UK surname
English surname derived from the Irish Ó Dubhlaoich meaning "descendant of the dark hero".
In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Dooly surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #17,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Bury and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dooly is 123 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.7%.
1881 census count
123
Ranked #17,506
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1881
123 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dooly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dooly surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 96 | #21,648 |
| 1881 | historical | 123 | #17,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 64 | #28,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Bury, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bidstone | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dooly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dooly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dooly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dooly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dooly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dooly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dooly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dooly is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Waterford and Tipperary, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "dubhdulaidh," which means "dark-haired person" or "dark fighter," suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dooly surname can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, where a Dermot Dooly is mentioned in 1582. This document provides evidence of the name's presence in Ireland during the late 16th century.
The Dooly surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Doolyhill in County Waterford and Doolyduff in County Tipperary. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname or vice versa.
Notable individuals with the surname Dooly include:
1. John Dooly (1740-1819), an American soldier and politician from Georgia, who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
2. James Dooly (1756-1819), an American politician and soldier from Georgia, who also fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a member of the Georgia General Assembly.
3. William Dooly (1675-1755), an Irish Roman Catholic priest and educator who founded a school in County Tipperary in the early 18th century, which later became known as Dooly's Academy.
4. Dermot Dooly (fl. 1582), one of the earliest recorded individuals with the Dooly surname, mentioned in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I in Ireland.
5. Patrick Dooly (1870-1946), an Irish politician and businessman who served as a member of the Irish Free State Senate from 1922 to 1936.
The Dooly surname has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with its origins potentially stemming from a descriptive nickname. While the surname has undergone various spelling variations over time, it continues to hold significance in both historical records and modern times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dooly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 40 Doolys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 40 | 2.81x |
| Durham | 18 | 5.04x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.17x |
| Glamorgan | 12 | 5.74x |
| Nairnshire | 8 | 218.58x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.67x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 4.33x |
| Cardiganshire | 4 | 13.67x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.03x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.51x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.76x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.56x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 2.62x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey in Lancashire leads with 11 Doolys recorded in 1881 and an index of 723.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey | 11 | 723.68x |
| Nairn | 8 | 360.36x |
| Warrington | 8 | 47.39x |
| Bow London | 7 | 45.84x |
| Llantrisant | 7 | 132.83x |
| Stranton | 7 | 58.24x |
| Gateshead | 5 | 18.71x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 5.78x |
| Cwmdu | 4 | 156.86x |
| Helmington Row | 4 | 240.96x |
| Lampeterpont Stephen | 4 | 816.33x |
| Maryhill | 4 | 52.63x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 4 | 68.85x |
| Eston | 3 | 115.83x |
| Manchester | 3 | 4.69x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 7.17x |
| Poplar London | 3 | 13.25x |
| West Derby | 3 | 7.20x |
| Accrington | 2 | 15.46x |
| Ashton In Makerfield | 2 | 49.38x |
| Cleckheaton | 2 | 45.66x |
| Dewsbury | 2 | 16.41x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.12x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 4.15x |
| Witton Gilbert | 2 | 141.84x |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.27x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 2.80x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 1 | 10.55x |
| Cardiff St John | 1 | 14.66x |
| Culcheth | 1 | 107.53x |
| Fulwood | 1 | 64.94x |
| Greasby | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.50x |
| Leatherhead | 1 | 68.49x |
| Longbenton | 1 | 13.23x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 10.01x |
| Otley | 1 | 34.60x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 1 | 20.37x |
| Prescot | 1 | 38.91x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 8.86x |
| Tyldesley Cum Shakerley | 1 | 24.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dooly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dooly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Dooly households.
FAQ
In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Dooly surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Dooly a modern rank of #37,705.
English surname derived from the Irish Ó Dubhlaoich meaning "descendant of the dark hero".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dooly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.