NameCensus.

UK surname

Donkin

An English surname originating from a location called Dunkin or Dunking.

In the 1881 census there were 1,115 people recorded with the Donkin surname, ranking it #3,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,723, ranked #3,622, down from #3,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donkin is 1,805 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.5%.

1881 census count

1,115

Ranked #3,577

Modern count

1,723

2016, ranked #3,622

Peak year

2010

1,805 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donkin had 1,115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,723 in 2016, ranked #3,622.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,576 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Donkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donkin 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 779 #3,423
1861 historical 695 #3,885
1881 historical 1,115 #3,577
1891 historical 1,207 #3,553
1901 historical 1,437 #3,534
1911 historical 1,576 #3,080
1997 modern 1,657 #3,586
1998 modern 1,757 #3,534
1999 modern 1,798 #3,479
2000 modern 1,782 #3,490
2001 modern 1,726 #3,527
2002 modern 1,714 #3,630
2003 modern 1,647 #3,674
2004 modern 1,647 #3,677
2005 modern 1,626 #3,677
2006 modern 1,644 #3,653
2007 modern 1,640 #3,694
2008 modern 1,662 #3,669
2009 modern 1,702 #3,662
2010 modern 1,805 #3,559
2011 modern 1,763 #3,586
2012 modern 1,741 #3,567
2013 modern 1,746 #3,615
2014 modern 1,743 #3,637
2015 modern 1,724 #3,639
2016 modern 1,723 #3,622

Geography

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Where Donkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and County Durham. 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 Sunderland Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 012 Sunderland
3 County Durham 008 County Durham
4 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 026 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donkin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Donkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Donkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Donkin is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Donkin is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Donkin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Donkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Donkin

The surname Donkin is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "dun" or "don," meaning a hill or a low-lying area, and "kin," which refers to a small settlement or dwelling. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a hill or in a low-lying area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Donkin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Dunchin" and "Dunchin," which further supports the theory of its Old English origin.

In the 13th century, records show individuals bearing the name Donkin living in various parts of Yorkshire, particularly in areas like Doncaster and Donington. These place names are believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Donkin throughout history include:

1. Sir Rufane Donkin (1773-1841), a British Army officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as the Governor of the Cape Colony in South Africa.

2. Bryan Donkin (1768-1855), a British inventor and industrialist who is credited with developing the first successful paper-making machine.

3. John Donkin (1802-1853), a British land surveyor and explorer who surveyed large parts of South Africa and Namibia in the 19th century.

4. Robert Donkin (1841-1915), a British mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of mathematical physics and celestial mechanics.

5. William Donkin (1914-1992), a British philosopher and logician who made notable contributions to the field of modal logic and the philosophy of mathematics.

Over the centuries, the surname Donkin has undergone various spelling variations, including Dunkin, Donking, and Donkyn, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and local pronunciations. However, the core meaning and origins of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English roots and the descriptive reference to a hill or low-lying settlement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donkin 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. Durham leads with 355 Donkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.98x.

County Total Index
Durham 355 10.98x
Northumberland 265 16.39x
Yorkshire 213 1.98x
Staffordshire 75 2.04x
Middlesex 59 0.54x
Lancashire 34 0.26x
Hampshire 29 1.30x
Surrey 20 0.38x
Derbyshire 10 0.59x
Kent 9 0.24x
Warwickshire 8 0.29x
Hertfordshire 6 0.80x
Essex 5 0.23x
Shropshire 5 0.53x
Cheshire 4 0.17x
Midlothian 3 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.29x
Devon 2 0.09x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Worcestershire 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.23x
Cumberland 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sunderland in Durham leads with 68 Donkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.09x.

