NameCensus.

UK surname

Donnellan

Derived from Irish Gaelic 'Ó Domhналláin' meaning descendant of Domhnallán, a diminutive of the personal name Domhnall.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Donnellan surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Whittington and Prescot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hammersmith and Fulham, Bolton and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donnellan is 684 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 991.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

2010

684 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donnellan had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Donnellan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donnellan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donnellan 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 624 #7,925
1998 modern 629 #8,111
1999 modern 638 #8,074
2000 modern 643 #8,004
2001 modern 619 #8,092
2002 modern 623 #8,228
2003 modern 628 #8,032
2004 modern 633 #7,994
2005 modern 598 #8,288
2006 modern 594 #8,345
2007 modern 610 #8,242
2008 modern 629 #8,112
2009 modern 650 #8,073
2010 modern 684 #7,920
2011 modern 664 #8,021
2012 modern 637 #8,192
2013 modern 654 #8,182
2014 modern 660 #8,149
2015 modern 665 #8,044
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Donnellans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Whittington, Prescot, Sheffield and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hammersmith and Fulham, Bolton, Westminster, Barnsley and Doncaster. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Whittington Staffordshire
3 Prescot Lancashire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hammersmith and Fulham 013 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Bolton 030 Bolton
3 Westminster 005 Westminster
4 Barnsley 023 Barnsley
5 Doncaster 005 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donnellan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donnellan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Donnellan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Donnellan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donnellan 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

Donnellan 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

Donnellan 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 Donnellan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Donnellan

The surname Donnellan is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic name O'Donnghaile, which means "descendant of the brown valiant one." It is believed to have first appeared in the 10th century in the province of Connacht, specifically in counties Mayo and Sligo.

The name is derived from the Gaelic words "donn," meaning brown, and "gal," meaning valiant or brave. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone with a brown complexion who was known for their valor or bravery in battle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Donnellan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. It mentions a notable figure named Donnellan O'Donnellan who was a chief of the Hy-Fiachrach clan in County Sligo in the 12th century.

Another historical reference to the name can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of records from the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. These records mention a John Donnellan who was granted lands in County Mayo in 1543.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name with a specific date is that of Sir Nehemiah Donnellan, who was born in County Mayo in 1589. He served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1624.

Another notable figure with the surname Donnellan was James Donnellan (1737-1814), an Irish philosopher and academic who served as the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, from 1798 to 1814.

Other individuals of historical significance with the surname Donnellan include:

1. Thomas Donnellan (1795-1856), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who authored several works on theology and history.

2. Mary Donnellan (1837-1909), an Irish writer and journalist who was a prominent advocate for women's rights and education.

3. Dermot Donnellan (1882-1949), an Irish Sinn Féin politician and member of the First Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary parliament established during the Irish War of Independence.

4. John Donnellan (1920-2008), an Irish hurler who played for the Galway senior hurling team and won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1947 and 1953.

5. Patrick Donnellan (born 1955), an Irish actor known for his roles in films such as "The Commitments" and "The Snapper."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donnellan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donnellan 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. Lancashire leads with 29 Donnellans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.18x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 29 4.18x
Yorkshire 8 1.38x
Staffordshire 7 3.54x
Lanarkshire 4 2.11x
Hampshire 3 2.50x
Nottinghamshire 3 3.80x
Warwickshire 3 2.03x
Berkshire 1 2.28x
Northumberland 1 1.15x
Somerset 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whittington in Staffordshire leads with 7 Donnellans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1750.00x.

Place Total Index
Whittington 7 1750.00x
Burnley 6 102.56x
Clayton Le Moors 6 444.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 50.89x
Oldham 6 26.77x
Everton 5 22.59x
Windle 5 127.88x
Barony 4 8.35x
Birmingham 3 6.10x
Clarborough 3 508.47x
Sheffield 2 10.83x
Whippingham 2 219.78x
Bedminster 1 11.30x
New Windsor 1 67.57x
Portsea 1 4.25x
Salford 1 4.90x
Westgate 1 18.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Margaret 2
Winefred 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Etheldreda 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Lavinia 1
Seraphina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
James 3
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
Edward 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
George 1
Owen 1
William 1

FAQ

Donnellan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donnellan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Donnellan surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donnellan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Donnellan a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Donnellan surname mean?

Derived from Irish Gaelic 'Ó Domhналláin' meaning descendant of Domhnallán, a diminutive of the personal name Domhnall.

What does the Donnellan map show?

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