UK surname
A surname derived from an Irish personal name possibly meaning "world ruler" or "descendant of Domhnall."
In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Donnelley surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #21,957 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, 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 Donnelley is 161 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
82
Ranked #21,957
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1911
161 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Donnelley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Donnelley 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 | 62 | #22,232 |
| 1861 | historical | 71 | #24,765 |
| 1881 | historical | 82 | #21,957 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 129 | #19,735 |
| 1911 | historical | 161 | #17,072 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 36 | #34,717 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Donnelley 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 Donnelley, 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 Donnelley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Donnelley 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, Donnelley 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 Donnelley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Donnelley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Donnelley is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "O'Donnelley" or "O'Donnghaile". The prefix "O" denotes a descendant, while "Donnelley" is believed to be a compound of the words "donn" meaning brown or dark, and "ghaile" meaning valor or foreign descent.
The Donnelley name can be traced back to the 10th century in County Donegal, Ireland, where the clan held territories and lands. They were a prominent family in the region and played a significant role in Irish history, particularly during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history, which refers to several members of the Donnelley clan in the 12th and 13th centuries.
In the 16th century, the Donnelley surname appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official records from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Philip and Mary, and Elizabeth I. This document lists various land grants and appointments involving individuals with the Donnelley name.
Notable individuals with the Donnelley surname throughout history include:
1. Rory O'Donnelley (c. 1575-1608), an Irish warrior and chieftain who led the O'Donnelley clan during the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland.
2. Calvagh O'Donnelley (c. 1510-1566), a prominent member of the O'Donnelley clan who played a significant role in the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
3. Sir John Donnelley (1737-1819), an Irish-born British army officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
4. Michael Donnelley (1858-1935), an American entrepreneur and founder of the R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, one of the largest printing companies in the United States.
5. James Donnelley (1872-1949), an American publisher and business executive who served as the president of the R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, following in his father's footsteps.
The Donnelley name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Donnelley's Grove and Donnelley's Hollow, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the clan in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donnelley 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. Lancashire leads with 25 Donnelleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 25 | 2.63x |
| Yorkshire | 23 | 2.90x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 6.72x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 3.40x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.55x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.26x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.38x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.78x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.74x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.67x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.63x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 3.39x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.26x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 8 Donnelleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 8 | 61.97x |
| Leeds | 8 | 17.87x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 7 | 113.45x |
| Prestwich | 7 | 295.36x |
| Great Neston | 5 | 862.07x |
| Halifax | 5 | 42.96x |
| Barony | 4 | 6.11x |
| Gomersal | 4 | 108.11x |
| Patrington | 4 | 1052.63x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 5.20x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 10.76x |
| Everton | 2 | 6.61x |
| Gateshead | 2 | 11.22x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 4.46x |
| Sutton Stoneferry | 2 | 88.11x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 4.82x |
| Bellingham | 1 | 500.00x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 7.10x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.49x |
| Broughton In Salford | 1 | 11.52x |
| East Ham | 1 | 34.13x |
| Falkirk | 1 | 14.47x |
| Hulme | 1 | 5.05x |
| New Windsor | 1 | 49.51x |
| Scarisbrick | 1 | 90.91x |
| Stafford St Mary | 1 | 26.18x |
| Streatham | 1 | 16.86x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 10.27x |
| Withington | 1 | 32.68x |
| Wolsingham | 1 | 46.08x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 4.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Donnelley 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 Donnelley 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 Donnelley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Donnelley surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Donnelley a modern rank of #35,388.
A surname derived from an Irish personal name possibly meaning "world ruler" or "descendant of Domhnall."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Donnelley 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.