Place Total Index
Sunderland 68 119.09x
Bishopwearmouth 51 18.38x
Stoke Upon Trent 40 10.28x
Westoe 37 20.19x
Cullercoates 29 570.87x
Haswell 27 116.53x
South Cave 24 670.39x
Newcastle On Tyne St 23 27.44x
Caverswall 22 115.36x
Scarborough 20 20.44x
Monkwearmouth Shore 17 26.94x
Westgate 16 15.98x
Chirton 15 40.99x
Cowpen 15 40.29x
Gateshead 15 6.20x
Stranton 15 13.78x
Tynemouth 15 17.32x
Darlington 14 11.22x
Southampton St Mary 14 10.00x
Monkwearmouth 13 42.00x
Garton Cum Grimstone 12 2068.97x
Jesmond 12 52.75x
Longhurst 12 383.39x
Middlesbrough 12 8.56x
Wilberfoss 12 774.19x
Elswick 11 8.52x
Ponteland 11 662.65x
Whittingham 11 569.95x
Framwellgate 10 52.22x
Holy Trinity 10 3.86x
North Shields 10 30.99x
Sproatley Wyton 10 653.59x
Wetwang 10 431.03x
Byker 9 11.26x
Chelsea London 9 2.75x
Lemmington 9 2368.42x
Poplar London 9 4.39x
West Herrington 9 79.44x
East Rainton 8 127.80x
Egglescliffe 8 327.87x
Everton 8 1.95x
Great Driffield 8 36.20x
Hepscott 8 1012.66x
St Pancras London 8 0.91x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.73x
Easington 7 149.25x
Hartlepool 7 15.23x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 7.25x
Sculcoates 7 4.10x
Toxteth Park 7 1.60x
Beeford 6 226.42x
Clayton Le Moors 6 23.98x
Cocklaw 6 895.52x
Horton In Bradford 6 3.57x
Northaw 6 276.50x
Rothbury 6 129.31x
Southampton All Sts 6 15.70x
St Giles In Fields London 6 11.25x
West Derby 6 1.59x
Whitwell 6 228.14x
Beswick 5 543.48x
Bockenfield 5 1515.15x
Bramley In Bramley 5 12.13x
Great Kelk 5 746.27x
Hodnet 5 68.12x
Hutton Henry 5 73.42x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 23.52x
Paston 5 781.25x
Southwark Christchurch 5 9.82x
St George In East London 5 4.89x
Stapenhill 5 19.75x
Stockton On Tees 5 3.21x
Theydon Garnon 5 102.04x
Walton On Thames 5 20.57x
Whickham 5 16.81x
Witton Gilbert 5 39.19x
Liverpool 4 0.51x
Prudhoe 4 35.56x
Rugby 4 10.79x
Southwick 4 13.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Jane 43
Elizabeth 38
Sarah 31
Margaret 27
Isabella 26
Hannah 23
Annie 15
Ellen 14
Catherine 13
Emma 13
Ann 12
Harriet 12
Emily 11
Alice 9
Maria 9
Edith 7
Ada 6
Dorothy 6
Eliza 6
Anne 5
Fanny 5
Frances 5
Martha 5
Eleanor 4
Clara 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Barbara 2
Bridget 2
C. 2
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth 2
Elizth. 2
Nellie 2
Priscilla 2
Susanah 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Blanche 1
Constance 1
Daisy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 58
Robert 48
Thomas 48
George 34
James 31
Henry 27
Charles 21
Edward 15
Richard 15
Joseph 14
Samuel 12
Alexander 8
Walter 8
Alfred 7
David 7
Arthur 6
Matthew 6
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Thos. 5
Bryan 4
Fred 4
Jno. 4
Michael 4
Wm. 4
Dixon 3
Ralph 3
Wilson 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Carr 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Henery 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Parker 2
Richardson 2
Saml. 2
W. 2
Allen 1
Bernard 1
Demster 1
Dryden 1
Earnshaw 1

FAQ

Donkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,115 people were recorded with the Donkin surname. That placed it at #3,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,723 in 2016. That gives Donkin a modern rank of #3,622.

What does the Donkin surname mean?

An English surname originating from a location called Dunkin or Dunking.

What does the Donkin map show?

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