NameCensus.

UK surname

Doonan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dúnáin" meaning "descendant of Dúnán".

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Doonan surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 451, ranked #10,791, up from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Calder and Polbeth, Northern and Irvine Valley Rural and Paisley East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doonan is 465 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 255.1%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

451

2016, ranked #10,791

Peak year

2010

465 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doonan had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016, ranked #10,791.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Doonan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doonan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doonan 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 166 #17,011
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 425 #10,510
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 434 #10,784
2000 modern 446 #10,516
2001 modern 428 #10,653
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 450 #10,293
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 437 #10,437
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 446 #10,501
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 465 #10,618
2011 modern 457 #10,651
2012 modern 439 #10,873
2013 modern 451 #10,814
2014 modern 462 #10,676
2015 modern 456 #10,715
2016 modern 451 #10,791

Geography

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Where Doonans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Manchester and Mid Calder. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Calder and Polbeth, Northern and Irvine Valley Rural, Paisley East, South Tyneside and Mid Suffolk. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Mid Calder Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian
2 Northern and Irvine Valley Rural East Ayrshire
3 Paisley East Renfrewshire
4 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
5 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doonan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doonan

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Doonan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doonan is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doonan 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 Doonan 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 Doonan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Doonan

The surname DOONAN originated in Ireland, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "dubhan," which means "little dark one," referring to a person with dark features or complexion.

DOONAN is predominantly found in Counties Galway, Mayo, and Sligo in the west of Ireland, where it has a long-standing history. The name is also closely associated with the Irish clan Ó Dubháin, which was prominent in the region during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DOONAN surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Tadhg Ó Dubháin, who was a renowned poet and scholar in the 15th century.

Another significant figure in the history of the DOONAN name is Brian DOONAN, a 17th-century Irish military leader who fought in the Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Confederate movement and played a crucial role in the defense of Galway city against the Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, the DOONAN surname was also associated with the Irish literary tradition. Patrick DOONAN (1720-1795) was a renowned poet and scribe from County Mayo, known for his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and culture.

During the 19th century, the DOONAN name gained prominence in the United States, with many Irish immigrants settling in various parts of the country. One notable figure from this period was James DOONAN (1832-1909), a successful businessman and philanthropist based in New York City, who made significant contributions to various charitable causes.

Another influential figure with the DOONAN surname was John DOONAN (1875-1948), a pioneering labor leader and activist from Chicago. He played a crucial role in organizing workers' rights movements and advocating for better working conditions in the early 20th century.

The DOONAN surname continues to be prevalent in Ireland, the United States, and other parts of the world with significant Irish diaspora populations. Its origins and history are deeply rooted in the cultural and literary traditions of Ireland, reflecting the country's rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doonan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doonan 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 33 Doonans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 2.23x
Lanarkshire 27 6.69x
Midlothian 12 7.17x
West Lothian 10 53.19x
Yorkshire 9 0.73x
East Lothian 7 42.32x
Dorset 6 7.32x
Cumberland 5 4.65x
Dunbartonshire 4 11.92x
Northumberland 3 1.61x
Perthshire 3 5.35x
Renfrewshire 3 3.10x
Devon 1 0.38x
Durham 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.39x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 6.72x
Staffordshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Doonans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.78x.

Place Total Index
Barony 10 9.78x
Govan 10 10.01x
Whitburn 10 367.65x
Falsgrave 9 494.51x
Liverpool 9 10.00x
Edinburgh St Johns 6 566.04x
Haddington 6 245.90x
Portland 6 136.05x
Shotts 6 124.22x
Parr 5 94.34x
Toxteth Park 5 9.97x
New Kilpatrick 4 125.39x
South Leith 4 21.25x
Wavertree 4 84.39x
Benwell 3 147.78x
Caldewgate 3 50.93x
Kilbarchan 3 102.04x
Perth Middle Church 3 142.18x
West Derby 3 6.92x
Dearham 2 140.85x
Edinburgh Greenside 2 90.50x
Litherland 2 64.52x
Manchester 2 3.00x
Burton Upon Trent 1 10.14x
Cowpen Bewley 1 238.10x
Dalziel 1 23.04x
Dunbar 1 43.10x
Farnborough 1 37.17x
Haydock 1 39.22x
Parbold 1 434.78x
Royal Navy 1 7.86x
Spotland 1 6.07x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 38.91x
Stoke Damerel 1 5.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Ann 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Margaret 2
Bell 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Maggy 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 3
Thomas 3
Patrick 2
Connar 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
William 1
Wm.Hy. 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 Doonan households.

FAQ

Doonan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doonan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Doonan surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doonan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016. That gives Doonan a modern rank of #10,791.

What does the Doonan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dúnáin" meaning "descendant of Dúnán".

What does the Doonan map show?

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