NameCensus.

UK surname

Doran

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deoradháin" meaning "descendant of the exile or wanderer."

In the 1881 census there were 2,461 people recorded with the Doran surname, ranking it #1,807 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,927, ranked #976, up from #1,807 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Calderdale and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doran is 7,096 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 181.5%.

1881 census count

2,461

Ranked #1,807

Modern count

6,927

2016, ranked #976

Peak year

2010

7,096 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doran had 2,461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,807 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,927 in 2016, ranked #976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,900 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Doran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doran 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 997 #2,806
1861 historical 1,242 #2,298
1881 historical 2,461 #1,807
1891 historical 2,531 #1,873
1901 historical 2,900 #1,932
1911 historical 2,741 #1,890
1997 modern 6,427 #1,015
1998 modern 6,675 #1,013
1999 modern 6,716 #1,018
2000 modern 6,683 #1,016
2001 modern 6,517 #1,018
2002 modern 6,788 #995
2003 modern 6,606 #999
2004 modern 6,579 #1,007
2005 modern 6,522 #1,008
2006 modern 6,560 #1,000
2007 modern 6,653 #995
2008 modern 6,726 #989
2009 modern 6,891 #986
2010 modern 7,096 #975
2011 modern 6,996 #973
2012 modern 6,798 #980
2013 modern 6,965 #976
2014 modern 7,037 #972
2015 modern 6,968 #978
2016 modern 6,927 #976

Geography

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Where Dorans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Calderdale and Liverpool. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 Calderdale 025 Calderdale
4 Liverpool 014 Liverpool
5 Copeland 003 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doran

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

Doran 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

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

Meaning and origin of Doran

The surname Doran is of Irish origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic surname O'Dorchaidhe, which means "descendant of Dorchaidhe," a personal name derived from the word "dorcha," meaning "dark" or "swarthy."

This surname is particularly associated with County Cork, where it is believed to have originated. The earliest known record of the name appears in the Annals of Innisfallen, an Irish chronicle from the early 13th century, where it is spelled as O'Dorchaidhe.

In the 16th century, the surname underwent anglicization, leading to various spellings such as Doran, Doren, and Dorrin. This process was common during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, as Irish names were adapted to English phonetics.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Thomas Doran, an Irish soldier and courtier who served under King James I of England in the early 17th century. Another prominent individual was John Doran (1807-1878), an English author and historian who wrote extensively on the history of England and the English monarchy.

In the 19th century, the surname Doran gained further recognition with figures like Dr. John Doran (1807-1878), an English writer and antiquarian, and John W. Doran (1844-1902), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

The name Doran also has ties to various place names in Ireland, such as Doran's Rock in County Cork and Doran's Hill in County Donegal, further solidifying its Irish origins.

Throughout history, the Doran surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, authors, politicians, and more, reflecting its enduring presence in both Irish and broader Western culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doran 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 969 Dorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 969 3.36x
Cumberland 262 12.53x
Lanarkshire 192 2.45x
Middlesex 170 0.70x
Durham 130 1.80x
Yorkshire 94 0.39x
Cheshire 90 1.68x
Kent 69 0.83x
Surrey 50 0.42x
Staffordshire 43 0.52x
Hampshire 36 0.72x
Glamorgan 31 0.73x
Angus 27 1.20x
Ayrshire 27 1.49x
Warwickshire 25 0.41x
Gloucestershire 23 0.48x
Northumberland 22 0.61x
Renfrewshire 22 1.17x
Stirlingshire 22 2.46x
Dunbartonshire 20 3.07x
Isle of Man 19 4.21x
Sussex 16 0.39x
Berkshire 9 0.49x
Essex 9 0.19x
Midlothian 9 0.28x
Shropshire 9 0.43x
Cardiganshire 8 1.35x
Derbyshire 8 0.21x
Leicestershire 8 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.24x
Channel Islands 7 0.97x
Wigtownshire 7 2.17x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.27x
Norfolk 6 0.16x
Royal Navy 6 2.07x
Northamptonshire 5 0.22x
West Lothian 5 1.37x
Devon 3 0.06x
Dorset 3 0.19x
Monmouthshire 3 0.17x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Flintshire 2 0.31x
Buteshire 1 0.68x
East Lothian 1 0.31x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.21x
Selkirkshire 1 0.46x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

