NameCensus.

UK surname

Donelly

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Donnelly, meaning "descendant of the brown-haired one."

In the 1881 census there were 688 people recorded with the Donelly surname, ranking it #5,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #5,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Carlisle and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donelly is 711 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.5%.

1881 census count

688

Ranked #5,256

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1891

711 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donelly had 688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 711 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Donelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donelly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donelly 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 528 #4,753
1861 historical 543 #4,837
1881 historical 688 #5,256
1891 historical 711 #5,528
1901 historical 670 #6,496
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 83 #29,809
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 85 #29,867
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 82 #30,468
2005 modern 77 #31,156
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Donellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Carlisle, Nottingham, High Peak and South Ribble. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 014 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Carlisle 010 Carlisle
3 Nottingham 010 Nottingham
4 High Peak 005 High Peak
5 South Ribble 009 South Ribble

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donelly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donelly

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Donelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Donelly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donelly 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

Donelly 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

Donelly falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Donelly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Donelly

The surname Donelly has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "O'Donnelly" or "O'Donnghaile," meaning "descendant of Donnghal." Donnghal was a popular first name in ancient Ireland and translates to "valor" or "bravery."

The Donelly name originated in the province of Ulster, particularly in County Tyrone and County Donegal. It was first found in the Baronies of Raphoe and Kilmacrenan in County Donegal. The Donelly clan was among the most prominent families in these regions during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Donelly name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention several notable figures with the surname, including Tuathal O'Donelly, a distinguished warrior who lived in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Donelly family played a significant role in the Nine Years' War (1594-1603), a conflict between the Irish chieftains and the English forces. Niall Og Donelly, born in 1560, was a prominent leader during this conflict and fought alongside the famous Red Hugh O'Donnell.

Another notable figure was Father Patrick Donelly, a Catholic priest born in County Tyrone in 1634. He was a renowned scholar and author, best known for his work "An Introduction to the Irish Language," published in 1670. This book was widely used for teaching Irish in schools and universities.

In the 18th century, the Donelly name gained recognition in the literary world with the works of Terence Donelly (1736-1804), a poet and playwright from County Donegal. His play "The Tragedy of Gustavus Vasa" was widely acclaimed and performed in theaters across Ireland and England.

During the 19th century, James Donelly (1820-1886) made significant contributions to the field of engineering. Born in County Tyrone, he designed and constructed several notable bridges and railway lines in Ireland and England, including the famous Boyne Viaduct in County Louth.

Throughout history, various spellings of the Donelly surname have been used, such as Donnelly, Donely, Donely, and Donnally. The name has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Donellysbrook and Donellymount, both located in County Donegal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donelly 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 147 Donellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.76x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 147 6.76x
Lancashire 147 1.84x
Yorkshire 43 0.65x
Middlesex 38 0.57x
Durham 33 1.65x
Midlothian 33 3.67x
Ayrshire 29 5.77x
Cumberland 27 4.67x
Kent 23 1.00x
Renfrewshire 21 4.03x
Staffordshire 21 0.93x
Northumberland 19 1.90x
Glamorgan 16 1.37x
Stirlingshire 15 6.05x
Essex 12 0.90x
Inverness-shire 7 3.49x
Surrey 6 0.18x
Channel Islands 5 2.51x
Herefordshire 5 1.81x
Warwickshire 5 0.30x
West Lothian 4 3.95x
Wigtownshire 4 4.48x
Cheshire 3 0.20x
Derbyshire 3 0.29x
East Lothian 3 3.37x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.32x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.11x
Hampshire 2 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 2.06x
Lincolnshire 2 0.19x
Roxburghshire 2 1.64x
Angus 1 0.16x
Bedfordshire 1 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.67x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.80x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 43 Donellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.82x.

Place Total Index
Barony 43 7.82x
Conside Knitsley 21 135.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 21 5.80x
Glasgow 21 5.44x
Old Monkland 19 22.03x
St Cuthbert W O 19 67.35x
Govan 16 2.98x
Hulme 16 9.61x
Liverpool 16 3.30x
Manchester 15 4.18x
Dalziel 12 51.33x
Pendleton In Salford 11 11.58x
Cardiff St John 10 26.16x
Salford 10 4.26x
Colchester St Botolph 9 79.79x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 15.07x
Pelsall 9 133.33x
St Pancras London 9 1.66x
Beith 8 53.30x
Cheriton 8 85.56x
Denny 8 60.70x
Dundonald 8 43.13x
Kirkdale 8 5.96x
Plumstead 8 10.47x
Walton On Hill 8 18.52x
Abbey 7 8.81x
Cadder 7 43.61x
Edinburgh New North 7 89.29x
Hammersmith London 7 4.23x
Inverness 7 13.87x
Lanark 7 40.02x
Halewood 6 140.52x
Rotherham 6 15.98x
Tottenham 6 5.61x
Accrington 5 6.90x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 20.91x
Everton 5 1.97x
Guiseley 5 58.62x
Paisley High Church 5 12.06x
Shettleston 5 25.69x
St Peter Port 5 13.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 2.08x
Thornaby 5 20.09x
Blackburn 4 1.89x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.06x
Cardiff St Mary 4 6.21x
Hereford St Owen 4 43.96x
Irvine 4 28.63x
Middleton In Oldham 4 16.73x
Normanby In 4 22.47x
Old Luce 4 71.05x
Preston 4 1.87x
Ribby With Wray 4 434.78x
Slamannan 4 29.48x
West Derby 4 1.71x
Wolsingham 4 21.95x
Alfreton 3 9.38x
Carnwath 3 22.32x
Castleton 3 3.77x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 5.93x
Dalmeny 3 77.52x
Eastwood 3 9.35x
Great Bolton 3 2.84x
Kilmarnock 3 5.01x
Largs 3 25.32x
Lesmahagow 3 13.05x
Poplar London 3 2.37x
Sculcoates 3 2.84x
West Ham 3 1.02x
Westgate 3 4.84x
Wigton 3 34.56x
Wolverhampton 3 1.72x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 1.72x
Berwick North 2 32.10x
Bothwell 2 3.39x
Bradford 2 1.24x
Elswick 2 2.51x
Huddersfield 2 2.06x
Lambeth 2 0.34x
Warrington 2 2.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Ann 19
Ellen 17
Margaret 12
Catherine 9
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 9
Bridget 7
Jane 7
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Kate 5
Rose 4
Agnes 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Alice 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Agness 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Cathrine 1
Christina 1
Emilly 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Jesse 1
Johanna 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Margt. 1
Marguarite 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Norah 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
James 24
Thomas 18
William 16
Patrick 13
Edward 10
Francis 7
Michael 7
Hugh 6
Charles 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
George 4
Felix 3
Frank 3
Matthew 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Cornelius 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Michl. 2
Peter 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Aloysius 1
Anthony 1
Berily 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Frederick 1
Helise 1
J. 1
Laurence 1
Martin 1
Maxwell 1
Owen 1
Patherick 1
Phillip 1
Thos.A. 1
Timothy 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Donelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 688 people were recorded with the Donelly surname. That placed it at #5,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Donelly a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Donelly surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Donnelly, meaning "descendant of the brown-haired one."

What does the Donelly map show?

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