NameCensus.

UK surname

Odonovan

Irish surname referring to a descendant or follower of the legendary king Donovan.

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Odonovan surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,104, ranked #3,069, up from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Childwall and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Hartlepool and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odonovan is 2,193 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2563.3%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

2,104

2016, ranked #3,069

Peak year

1999

2,193 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odonovan had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016, ranked #3,069.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Odonovan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odonovan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odonovan 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 174 #16,520
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 2,071 #2,969
1998 modern 2,173 #2,948
1999 modern 2,193 #2,951
2000 modern 2,169 #2,953
2001 modern 2,122 #2,955
2002 modern 2,183 #2,939
2003 modern 2,126 #2,950
2004 modern 2,101 #2,978
2005 modern 2,076 #2,975
2006 modern 2,018 #3,068
2007 modern 2,057 #3,043
2008 modern 2,094 #3,008
2009 modern 2,112 #3,058
2010 modern 2,177 #3,051
2011 modern 2,180 #2,999
2012 modern 2,123 #3,013
2013 modern 2,137 #3,050
2014 modern 2,125 #3,091
2015 modern 2,099 #3,095
2016 modern 2,104 #3,069

Geography

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Where Odonovans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Childwall, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Hartlepool, Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Childwall Lancashire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
3 Cardiff 013 Cardiff
4 Merthyr Tydfil 008 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odonovan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odonovan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Odonovan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odonovan 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Odonovan 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

Odonovan 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

Odonovan 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 Odonovan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Odonovan

The surname O'Donovan is of Irish origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Donnabháin, which means "descendant of Donndubhán." Donndubhán was a personal name derived from the words "donn" meaning brown or dark, and "dubhán" meaning a diminutive form of "dubh" meaning black or dark.

The O'Donovans were a prominent clan in County Cork, Ireland, and ruled over the territory of Cairbré in West Munster. They were one of the most powerful families in Munster and held considerable influence in the region during the Middle Ages. The name is first recorded in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name was Diarmaid Ó Donnabháin, who was the Lord of Cairbré in the late 12th century. Another notable figure was Domhnall Ó Donnabháin, who was the Bishop of Ross in the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the O'Donovans were involved in several conflicts with the English forces. One of the most prominent figures from this period was Donal Cam O'Donovan, who led the clan's resistance against the English in the 1580s.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Jeremiah O'Donovan (1831-1915), an Irish-American prelate who served as the fourth Bishop of Louisville, Kentucky, and William Rudolph O'Donovan (1844-1920), an Irish-American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Ambassador to Spain.

The O'Donovans were also known for their involvement in the Irish literary tradition. One of the most celebrated figures was Morgan O'Donovan (1585-1644), who was a renowned Irish scribe and chronicler. He is best known for his work, the Annals of the Four Masters, which is a comprehensive chronicle of Irish history from the earliest times to the 17th century.

Throughout history, variations of the name have included O'Donavan, O'Donovan, Donovan, and Donavon, among others. The name has also been associated with various place names in County Cork, such as Donovan's Road and Donovan's Grove.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odonovan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odonovan 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. Middlesex leads with 18 Odonovans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 3.13x
Lancashire 10 1.46x
Hampshire 9 7.63x
Durham 6 3.50x
Gloucestershire 6 5.32x
Glamorgan 3 2.99x
Dunbartonshire 1 6.46x
Essex 1 0.88x
Kent 1 0.51x
Northumberland 1 1.17x
Royal Navy 1 14.58x
Surrey 1 0.36x
Warwickshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ratcliffe London in Middlesex leads with 9 Odonovans recorded in 1881 and an index of 283.02x.

Place Total Index
Ratcliffe London 9 283.02x
Garston 7 346.53x
Hound 6 750.00x
Stockton On Tees 5 60.61x
Bristol St James In 4 240.96x
Clerkenwell London 4 29.46x
Portsmouth 3 110.29x
St Pancras London 3 6.48x
Bristol St Augustine 2 109.89x
Everton 2 9.19x
Islington London 2 3.59x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 20.77x
Banstead 1 131.58x
Birmingham 1 2.07x
Cardiff St John 1 30.58x
Cheriton 1 125.00x
Colchester St Botolph 1 103.09x
Liverpool 1 2.41x
Row 1 50.00x
Royal Navy 1 17.06x
Sunderland 1 33.11x
Warden 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catharine 1
Elise 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Florinda 1
Hebe 1
Kate 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Odonovan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odonovan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Odonovan surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odonovan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016. That gives Odonovan a modern rank of #3,069.

What does the Odonovan surname mean?

Irish surname referring to a descendant or follower of the legendary king Donovan.

What does the Odonovan map show?

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