NameCensus.

UK surname

Dorans

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Dorans surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blantyre, Govan Combination and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maybole, Stranraer East and Stranraer West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dorans is 327 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 375.8%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

2010

327 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dorans had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 125 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Dorans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dorans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dorans 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 286 #14,318
1999 modern 275 #14,789
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 279 #14,408
2002 modern 286 #14,442
2003 modern 284 #14,331
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 286 #14,242
2006 modern 289 #14,234
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 299 #14,177
2009 modern 314 #13,985
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 295 #15,020
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Dorans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blantyre, Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow and Cambuslang. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maybole, Stranraer East, Stranraer West, Newton Stewart and Rhins South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Blantyre Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cambuslang Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maybole South Ayrshire
2 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
3 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
4 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
5 Rhins South Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dorans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dorans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dorans, 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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Dorans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Dorans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dorans is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dorans 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

Dorans 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 Dorans 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 - British

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

1881 census detail

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Dorans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dorans 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. Lanarkshire leads with 24 Dorans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.27x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 24 12.27x
Wigtownshire 17 211.71x
Renfrewshire 6 12.80x
Ayrshire 5 11.05x
Westmorland 3 22.57x
Dunbartonshire 2 12.31x
Angus 1 1.79x
Cumberland 1 1.92x
Fife 1 2.79x
Hampshire 1 0.81x
Lancashire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Dorans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.81x.

Place Total Index
Govan 12 24.81x
Glasgow 10 28.79x
Kirkcolm 7 1842.11x
West Greenock 6 71.34x
Kilmarnock 5 92.76x
Stoneykirk 5 877.19x
Wigtown 5 1086.96x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 3 937.50x
Row 2 95.24x
Aldershot 1 24.10x
Barony 1 2.02x
Dysart 1 41.49x
Lanark 1 63.69x
Liff Benvie 1 11.76x
Whitehaven 1 35.97x
Wigan 1 9.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Hugh 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 Dorans households.

FAQ

Dorans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dorans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Dorans surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dorans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Dorans a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Dorans map show?

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