NameCensus.

UK surname

Donaldson

Son of Donald, a patronymic surname of Scottish and Irish origin derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall.

In the 1881 census there were 8,554 people recorded with the Donaldson surname, ranking it #493 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,937, ranked #500, down from #493 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tranent, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ09, Peterhead Harbour and Blairgowrie East (Rattray).

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donaldson is 13,150 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.2%.

1881 census count

8,554

Ranked #493

Modern count

12,937

2016, ranked #500

Peak year

2010

13,150 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donaldson had 8,554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #493 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,937 in 2016, ranked #500.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,523 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Donaldson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donaldson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Donaldson 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 6,300 #438
1861 historical 6,562 #426
1881 historical 8,554 #493
1891 historical 9,239 #476
1901 historical 10,523 #500
1911 historical 3,644 #1,433
1997 modern 11,951 #514
1998 modern 12,337 #519
1999 modern 12,410 #520
2000 modern 12,311 #520
2001 modern 11,988 #519
2002 modern 12,493 #514
2003 modern 12,233 #512
2004 modern 12,239 #511
2005 modern 12,213 #505
2006 modern 12,268 #500
2007 modern 12,430 #499
2008 modern 12,557 #493
2009 modern 12,893 #494
2010 modern 13,150 #497
2011 modern 12,899 #496
2012 modern 12,606 #500
2013 modern 12,816 #507
2014 modern 12,950 #501
2015 modern 12,864 #500
2016 modern 12,937 #500

Geography

Back to top

Where Donaldsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tranent, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ09, Peterhead Harbour, Blairgowrie East (Rattray), Peterhead Links and Stobswell. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Tranent Haddington
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ09 East Lothian
2 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
3 Blairgowrie East (Rattray) Perth and Kinross
4 Peterhead Links Aberdeenshire
5 Stobswell Dundee City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Donaldson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Donaldson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Donaldson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Donaldson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donaldson 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

Donaldson 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

Donaldson 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 Donaldson 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Donaldson

The surname Donaldson is of Scottish origin, derived from the given name Donald and the patronymic suffix -son, meaning "son of Donald." The name Donald itself is derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall, which is composed of the elements domhnu (world) and val (ruler).

The Donaldson surname first appeared in the historical records of Scotland in the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Ayrshire and Galloway, where the Gaelic-speaking Scots were prominent. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists several individuals with the surname Donaldson who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the Donaldson family played a significant role in Scottish history. Sir Andrew Donaldson, a prominent knight and landowner, fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was granted lands in Fife for his loyalty and bravery.

Over the centuries, the Donaldson surname has been associated with various notable individuals. In the 16th century, James Donaldson (c. 1572-1637) was a Scottish clergyman and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews. Another notable figure was Walter Donaldson (1575-1635), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who founded Donaldson's Hospital in Edinburgh, a charitable institution for the education and care of children.

In the literary world, Julia Donaldson (born 1948) is a renowned British writer best known for her children's books, including "The Gruffalo" and "Room on the Broom." She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work.

One of the most famous Donaldsons in recent history is Sam Donaldson (born 1934), an American journalist and former chief White House correspondent for ABC News. He covered several presidential administrations and was known for his tough questioning during press conferences.