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 251 Dorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.34x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 251 14.34x
Manchester 85 6.56x
Toxteth Park 79 8.10x
Glasgow 68 4.88x
Whitehaven 59 52.95x
Cleator 49 56.32x
West Derby 49 5.81x
Barony 43 2.16x
Salford 43 5.07x
Govan 39 2.01x
Everton 38 4.14x
Wigan 36 8.94x
Kirkdale 34 7.02x
Preston Quarter 33 56.33x
Birkenhead 29 6.79x
Bootle Cum Linacre 23 10.05x
Egremont 22 44.14x
Westminster St James 21 8.41x
Widnes 20 9.62x
Oldham 19 2.04x
St Marylebone London 19 1.47x
Cumbernauld 18 50.35x
Dundee 17 2.02x
Harrington 17 67.38x
Workington 17 14.20x
Bermondsey 16 2.21x
Macclesfield 16 6.72x
Castleton 15 5.21x
Walton Le Dale 15 19.37x
Arlecdon 14 25.18x
Bury 14 4.25x
St Cuthbert W O 14 13.74x
Barrow In Furness 13 3.32x
Bradford 13 9.64x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 2.90x
Dukinfield 13 5.25x
Ormskirk 13 23.58x
Woolwich 13 4.25x
Coventry Holy Trinity 12 6.56x
Crosscanonby 12 17.36x
Gillingham 12 7.03x
Newcastle Under Lyme 12 8.27x
Deptford St Paul 11 1.72x
Shoreditch London 11 1.05x
St Martin In Fields 11 7.57x
Swansea Town 11 3.17x
Acton 10 7.03x
Clayton Le Moors 10 17.89x
Cockermouth 10 22.72x
Cornsay 10 51.41x
Hammersmith London 10 1.67x
Heworth 10 7.03x
Kilsyth 10 17.51x
Lamesley 10 25.72x
Portsea 10 1.03x
Cambuslang 9 11.37x
Conside Knitsley 9 16.02x
Liff Benvie 9 2.64x
Mile End Old Town London 9 1.74x
Pendleton In Salford 9 2.62x
Wavertree 9 9.76x
Aston 8 0.47x
Bothkennar 8 29.93x
Bowling 8 3.36x
Bradford 8 1.37x
Cardigan St Mary 8 35.26x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 5.53x
Escomb 8 24.10x
Great Aycliffe 8 114.61x
Paddington London 8 0.90x
Reading St Giles 8 4.47x
Rotherhithe 8 2.67x
Scarborough 8 3.66x
Southampton St Mary 8 2.56x
Stevenston 8 16.89x
Sunderland 8 6.27x
Esh 7 13.32x
Huyton With Roby 7 20.73x
Iveston 7 21.03x
Leeds 7 0.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 244
Margaret 76
Elizabeth 75
Ann 55
Catherine 52
Sarah 52
Ellen 41
Bridget 32
Annie 29
Jane 27
Alice 26
Agnes 15
Eliza 15
Hannah 15
Kate 14
Rose 12
Anne 10
Maria 10
Frances 9
Susan 9
Emma 8
Emily 7
Helen 7
Margret 7
Margt. 7
Martha 7
Caroline 6
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Johanna 6
Lucy 6
Catharine 5
Elizth. 5
Isabella 5
Deborah 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Julia 4
Rebecca 4
Rosanna 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Grace 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Maggie 3
Minnie 3
Cathrine 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 170
James 130
William 103
Thomas 89
Patrick 63
Edward 43
Michael 39
Peter 39
Joseph 37
Charles 30
Henry 23
George 22
Daniel 20
Arthur 19
Hugh 19
Robert 15
Bernard 14
Francis 11
Alfred 8
David 8
Frederick 8
Samuel 8
Martin 7
Richard 7
Albert 6
Matthew 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Nicholas 5
Thos. 5
Andrew 4
Jas. 4
Walter 4
Bartholomew 3
Owen 3
Philip 3
Sydney 3
Wm. 3
Anthony 2
Christopher 2
Denis 2
Dennis 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jno 2
Laurence 2
Stephen 2
Wm.Bernard 2
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Doran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,461 people were recorded with the Doran surname. That placed it at #1,807 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,927 in 2016. That gives Doran a modern rank of #976.

What does the Doran surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deoradháin" meaning "descendant of the exile or wanderer."

What does the Doran map show?

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