 1 | 4.37x |
| Solihull | 1 | 90.91x |
| West Derby | 1 | 4.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donahoe 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 Donahoe 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 Donahoe households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Laborer General | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| General Servt (Not Employed) | 2 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Carman Grocers | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chelsea Pensioner (...) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Engine Fireman | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Formerly Shirtmaker | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Iron Dealers Wife | 1 |
| Stableman | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Donahoe surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Donahoe a modern rank of #36,832.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Donohoe, derived from the Gaelic "Donnchadh," meaning "brown-haired warrior."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donahoe 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.