UK surname
Of Irish origin, a patronymic surname meaning "descendant of Donndubhán".
In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Donavon surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #15,489 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Trevethin with Pontypool and Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden Ely Place and Ely Rents. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donavon is 182 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.3%.
1881 census count
150
Ranked #15,489
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1891
182 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donavon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donavon surname density by area, 1881 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 | 131 | #14,243 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 150 | #15,489 |
| 1891 | historical | 182 | #15,983 |
| 1901 | historical | 115 | #21,050 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Trevethin with Pontypool, Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden Ely Place and Ely Rents, Aberystruth and Bedwelty. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Trevethin with Pontypool | Monmouthshire |
| 3 | Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden Ely Place and Ely Rents | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Bedwelty | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donavon 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 Donavon, 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 Donavon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donavon 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, Donavon 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 Donavon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donavon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Donavon has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Ó Donndubháin," which means "descendant of Donndubhán." The prefix "O" denotes a grandson or descendant, while "Donndubhán" is a personal name derived from the Gaelic words "donn" (brown) and "dubhán" (little dark one).
This surname is believed to have originated in County Cork, Ireland, where the Ó Donndubháin clan was based. Historical records show that members of this family were prominent landowners and chieftains in the region during the Middle Ages. The earliest known reference to the name appears in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dated around 1180.
In the 13th century, during the Norman invasion of Ireland, many Irish families adopted anglicized versions of their names to conform to English conventions. This is when the spelling "Donavon" likely emerged, although variations such as "Donovan," "Donnavan," and "Donnevan" were also common.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Donavon was Dermot Donovan, a Irish chieftain who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century, for his involvement in a battle against the Anglo-Norman forces in 1261.
In the 16th century, the Donavons were among the prominent families involved in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Munster. Donal Donavon, a member of this clan, is recorded as having fought alongside the Earl of Desmond in the Second Desmond Rebellion (1579–1583).
Another notable figure with the surname Donavon was Michael Donavon, an Irish soldier who served in the Irish Brigade of the French Army during the 17th century. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Ramillies in 1706, and is mentioned in contemporary military records.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Donavon was Martin Donavon, an Irish scholar and author who lived in the 18th century. Born in 1724, he is best known for his work "Domestic Economy," which provided insights into Irish rural life and customs of the time.
In the 19th century, the surname Donavon was also found among Irish immigrants who settled in various parts of the United States and other English-speaking countries. One such individual was Thomas Donavon, an Irish-born politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1860s.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donavon 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Donavons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 37 | 2.53x |
| Kent | 21 | 4.21x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.04x |
| Glamorgan | 16 | 6.28x |
| Surrey | 15 | 2.10x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 9.45x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 2.09x |
| Devon | 5 | 1.64x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 2.42x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.08x |
| Sussex | 3 | 1.22x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.62x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.01x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.85x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 3.42x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.23x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Botolph Aldgate London in Middlesex leads with 11 Donavons recorded in 1881 and an index of 365.45x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donavon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 18 |
| Ellen | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Catherine | 4 |
| Julia | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Bridget | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Camelia | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Honoray | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Joanna | 1 |
| Johanna | 1 |
| Judith | 1 |
| Lorne | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Donavon 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 Donavon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Donavon surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Donavon a modern rank of #36,998.
Of Irish origin, a patronymic surname meaning "descendant of Donndubhán".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donavon 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.