NameCensus.

UK surname

Doo

A derived surname meaning island or ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Doo surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 161, ranked #22,606, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doo is 161 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.8%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

161

2016, ranked #22,606

Peak year

2016

161 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doo had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016, ranked #22,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 94 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Doo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doo 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 55 #23,413
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 161 #22,606

Geography

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Where Doos 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 Horsham, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter, Torbay, Adur and Broxtowe. 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 Horsham 016 Horsham
2 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
3 Torbay 017 Torbay
4 Adur 003 Adur
5 Broxtowe 009 Broxtowe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doo

These lists show first names that appear often with the Doo 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 Doo

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Doo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Doo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Doo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doo is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doo falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doo 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Doo

The surname DOO originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "dubh," meaning "black" or "dark." This name likely referred to an individual's physical appearance, such as having dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

The earliest recorded mention of the DOO surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document that recorded the names of Scottish noblemen who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One such entry includes "Gillemichel Dou" from Ayrshire, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the DOO name.

In the 15th century, the DOO surname appeared in several Scottish records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which listed individuals responsible for paying taxes or receiving payments from the royal treasury. One notable entry from 1456 mentions "John Dow" from Aberdeenshire.

During the 16th century, the DOO surname spread beyond Scotland to other parts of the British Isles. Historical records from this period include references to individuals with variations of the name, such as "Doo," "Dooe," and "Dough." One prominent figure was Sir John Doo, a wealthy merchant from London who lived from 1521 to 1597.

In the 17th century, the DOO surname became more widespread in England and Ireland. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Thomas Doo (1597-1665), an English politician and member of Parliament, and Reverend Robert Doo (1620-1688), an Irish Presbyterian minister and author.

Another notable bearer of the DOO surname was James Doo (1776-1834), a Scottish inventor and engineer who patented several innovative designs for textile machinery. His contributions helped revolutionize the industrial manufacturing processes of his time.

Throughout its history, the DOO surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from merchants and politicians to clergymen and inventors. While its origins can be traced back to Scotland, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by those who bore it and their descendants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doo 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. Surrey leads with 32 Doos recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.42x.

County Total Index
Surrey 32 8.42x
Middlesex 19 2.43x
Cambridgeshire 9 18.21x
Huntingdonshire 8 51.65x
Kent 3 1.13x
Sussex 3 2.28x
Cheshire 2 1.16x
Staffordshire 2 0.76x
Derbyshire 1 0.82x
Lancashire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 14 Doos recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.09x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 14 28.09x
St Michael Cambridge 9 6428.57x
Lambeth 7 10.29x
St Luke London 6 47.92x
Bow London 5 50.35x
Great Gidding 5 3846.15x
Mortlake 5 295.86x
St Clement Danes London 5 310.56x
Streatham 4 69.08x
Brighton 3 11.30x
Lewisham 3 21.13x
St Ives 3 375.00x
Davenham 2 1250.00x
Stoke Newington London 2 32.89x
Wolverhampton 2 9.88x
Derby St Werburgh 1 14.18x
Manchester 1 2.40x
Pinner 1 147.06x
Southwark St Saviour 1 24.94x
Woking 1 43.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Caroline 3
Elizabeth 3
Celia 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
B. 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Marsha 1
Molly 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
Henry 5
William 5
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
James 2
John 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos.James 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 Doo households.

FAQ

Doo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Doo surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016. That gives Doo a modern rank of #22,606.

What does the Doo surname mean?

A derived surname meaning island or ridge.

What does the Doo map show?

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