NameCensus.

UK surname

Dooney

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dúnadhaigh" meaning descendant of the dun dweller.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Dooney surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, Wigan and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dooney is 173 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 307.7%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

2009

173 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dooney had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 56 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dooney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dooney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Dooney 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 164 #21,900
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

Back to top

Where Dooneys 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 Isle of Anglesey, Wigan, Doncaster, Fylde and County Durham. 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 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
2 Wigan 003 Wigan
3 Doncaster 030 Doncaster
4 Fylde 006 Fylde
5 County Durham 063 County Durham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Dooney

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Dooney

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dooney is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dooney is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dooney 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 Dooney 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dooney

The surname Dooney is of Irish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in County Galway, a region in the west of Ireland. The name Dooney is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "dún," which means "fort" or "fortified place," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a particular fortified location or settlement.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Dooney can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by a group of Franciscan monks in the 17th century. The annals mention a prominent figure named Dooney O'Malley, who was a chieftain and leader of the Ó Máille clan in County Mayo during the late 16th century.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Dooney appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and land surveys. One notable individual from this period was John Dooney (1663-1735), an Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history and culture of his native County Galway.

As the Irish diaspora spread throughout the world, the surname Dooney traveled with it. In the 19th century, several individuals bearing the name Dooney made significant contributions in various fields. One such figure was Michael Dooney (1810-1888), an Irish-born engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in the United States.

Another prominent individual with the surname Dooney was John Dooney (1881-1946), an American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Dooney & Bourke leather goods company in 1975. The company, known for its high-quality handbags and accessories, has become a celebrated brand in the fashion industry.

Throughout history, the surname Dooney has also been associated with various place names and locations. For instance, the townland of Doonee in County Galway, Ireland, is believed to be derived from the same Gaelic root as the surname. Additionally, there are several areas in the United States, such as Dooney Park in Tennessee and Dooney Creek in Arizona, that bear the name, likely named after early settlers with the Dooney surname.

Overall, the surname Dooney has a rich history rooted in Irish culture and tradition, with its origins dating back to the 16th century. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the history and heritage of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Dooney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dooney 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 28 Dooneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 28 6.54x
Cheshire 3 3.77x
Yorkshire 3 0.84x
Leicestershire 2 5.00x
Surrey 1 0.57x

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 11 Dooneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.31x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 11 42.31x
Warrington 9 177.17x
Much Woolton 5 862.07x
Lutterworth 2 833.33x
Northowram 2 79.68x
Acton Grange 1 5000.00x
Dewsbury 1 27.25x
Dutton 1 1666.67x
Everton 1 7.33x
Layton With Warbreck 1 63.69x
Norton 1 2500.00x
Rainford 1 217.39x
Streatham 1 37.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 5
Thomas 5
John 4
James 3
Edward 1
Josh. 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 Dooney households.

FAQ

Dooney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dooney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Dooney surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dooney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Dooney a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Dooney surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dúnadhaigh" meaning descendant of the dun dweller.

What does the Dooney map show?

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