NameCensus.

UK surname

Doogan

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Duggan, possibly deriving from the Gaelic name Ó Dubhagáin meaning "descendant of Dubhagán".

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Doogan surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 714, ranked #7,599, up from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Govanhill East and Aikenhead, South Angus and Gorbals and Hutchesontown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doogan is 714 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 537.5%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

714

2016, ranked #7,599

Peak year

2016

714 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doogan had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016, ranked #7,599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 179 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Doogan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doogan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doogan 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 179 #16,227
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 624 #7,925
1998 modern 639 #8,006
1999 modern 632 #8,139
2000 modern 650 #7,936
2001 modern 631 #7,959
2002 modern 646 #7,990
2003 modern 621 #8,112
2004 modern 621 #8,134
2005 modern 638 #7,893
2006 modern 620 #8,082
2007 modern 635 #8,022
2008 modern 643 #7,982
2009 modern 670 #7,900
2010 modern 679 #7,965
2011 modern 680 #7,863
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 697 #7,752
2014 modern 709 #7,699
2015 modern 707 #7,661
2016 modern 714 #7,599

Geography

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Where Doogans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool and Leamington Priors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Govanhill East and Aikenhead, South Angus, Gorbals and Hutchesontown, Lochee and Pollokshaws. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Gateshead Durham
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Leamington Priors Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City
2 South Angus Angus
3 Gorbals and Hutchesontown Glasgow City
4 Lochee Dundee City
5 Pollokshaws Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doogan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doogan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Doogan, 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 Doogan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Doogan 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, Doogan 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

Doogan 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

Doogan 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 Doogan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Doogan

The surname Doogan is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century in the northern counties of Ulster. The name is believed to have derived from the Gaelic term "Dubhagain," which translates to "dark-complexioned." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were individuals with darker features, a distinguishing characteristic in those times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Doogan name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a few individuals bearing this surname, including Donnchadh Doogan, a prominent leader from County Tyrone who lived in the late 16th century.

The Doogan name has also been associated with various place names throughout Ireland. For instance, the townland of Doogan in County Tyrone is believed to have derived its name from the Doogan family who once resided there. Similarly, the Doogan Hill in County Antrim bears a connection to this surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Doogan surname. One such figure was Patrick Doogan (1810-1894), an Irish-born prelate who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Tyrone and Raphoe in the late 19th century. Another notable Doogan was Michael Doogan (1814-1881), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Middlesex North.

In the realm of literature, the Doogan name found representation in the works of Irish writer James Joyce. His novel "Ulysses" features a character named Doogan, a minor but memorable figure in the book's narrative.

Another notable bearer of the Doogan surname was John Doogan (1882-1960), an Irish-born prelate who served as the Bishop of Northampton in England from 1949 until his death. His contribution to the Catholic Church in the region was significant during his tenure.

While the Doogan name may not be as widely recognized as some other Irish surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from politics and religion to literature and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doogan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doogan 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 42 Doogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 42 3.24x
Yorkshire 17 1.57x
Staffordshire 12 3.25x
Cheshire 10 4.15x
Lanarkshire 10 2.83x
Kent 7 1.88x
Northumberland 6 3.69x
Clackmannanshire 4 44.35x
Angus 1 0.99x
Cumberland 1 1.06x
Essex 1 0.46x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 13 Doogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.51x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 13 16.51x
Monks Coppenhall 8 87.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 20.46x
Barony 6 6.71x
Dewsbury 6 54.05x
Westgate 6 59.64x
Linthorpe 5 77.40x
Little Bolton 5 29.99x
Salford 5 13.12x
Alloa 4 91.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 19.43x
Glasgow 4 6.38x
Normanby In 4 138.41x
Oswaldtwistle 4 87.34x
Woolwich 4 29.05x
Kirkham 3 175.44x
Preston 3 8.65x
Cheadle 2 112.99x
Manchester 2 3.43x
Plumstead 2 16.10x
Wolverhampton 2 7.05x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 27.03x
Birkenhead 1 5.20x
Cleator 1 25.58x
Croydon 1 3.39x
Fulwood 1 71.43x
Great Bolton 1 5.82x
Hougham 1 45.05x
Kirkdale 1 4.59x
Liff Benvie 1 6.51x
Navestock 1 322.58x
Sheffield 1 2.90x
Warburton 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Bridget 5
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Winifred 2
Agnes 1
Cecilia 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Nannie 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Doogan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doogan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Doogan surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doogan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016. That gives Doogan a modern rank of #7,599.

What does the Doogan surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Duggan, possibly deriving from the Gaelic name Ó Dubhagáin meaning "descendant of Dubhagán".

What does the Doogan map show?

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