NameCensus.

UK surname

Donson

An English patronymic surname derived from "son of Don" or "Donn."

In the 1881 census there were 168 people recorded with the Donson surname, ranking it #14,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #14,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bassingham, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Southwell, Farnsfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Rotherham and Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Donson is 302 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.9%.

1881 census count

168

Ranked #14,380

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1998

302 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Donson had 168 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Donson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Donson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Donson 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 174 #13,483
1881 historical 168 #14,380
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 209 #14,557
1997 modern 286 #13,942
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 281 #14,567
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 281 #14,619
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 277 #14,667
2007 modern 274 #14,932
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 288 #15,162
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 276 #15,673
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Donsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bassingham, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Southwell, Farnsfield, Wellingore and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Rotherham and Erewash. 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 Bassingham Nottinghamshire
2 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
3 Southwell, Farnsfield Nottinghamshire
4 Wellingore Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 003 Mendip
2 Rotherham 029 Rotherham
3 Rotherham 028 Rotherham
4 Mendip 001 Mendip
5 Erewash 003 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Donson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Donson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Donson 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

Donson is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Donson 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 Donson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Donson

The surname Donson is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a patronymic name, derived from the given name "Don" or "Donne," which was a common nickname for the name Donald or Donwald. This name has Anglo-Saxon origins and was popular during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Donson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1207, where a Robert Donnesone is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, where a John Donesson is listed. These early records suggest that the name was in use across various parts of England during the 13th century.

The surname Donson is believed to have evolved from various place names and locations where it originated. For instance, the village of Dunston in Lincolnshire, which was historically known as "Donestone," may have contributed to the formation of the surname. Additionally, the name could be linked to the town of Downton in Wiltshire, which was formerly called "Dunnedene" or "Dunedene."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Donson. One such figure was William Donson, a 16th-century English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Martin's Church in Leicester from 1566 to 1588. Another prominent bearer of the name was John Donson, a 17th-century English merchant and trader who established successful trade routes with the West Indies.

In the 18th century, the name Donson was carried by Robert Donson, a renowned architect and surveyor who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the St. George's Church in Hanover Square. Edward Donson, born in 1792, was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and played a crucial role in several major battles.

Another significant figure with the surname Donson was Henry Donson, a 19th-century English writer and journalist who contributed to various publications and authored several books on history and literature. His works, including "The Chronicles of Old London" and "The Life and Times of Oliver Cromwell," were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Donson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Donson 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. Lincolnshire leads with 65 Donsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.10x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 65 25.10x
Nottinghamshire 39 17.87x
Yorkshire 13 0.81x
Derbyshire 11 4.34x
Northumberland 10 4.15x
Middlesex 9 0.56x
Northamptonshire 7 4.60x
Staffordshire 5 0.91x
Cheshire 2 0.56x
Surrey 2 0.25x
Devon 1 0.30x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwell in Nottinghamshire leads with 22 Donsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1383.65x.

Place Total Index
Southwell 22 1383.65x
Colsterworth 11 2000.00x
Bassingham 9 2250.00x
Laceby 9 1607.14x
Byker 8 67.17x
Heanor 8 211.08x
Navenby 8 1509.43x
Helpstone 7 1794.87x
Islington London 7 4.46x
Mansfield 7 92.72x
Belchford 5 1851.85x
Fulletby 5 3571.43x
Gainsborough 5 81.97x
Linthrope 5 1666.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 8.63x
Tuxford 5 925.93x
Sheffield 4 7.83x
Waddington 4 851.06x
Wellingore 4 909.09x
Brightside Bierlow 2 6.36x
Derby St Werburgh 2 13.66x
Farndon 2 512.82x
Headon Cum Upton 2 1666.67x
Lambeth 2 1.42x
Over 2 55.10x
Rothbury 2 289.86x
Rotherham 2 22.10x
Boston 1 12.72x
Bringhurst 1 2500.00x
Derby St Alkmund 1 13.16x
Harmston 1 526.32x
Kettlethorpe 1 714.29x
Manchester 1 1.16x
Market Rasen 1 68.97x
Newstead 1 185.19x
St Bride London 1 106.38x
St Sepulchre London 1 42.19x
Stamford St George 1 86.21x
Totnes 1 50.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 6
Charlotte 5
Jane 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Bridget 2
Eliza 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bella 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Damarias 1
Elisabeth 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Mariann 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 12
George 11
Charles 7
James 5
Thomas 5
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Alfred 1
Algunon 1
Andrew 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Donson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Donson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 168 people were recorded with the Donson surname. That placed it at #14,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Donson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Donson a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Donson surname mean?

An English patronymic surname derived from "son of Don" or "Donn."

What does the Donson map show?

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