NameCensus.

UK surname

Doy

An English surname derived from a place name or indicating a dweller on a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 255 people recorded with the Doy surname, ranking it #10,924 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, up from #10,924 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Horningtoft and Welborne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, North Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doy is 712 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.9%.

1881 census count

255

Ranked #10,924

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

1999

712 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Doy had 255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,924 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Doy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Doy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Doy 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 186 #11,024
1881 historical 255 #10,924
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1997 modern 682 #7,394
1998 modern 689 #7,572
1999 modern 712 #7,422
2000 modern 701 #7,485
2001 modern 682 #7,505
2002 modern 696 #7,546
2003 modern 687 #7,493
2004 modern 658 #7,762
2005 modern 651 #7,767
2006 modern 634 #7,958
2007 modern 640 #7,962
2008 modern 654 #7,879
2009 modern 682 #7,806
2010 modern 671 #8,050
2011 modern 655 #8,104
2012 modern 650 #8,072
2013 modern 659 #8,125
2014 modern 677 #7,989
2015 modern 656 #8,136
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Doys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Horningtoft, Welborne, East Dereham and Barnby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, North Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Horningtoft Norfolk
3 Welborne Norfolk
4 East Dereham Norfolk
5 Barnby Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 014 Waveney
2 North Norfolk 004 North Norfolk
3 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Doy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Doy

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Doy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Doy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Doy is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Doy is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Doy falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Doy 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Doy

The surname DOY is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "doh," which meant a small hill or a ridge. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or on a small hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DOY can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Dohe," which is likely an early spelling variation of the modern DOY.

In the 13th century, records show the surname DOY appearing in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Some notable early bearers of the name include John Doy, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and Robert Doy, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1301.

The surname DOY has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Doyley in Oxfordshire and Doyly in Suffolk. These place names may have originated from the same root word as the surname, further reinforcing its connection to geographical features like hills or ridges.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname DOY. One such person was Sir John Doy (1530-1610), an English politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Doy (1620-1687), a Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.

In the 18th century, Thomas Doy (1749-1823) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. Later, in the 19th century, John Doy (1822-1901) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. James in Paddington, London.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname DOY was Emily Doy (1845-1930), a British artist and illustrator known for her work in children's literature and her collaborations with authors such as Lewis Carroll and Christina Rossetti.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Doy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doy 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. Norfolk leads with 93 Doys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.22x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 93 24.22x
Suffolk 87 28.60x
Middlesex 22 0.88x
Yorkshire 9 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.38x
Surrey 8 0.66x
Essex 7 1.42x
Northumberland 6 1.61x
Lancashire 4 0.14x
Kent 3 0.35x
Lincolnshire 3 0.75x
Midlothian 3 0.90x
Cornwall 2 0.71x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 49 Doys recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.99x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 49 340.99x
Southwold 22 1222.22x
Horningtoft 13 7222.22x
North Elmham 11 1182.80x
Chedgrave 10 3125.00x
Eastwood 7 232.56x
Middleton 7 1627.91x
Romford 7 89.86x
South Lynn 7 161.66x
Wangford 7 1228.07x
Byker 6 32.66x
St Marylebone London 6 4.50x
Welborne 6 3529.41x
Bawdeswell 5 1315.79x
Clerkenwell London 5 8.48x
East Dereham 5 103.09x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 5 714.29x
Hoe 5 2941.18x
St George Hanover Square 5 11.36x
Clapham 4 12.81x
Kimberworth 4 29.13x
Little Ryburgh 4 2500.00x
Mileham 4 952.38x
Salford 4 4.59x
Streatham 4 21.59x
Great Grimsby 3 11.84x
Great Snoring 3 750.00x
Great Yarmouth 3 9.43x
South Leith 3 7.97x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 42.37x
Woolwich 3 9.53x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.84x
Brisley 2 689.66x
Kensington London 2 1.44x
Little Fransham 2 1000.00x
Reydon 2 740.74x
Scarning 2 350.88x
Briston 1 136.99x
Cheltenham 1 2.65x
Falmouth 1 9.99x
Fulham London 1 2.76x
Garvestone 1 344.83x
Hornsey 1 3.17x
Leeds 1 0.72x
Limpenhoe 1 588.24x
Mansfield 1 8.58x
Nafferton 1 95.24x
Ovington 1 416.67x
Sparham 1 384.62x
St Just In Roseland 1 80.65x
Wells Next Sea 1 44.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Charlotte 7
Harriet 6
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Ann 4
Hannah 4
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Abigail 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgeanna 1
Georgina 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Marri 1
Matilda 1
Orpah 1
Pauline 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sabina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
T...an 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 18
Charles 12
Frederick 8
George 8
James 6
Thomas 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Robert 4
Harry 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Money 2
Albert 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edwd.William 1
Elizabeth 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jonathan 1
Lanard 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Muny 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Doy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Doy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 255 people were recorded with the Doy surname. That placed it at #10,924 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Doy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Doy a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Doy surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name or indicating a dweller on a hill.

What does the Doy map show?

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