NameCensus.

UK surname

Donnelly

A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Domhnall," derived from the Irish Gaelic words "domhan" (world) and "all" (mighty).

In the 1881 census there were 3,764 people recorded with the Donnelly surname, ranking it #1,217 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,378, ranked #380, up from #1,217 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cowlairs and Port Dundas, Paisley Ferguslie and Milton West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donnelly is 16,748 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 335.1%.

1881 census count

3,764

Ranked #1,217

Modern count

16,378

2016, ranked #380

Peak year

2010

16,748 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donnelly had 3,764 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,217 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,378 in 2016, ranked #380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,948 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Donnelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donnelly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donnelly 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 1,176 #2,406
1861 historical 1,552 #1,832
1881 historical 3,764 #1,217
1891 historical 4,569 #1,028
1901 historical 5,948 #931
1911 historical 3,784 #1,365
1997 modern 14,688 #412
1998 modern 15,216 #415
1999 modern 15,406 #410
2000 modern 15,240 #414
2001 modern 14,922 #413
2002 modern 15,328 #413
2003 modern 15,130 #409
2004 modern 15,266 #403
2005 modern 15,245 #395
2006 modern 15,495 #391
2007 modern 15,679 #389
2008 modern 15,855 #386
2009 modern 16,336 #383
2010 modern 16,748 #378
2011 modern 16,474 #382
2012 modern 16,093 #382
2013 modern 16,342 #385
2014 modern 16,490 #384
2015 modern 16,441 #381
2016 modern 16,378 #380

Geography

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Where Donnellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cowlairs and Port Dundas, Paisley Ferguslie, Milton West, Govan and Linthouse and Forgewood. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cowlairs and Port Dundas Glasgow City
2 Paisley Ferguslie Renfrewshire
3 Milton West Glasgow City
4 Govan and Linthouse Glasgow City
5 Forgewood North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donnelly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donnelly

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donnelly 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

Donnelly is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Donnelly 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 Donnelly 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 Donnelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Donnelly

The surname Donnelly is of Irish origin, having its roots in the Gaelic language. It is derived from the personal name "O'Donnelly," which means "descendant of Dónaill." Dónaill, in turn, is a Gaelic form of the name Donald, which means "world mighty" or "world ruler."

The name Donnelly can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Ulster, particularly in the counties of Tyrone and Donegal. It is believed to have originated as a sept or clan of the O'Neill dynasty, one of the most powerful and influential families in Irish history.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Donnelly can be found in the "Annals of Ulster," a historical chronicle that documents events in Ireland from the 5th to the 16th century. The Annals reference a "Donnell O'Donnelly" in the year 1211, who was described as a chieftain and leader of his clan.

In the 16th century, the Donnelly family played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars, where they supported the Catholic cause against English rule. One notable figure during this time was Phelim Donnelly, a military leader who fought alongside Owen Roe O'Neill in the battles of 1642-1649.

As the surname spread throughout Ireland, it also took on various spellings and variations, such as Donelly, Donnaly, and O'Donnelly. The name is also closely associated with the town of Ballybogan in County Tyrone, which was once a stronghold of the Donnelly clan.

In later centuries, several individuals with the surname Donnelly made notable contributions in various fields. Here are a few examples:

1. Ignatius Donnelly (1831-1901), an American politician, writer, and promoter of the "Atlantis theory," which suggested that the lost city of Atlantis was once located in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Dorothy Donnelly (1880-1928), an American playwright and lyricist, best known for her work in Broadway musicals such as "Blossom Time" and "The Student Prince."

3. Eleanor Donnelly (1838-1917), an American philanthropist and educator, who founded the Donnelly College in Kansas City, Missouri, which was one of the first institutions of higher education for women in the region.

4. Thomas Donnelly (1887-1949), an Irish-American artist and illustrator, known for his works depicting scenes from Irish folklore and mythology.

5. Andrew Donnelly (1847-1935), an Irish-American labor leader and activist, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Knights of Labor, one of the earliest labor unions in the United States.

