UK surname
Of Spanish origin, referring to a generous or giving person.
In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Dones surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #25,133 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wormington, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dones is 259 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.
1881 census count
60
Ranked #25,133
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1861
259 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dones surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dones surname density by area, 1911 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 259 | #9,561 |
| 1881 | historical | 60 | #25,133 |
| 1891 | historical | 150 | #18,328 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 71 | #30,907 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 73 | #32,287 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wormington, London parishes, Manchester, Merthyr Tydfil and Buckland with Laverton. 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 | Wormington | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Buckland with Laverton | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dones 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 Dones, 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 Dones surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dones 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, Dones 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 Dones is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dones, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DONES is of English origin, first recorded in the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "dun" meaning a hill or low ridge. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely hailed from a place situated on or near a hill.
The DONES surname has several early recorded examples, including Willelmus de Dunes found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals during that time.
Another early reference can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name is recorded as Dunes. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records that documented landholders and their possessions across various counties in England.
During the 13th century, the DONES surname also appeared in various forms, such as Dones, Dones, and Dons, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. This diversity in spelling was common before the standardization of English orthography.
One noteworthy figure bearing the DONES surname was Sir John Dones (c. 1330-1390), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Leicestershire in 1377. He held estates in several counties, including Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Derbyshire.
In the 15th century, the DONES surname can be found in the records of the College of Arms, the official repository of genealogical and heraldic records in England. This suggests that some branches of the family were granted coats of arms, indicating their status and influence during that period.
Another individual of note was Thomas Dones (c. 1490-1556), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1542 until his death in 1556. He was highly regarded for his scholarly contributions and his role in the college's administration.
The DONES surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Dunes in Staffordshire and Duns in Northumberland. These place names likely served as the original locales from which the surname originated, further reinforcing its locational origins.
Overall, the DONES surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, with references dating back to the 12th century. Its locational origins and the presence of notable figures bearing this name have contributed to its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dones 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. Gloucestershire leads with 27 Dones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 27 | 23.53x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.81x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.86x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.68x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 5.07x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 5.23x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.03x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.00x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 3.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wormington in Gloucestershire leads with 11 Dones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 55000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wormington | 11 | 55000.00x |
| Battersea | 5 | 23.22x |
| South Hamlet | 5 | 704.23x |
| Dumbleton | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Stapleford | 4 | 625.00x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 56.10x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 6.10x |
| Bradford | 3 | 92.31x |
| Salford | 3 | 14.69x |
| Bromsgrove | 2 | 77.82x |
| Buckland | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Kings Norton | 2 | 29.20x |
| Sevenoaks | 2 | 123.46x |
| Wandsworth | 2 | 35.52x |
| Alderton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Ashchurch | 1 | 769.23x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 11.30x |
| Clapham | 1 | 13.66x |
| Clive | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Gloucester St John Baptist | 1 | 135.14x |
| Hinton On The Green | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Madeley | 1 | 54.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dones 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 Dones 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 Dones households.
FAQ
In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Dones surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Dones a modern rank of #33,441.
Of Spanish origin, referring to a generous or giving person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dones 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.