UK surname
Originally a nickname for a man with thick, shaggy hair or unruly locks.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Douds surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 58, ranked #34,457, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints and Eckington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Douds is 106 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.1%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
58
2016, ranked #34,457
Peak year
1891
106 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Douds surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Douds surname density by area, 1891 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 87 | #22,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 62 | #34,233 |
| 2016 | modern | 58 | #34,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints, Eckington, Greenock and Glasgow. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 3 | Eckington | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Douds 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 Douds, 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 Douds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Douds 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, Douds 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 Douds is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Douds, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Douds originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English word 'dud', meaning a rounded hill or mound. The name was likely given to someone who lived near such a geographical feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Douds name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document listing those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Douds family had already established itself in Scotland by the late 13th century.
During the 16th century, variations of the spelling emerged, including Doud, Doude, and Douds. These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.
The Douds name can be traced back to the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas around Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. In the 17th century, several Douds families were recorded in the parish records of Eccles, Greenlaw, and Lauder in Berwickshire.
One notable individual with the Douds surname was Andrew Douds (1635-1711), a Scottish minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1696. He was known for his staunch Presbyterian beliefs and his opposition to the Episcopalian policies of the Stuart monarchs.
Another Douds of historical significance was William Douds (1768-1848), a Scottish-born farmer and politician who emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, in the late 18th century. He served as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for several terms and was influential in shaping the early political landscape of the colony.
In the 19th century, the Douds name spread beyond Scotland as families emigrated to other parts of the British Empire and the United States. One notable individual from this era was James Douds (1824-1891), a Scottish-American businessman and banker who co-founded the Douds Stave and Cooperage Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
Other notable individuals with the Douds surname include Thomas Douds (1870-1946), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives, and John Douds (1892-1966), a Scottish-born American architect who designed several notable buildings in Los Angeles, California.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Douds 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. Lanarkshire leads with 37 Douds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 37 | 17.78x |
| Renfrewshire | 14 | 28.07x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.52x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 6.23x |
| Wigtownshire | 3 | 35.09x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.58x |
| Stirlingshire | 2 | 8.42x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Douds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 11 | 21.37x |
| Abbey | 10 | 131.41x |
| New Monkland | 8 | 130.08x |
| Barony | 7 | 13.29x |
| Glasgow | 7 | 18.94x |
| Salford | 4 | 17.81x |
| Neilston | 3 | 120.00x |
| Stranraer | 3 | 384.62x |
| Bothwell | 2 | 35.46x |
| Bristol St James In | 2 | 107.53x |
| Dundonald | 2 | 112.36x |
| Falkirk | 2 | 35.97x |
| Dalserf | 1 | 48.08x |
| Irvine | 1 | 74.63x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.78x |
| Shotts | 1 | 40.16x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 11.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Douds 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 Douds 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 Douds households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Iron Moulder (Manf) | 1 |
| Masons Laborer | 1 |
| Shopkeeper | 1 |
| Weaver In Cotton | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Douds surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 58 in 2016. That gives Douds a modern rank of #34,457.
Originally a nickname for a man with thick, shaggy hair or unruly locks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Douds 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.