NameCensus.

UK surname

Dono

A Basque surname meaning "gift" or "dowry".

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Dono surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dono is 127 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 555.6%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2002

127 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dono had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dono surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dono surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dono 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 34 #31,604
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Donos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Derby. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 032 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 008 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Stoke-on-Trent 021 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 030 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Derby 010 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dono

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dono

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dono, 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 Dono surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dono 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dono is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dono 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

Dono 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 Dono is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Dono

The surname DONO has its origins in Italy, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "donum," meaning "gift" or "present." Initially, the name was likely a nickname given to someone who was considered a valuable or cherished member of a community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DONO appears in a document from the city of Genoa in the 13th century. This document mentions a certain Giovanni Dono, a merchant who traded goods along the Mediterranean coast.

During the Renaissance period, several notable figures bore the surname DONO. In Florence, a family of artists and architects named Dono left their mark on various buildings and artworks. One of the most renowned members was Baccio Dono (1460-1523), a skilled sculptor who contributed to the decoration of the Duomo in Florence.

In the 16th century, the DONO surname also surfaced in Spain, possibly due to Italian immigrants settling in the region. One notable figure was Pedro Dono (1501-1574), a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Dono, Donno, and Donò. In some regions, the surname was associated with place names, such as Donò, a small town in the Veneto region of Italy.

Another prominent figure with the DONO surname was Giovanni Battista Dono (1593-1647), an Italian composer and organist who worked in Rome and Venice. His compositions for sacred and secular music were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the DONO surname gained recognition in the literary world with the writer and philosopher Gasparo Dono (1721-1793). Born in Naples, he authored several works on philosophy, ethics, and social reform, which gained him a reputation as a leading intellectual of the Enlightenment era.

Throughout history, the surname DONO has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, soldiers, explorers, composers, and philosophers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has left an indelible mark across various cultures and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dono families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dono 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. Staffordshire leads with 9 Donos recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.18x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 9 15.18x
Cheshire 4 10.32x
Warwickshire 4 9.03x
Yorkshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 9 Donos recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.31x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 9 143.31x
Birmingham 4 27.10x
Macclesfield 4 232.56x
Leeds 1 10.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 2
Charlotte 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 2
Edw. 1
Frank 1
George 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Dono households.

FAQ

Dono surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dono surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Dono surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dono surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Dono a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Dono surname mean?

A Basque surname meaning "gift" or "dowry".

What does the Dono map show?

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