UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Duinnshléibhe meaning "descendant of the brown mountain."
In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Donely surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #16,151 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Toxteth Park and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donely is 184 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.6%.
1881 census count
140
Ranked #16,151
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1851
184 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donely surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donely 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 | 184 | #11,120 |
| 1861 | historical | 153 | #15,032 |
| 1881 | historical | 140 | #16,151 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donely 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 Donely, 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 Donely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donely 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, Donely 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 Donely is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donely, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Donely originated in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "donn," meaning brown or dark-colored, and "óglach," meaning a young man or servant. This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive term used to identify a person with dark features or one who worked as a servant.
The name appears in several historical documents from the Middle Ages, including the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters. These records mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Donnely, Donnelly, and Donnelie.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Murchadh Donnely, a nobleman from County Tyrone who lived in the 14th century. Another notable figure was Felim Donnelly, a 16th-century chieftain from County Fermanagh who played a role in the Irish Confederate Wars.
In the 17th century, the name was associated with several prominent families in Ulster, including the Donnellys of Castlecaulfield and the Donnellys of Corgary. During this period, the spelling of the name became more standardized as Donely or Donnelly.
The name Donely also has ties to various place names in Ireland, such as Donellystown in County Down and Donellykeel in County Tyrone. These locations likely derived their names from prominent Donely families who resided in those areas.
Other notable individuals with the surname Donely include:
1. Ignatius Donely (1570-1637), an Irish Roman Catholic priest and philosopher. 2. James Donely (1742-1804), an Irish-born American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 3. Mary Donely (1810-1888), an Irish immigrant to the United States and early settler in Kansas. 4. John Donely (1865-1937), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. 5. Michael Donely (1928-2015), an Irish-born Australian artist and sculptor known for his abstract works.
While the surname Donely has its roots in Ireland, it has spread to various parts of the world through immigration and has become a part of the cultural fabric in many countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donely 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. Lanarkshire leads with 37 Donelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 37 | 8.38x |
| Lancashire | 21 | 1.30x |
| Durham | 16 | 3.94x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.03x |
| Midlothian | 8 | 4.37x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 2.72x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 4.73x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.68x |
| Wigtownshire | 4 | 22.06x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 2.55x |
| Huntingdonshire | 3 | 11.07x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.87x |
| Angus | 2 | 1.58x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.96x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.66x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 2 | 10.12x |
| West Lothian | 2 | 9.73x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 1.74x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.35x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 3.32x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.37x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.07x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 2.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Donelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 14 | 17.85x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 10 | 56.85x |
| Scarborough | 10 | 81.37x |
| Shettleston | 8 | 202.53x |
| Dalkeith | 6 | 166.21x |
| Great Bolton | 6 | 27.96x |
| Shotts | 6 | 113.64x |
| Chopwell | 5 | 666.67x |
| Govan | 5 | 4.58x |
| Azerley | 4 | 1250.00x |
| Barony | 4 | 3.58x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 4 | 8.40x |
| Oldham | 4 | 7.65x |
| Aston | 3 | 3.16x |
| Gelligaer | 3 | 55.25x |
| Inch | 3 | 169.49x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 3.05x |
| Somersham | 3 | 454.55x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 8.32x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 2 | 15.54x |
| Dundee | 2 | 4.24x |
| Kirkliston | 2 | 166.67x |
| Bedford | 1 | 29.50x |
| Bettws | 1 | 121.95x |
| Cleator | 1 | 20.45x |
| Dunlop | 1 | 156.25x |
| East Greenock | 1 | 10.01x |
| Edinburgh Old Church | 1 | 68.03x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.36x |
| Elvet | 1 | 34.13x |
| Exeter St Leonard | 1 | 128.21x |
| Girthon | 1 | 151.52x |
| Inverkip | 1 | 40.16x |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 8.22x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 3.67x |
| Kirkmahoe | 1 | 169.49x |
| Kirkmaiden | 1 | 86.96x |
| Llanwonno | 1 | 11.71x |
| Minnigaff | 1 | 135.14x |
| Neilston | 1 | 18.83x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 1 | 48.78x |
| Over Darwen | 1 | 7.73x |
| Paisley High Church | 1 | 11.88x |
| Paisley Low Church | 1 | 29.85x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 1 | 17.89x |
| Salford | 1 | 2.10x |
| Shottle | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.91x |
| Thornham | 1 | 113.64x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.11x |
| West Ham | 1 | 1.68x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 15.95x |
| Workington | 1 | 14.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donely 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 Donely 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 Donely households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Labourer | 5 |
| Child | 3 |
| Boot Maker | 2 |
| Cotton Realer | 2 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Apprentice Milener | 1 |
| At Home | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labour | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Chair Bottomer | 1 |
| Chemical Laborer Widow | 1 |
| Child At Home | 1 |
| Clogger | 1 |
| Cotton Operative Frame Tenter | 1 |
| Dairymaid (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Doorboy Coalmine | 1 |
| Field Work | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Fisherman Wife | 1 |
| Flax Spinner | 1 |
| Furnace Man (Ship Yd) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid (D) | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Labourer In Ironworks | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Labr General | 1 |
| Lace Dresser | 1 |
| Lace Worker | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Platter (Ship) | 1 |
| Private 1/7th Fusileers | 1 |
| Rivet Boy (Ship Yd) | 1 |
| Winder Cotton Mill | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Donely surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Donely a modern rank of #36,457.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Duinnshléibhe meaning "descendant of the brown mountain."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donely 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.