UK surname
An English surname derived from the town of Dunham or Denham.
In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Donham surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #32,926 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Whitby and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donham is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.3%.
1881 census count
6
Ranked #32,926
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donham surname density by area, 1861 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 6 | #32,926 |
| 1891 | historical | 21 | #32,526 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 6 | #33,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Whitby, Darlington, Halifax and Stocklinch Magdalen, Stocklinch Ottersey. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Whitby | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 3 | Darlington | Durham |
| 4 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Stocklinch Magdalen, Stocklinch Ottersey | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donham 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 Donham, 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 Donham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donham 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, Donham 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 Donham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DONHAM has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning a hill or low ridge, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name was originally used to identify someone who lived in a village or settlement located on a hill or ridge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DONHAM can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1196, where a person named William de Dunham is mentioned. The "de" prefix was commonly used in medieval times to indicate a place of origin or residence.
In the 13th century, the name DONHAM appeared in various forms such as Dunham, Donham, and Doneham in various records and documents across England. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a Richard de Dunham in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 list a John Doneham in Somerset.
The DONHAM surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Dunham in Norfolk, Dunham-on-the-Hill in Cheshire, and Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname DONHAM include:
1. John Donham (c. 1520 - 1586), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in 1555. 2. Thomas Donham (c. 1580 - 1654), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of Ludgershall in Wiltshire. 3. William Donham (c. 1630 - 1698), an English colonist who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony and was one of the founders of the town of Taunton. 4. Samuel Donham (1694 - 1771), an American farmer and landowner who served as a selectman in the town of Billerica, Massachusetts. 5. Robert Donham (1788 - 1852), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Wesleyan Central Hall.
While the DONHAM surname is not among the most common in England or the United States, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and is associated with various locations and notable individuals throughout its evolution.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donham 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 4 Donhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.85x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Donhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 2 | 61.54x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 2 | 161.29x |
| North Walsham | 2 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 2 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Donham 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 Donham households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Lather | 1 |
| Plasterer Labourer | 1 |
| Superannuated Custom Officer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Donham surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Donham a modern rank of #39,061.
An English surname derived from the town of Dunham or Denham.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donham 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.