Other notable individuals with the Donaldson surname include Walter Donaldson (1893-1947), an American composer and songwriter known for hits like "My Blue Heaven" and "Love Me or Leave Me," and Shane Donaldson (born 1976), a British actor best known for his roles in films like "The Nativity Story" and "Dredd."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Donaldson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donaldson 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 1,232 Donaldsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,232 4.57x
Midlothian 789 7.07x
Angus 784 10.16x
Fife 611 12.39x
Lancashire 432 0.44x
Perthshire 420 11.23x
Stirlingshire 333 10.84x
Aberdeenshire 331 4.29x
Middlesex 285 0.34x
Durham 267 1.08x
Northumberland 251 2.02x
Yorkshire 232 0.28x
Ayrshire 213 3.42x
East Lothian 213 19.30x
Renfrewshire 195 3.02x
Surrey 161 0.40x
West Lothian 137 10.92x
Selkirkshire 98 13.00x
Dumfriesshire 96 5.22x
Dunbartonshire 93 4.15x
Banffshire 85 4.92x
Clackmannanshire 82 11.92x
Cumberland 80 1.12x
Caithness 75 6.57x
Hampshire 65 0.38x
Kincardineshire 63 6.21x
Morayshire 63 4.87x
Roxburghshire 52 3.45x
Berwickshire 50 4.96x
Kirkcudbrightshire 46 3.81x
Kent 45 0.16x
Kinross-shire 44 20.89x
Essex 42 0.26x
Orkney 42 4.58x
Staffordshire 40 0.14x
Cheshire 29 0.16x
Shetland 28 3.29x
Ross-shire 27 1.18x
Inverness-shire 25 1.00x
Sussex 25 0.18x
Warwickshire 25 0.12x
Gloucestershire 24 0.15x
Argyllshire 23 0.99x
Nottinghamshire 23 0.20x
Peeblesshire 23 5.87x
Wigtownshire 22 1.99x
Norfolk 17 0.13x
Nairnshire 13 5.11x
Royal Navy 11 1.11x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.20x
Buteshire 10 1.98x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.30x
Devon 10 0.06x
Oxfordshire 10 0.19x
Channel Islands 9 0.36x
Derbyshire 9 0.07x
Leicestershire 9 0.10x
Somerset 9 0.07x
Glamorgan 8 0.06x
Cornwall 7 0.07x
Lincolnshire 7 0.05x
Suffolk 7 0.07x
Cardiganshire 6 0.30x
Isle of Man 6 0.39x
Monmouthshire 6 0.10x
Westmorland 6 0.33x
Flintshire 5 0.22x
Herefordshire 5 0.15x
Hertfordshire 5 0.09x
Worcestershire 4 0.04x
Dorset 3 0.05x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.16x
Berkshire 2 0.03x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.12x
Northamptonshire 2 0.03x
Sutherland 2 0.31x
Wiltshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.02x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 340 Donaldsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.57x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 340 7.57x
Barony 271 3.97x
Dundee 269 9.34x
Govan 267 4.01x
Glasgow 218 4.56x
Tranent 160 107.31x
Liff Benvie 121 10.33x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 120 8.31x
South Leith 109 8.68x
Dunfermline 96 12.66x
New Monkland 75 9.42x
Montrose 72 15.39x
St Vigeans 70 16.80x
Aberdeen Old Machar 62 3.85x
St Ninians 62 20.36x
Stirling 62 16.00x
North Leith 58 11.23x
Old Monkland 54 5.05x
Abbey 52 5.28x
Bothwell 52 7.12x
Cupar 49 22.84x
Wick 48 13.03x
Falkirk 47 6.53x
Rathven 46 14.17x
Toxteth Park 45 1.34x
Alloa 44 13.19x
Liverpool 43 0.72x
Whitburn 43 23.72x
Carnwath 42 25.21x
St Pancras London 40 0.60x
Boness 39 22.55x
Kilrenny 39 42.75x
Brechin 38 12.53x
Galashiels 38 13.64x
Kirkdale 38 2.28x
Cambusnethan 37 6.18x
Kilwinning 37 18.38x
Maryhill 37 7.01x
Everton 36 1.14x
Westoe 36 2.56x
Gateshead 35 1.89x
Perth East Church 35 9.93x
Alva 34 23.20x
Dalziel 34 11.73x
Hamilton 32 4.26x
Islington London 32 0.40x
Methven 31 56.56x
St Andrews 31 13.81x
Tynemouth 31 4.67x
Peterhead 29 7.11x
Byker 28 4.57x
Kilsyth 28 14.29x
Auchterarder 27 25.87x
Cockpen 27 20.70x
Melrose 27 14.23x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 27 3.65x
Slamannan 27 16.05x
Bathgate 25 9.18x
Battersea 25 0.82x
Denny 25 15.30x
Forfar 25 5.98x
Kirkden 25 51.78x
Kirriemuir 25 13.13x
Almondbury 24 6.01x
Arbroath 24 9.38x
Auchterderran 24 19.35x
Carriden 24 42.20x
Ceres 24 40.48x
Lambeth 24 0.33x
Perth Middle Church 24 17.07x
Row 24 8.29x
Strathmiglo 24 40.71x
Wigan 24 1.74x
Bishopwearmouth 23 1.08x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 23 2.14x
Mile End Old Town London 23 1.30x
Normanby In 23 10.42x
Edinburgh Canongate 21 7.39x
Monifieth 21 7.70x
New Kilpatrick 21 9.86x
Portsea 21 0.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 161
Jane 69
Elizabeth 63
Sarah 61
Margaret 58
Ann 52
Annie 28
Isabella 28
Hannah 25
Alice 23
Ellen 23
Catherine 22
Eliza 19
Charlotte 17
Emily 17
Louisa 16
Jessie 15
Emma 13
Agnes 12
Florence 11
Frances 11
Helen 11
Caroline 10
Eleanor 10
Julia 9
Maria 9
Martha 9
Susannah 8
Amelia 7
Anne 7
Edith 7
Janet 7
Rebecca 7
Clara 6
Harriet 6
Kate 6
Lydia 6
Matilda 6
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Margret 5
Maud 5
Rose 5
Sophia 5
Amy 4
Betsy 4
Fanny 4
Maggie 4
Susan 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 149
John 147
James 105
Thomas 76
Robert 66
George 53
Henry 37
Alexander 36
Charles 26
David 26
Joseph 26
Richard 20
Edward 19
Alfred 14
Andrew 14
Peter 11
Robt. 11
Walter 11
Arthur 10
Samuel 10
Ernest 9
Frederick 9
Albert 7
Archibald 7
Wm. 7
Benjamin 6
Francis 6
Michael 6
Christopher 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Jno. 5
Colin 4
Isaac 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Alex 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
J. 3
Jas. 3
Norris 3
Patrick 3
Septimus 3
Sidney 3
Adam 2
Cornelius 2
Leonadas 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Donaldson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donaldson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,554 people were recorded with the Donaldson surname. That placed it at #493 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donaldson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,937 in 2016. That gives Donaldson a modern rank of #500.

What does the Donaldson surname mean?

Son of Donald, a patronymic surname of Scottish and Irish origin derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall.

What does the Donaldson map show?

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