The surname Donnelly has a rich history and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, reflecting the diverse contributions of those with this Irish name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donnelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donnelly 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 958 Donnellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 958 2.20x
Lanarkshire 929 7.81x
Durham 311 2.84x
Renfrewshire 228 8.00x
Middlesex 159 0.43x
Yorkshire 121 0.33x
Cheshire 109 1.34x
Northumberland 87 1.59x
Midlothian 84 1.71x
Angus 75 2.20x
Ayrshire 67 2.44x
Cumberland 66 2.09x
Dunbartonshire 66 6.68x
Kent 55 0.44x
Surrey 50 0.28x
Warwickshire 47 0.51x
Essex 41 0.56x
Shropshire 24 0.76x
Staffordshire 24 0.19x
Stirlingshire 23 1.70x
Glamorgan 22 0.34x
Derbyshire 18 0.31x
Dumfriesshire 16 1.97x
Wigtownshire 16 3.28x
Hampshire 14 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.24x
Selkirkshire 12 3.61x
West Lothian 12 2.17x
Perthshire 11 0.67x
Flintshire 9 0.91x
Inverness-shire 9 0.82x
Leicestershire 9 0.22x
Sussex 9 0.15x
Fife 7 0.32x
Gloucestershire 7 0.10x
Isle of Man 6 0.88x
Royal Navy 6 1.37x
Devon 5 0.07x
East Lothian 5 1.03x
Lincolnshire 5 0.09x
Northamptonshire 4 0.12x
Oxfordshire 4 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.09x
Argyllshire 3 0.29x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.56x
Ross-shire 3 0.30x
Buteshire 2 0.90x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Berwickshire 1 0.22x
Channel Islands 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Peeblesshire 1 0.58x
Suffolk 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 225 Donnellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.66x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 225 10.66x
Liverpool 212 8.00x
Govan 205 6.97x
Barony 168 5.58x
Birkenhead 62 9.58x
Manchester 54 2.75x
Dundee 48 3.77x
Everton 47 3.38x
Kirkdale 44 6.00x
Middle Greenock 44 56.59x
New Monkland 40 11.38x
Old Monkland 36 7.63x
West Greenock 36 7.04x
Birmingham 35 1.13x
Salford 34 2.65x
Dalziel 32 25.02x
Abbey 31 7.13x
Toxteth Park 30 2.03x
West Derby 30 2.35x
Gateshead 29 3.54x
Wigan 29 4.76x
Shotts 28 19.68x
St Pancras London 28 0.95x
Bonhill 27 17.02x
Hulme 27 2.96x
Leeds 27 1.31x
Bothwell 26 8.06x
Cambusnethan 26 9.85x
Rutherglen 25 14.33x
Conside Knitsley 22 25.87x
Hamilton 22 6.63x
Tunstall 22 40.40x
Winlaton 22 20.96x
Wolsingham 22 22.07x
Barrow In Furness 21 3.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 21 1.06x
Paisley Middle Church 21 12.66x
Wardleworth 21 8.42x
West Ham 20 1.25x
Whitehaven 20 11.85x
Blantyre 19 15.35x
Pendleton In Salford 19 3.66x
Plumstead 19 4.54x
Blackburn 18 1.55x
Paisley High Church 18 7.93x
Whickham 18 17.89x
Cardross 17 14.33x
Eastwood 17 9.69x
Gorton 17 4.15x
Heworth 17 7.89x
Maryhill 17 7.30x
Neilston 17 11.89x
Stranton 17 4.62x
Ardwick 16 4.07x
Auckinleck 16 18.78x
Lambeth 16 0.50x
Liff Benvie 16 3.09x
Cleator 15 11.39x
Dukinfield 15 4.00x
Falkirk 15 4.73x
Islington London 15 0.42x
Lancaster 15 5.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 4.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 2.02x
Walsall Foreign 14 2.18x
Kensington London 13 0.64x
Layton With Warbreck 13 8.12x
Longbenton 13 5.61x
Macclesfield 13 3.60x
Oldham 13 0.92x
Witton Gilbert 13 30.11x
Dumbarton 12 8.73x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 12 35.17x
Elswick 12 2.75x
Esh 12 15.08x
Lasswade 12 10.66x
Merthyr Tydfil 12 1.95x
Preston 12 1.03x
Woolwich 12 2.59x
Selkirk 11 11.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 241
Margaret 85
Elizabeth 77
Sarah 61
Catherine 50
Ellen 50
Ann 48
Bridget 47
Jane 39
Annie 25
Alice 22
Rose 19
Eliza 15
Hannah 14
Anne 12
Kate 10
Agnes 9
Frances 9
Margt. 9
Martha 9
Susan 9
Caroline 5
Elizth. 5
Emma 5
Esther 5
Ada 4
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Emily 4
Ethel 4
Julia 4
Maria 4
Matilda 4
Nancy 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Winifred 4
Catharine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Lydia 3
Selina 3
Anna 2
Christina 2
Jemima 2
May 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 223
James 139
Thomas 89
William 81
Patrick 71
Joseph 38
Michael 37
Edward 32
Peter 32
George 31
Francis 27
Henry 24
Charles 18
Hugh 17
Robert 17
Arthur 15
Bernard 14
Daniel 12
Richard 9
Timothy 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Mark 7
Martin 6
Felix 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Matthew 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Alexander 4
Alfred 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Jas. 4
Philip 4
Andrew 3
Harry 3
Louis 3
Nicholas 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Dominic 2
Edwd. 2
Mathew 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Terence 2

FAQ

Donnelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donnelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,764 people were recorded with the Donnelly surname. That placed it at #1,217 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donnelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,378 in 2016. That gives Donnelly a modern rank of #380.

What does the Donnelly surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Domhnall," derived from the Irish Gaelic words "domhan" (world) and "all" (mighty).

What does the Donnelly map show?

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