Dannelly
An Anglicized form of an Irish surname derived from the Old Irish personal name Donnghaile.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Dannelly. That puts it at #56,195 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dannelly surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#56,195
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
364
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 364 bearers of the surname Dannelly in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 56195th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dannelly, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dannelly
The surname Dannelly has its origins in the historical region of Normandy in northern France. It derives from the Old French word "daneil" or "danel," which means "a small clearing in a forest." The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, referring to those who lived near or worked in such clearings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The book mentions a landholder named "Radulfus Danell" in Sussex.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Danel, Danell, Dannell, and eventually Dannelly. These changes were common as surnames became more standardized and passed down through generations.
In the 13th century, records show a John Danel residing in Lincolnshire, England. Meanwhile, in France, a notable figure was Jean Dannel, a merchant and landowner from Rouen, who lived in the late 14th century.
As the name spread across Europe, it sometimes took on localized forms. For instance, in Germany, the variant "Dännlich" emerged, and in Italy, it became "Dannelli."
One of the earliest known bearers of the Dannelly spelling was William Dannelly, born in County Cork, Ireland, in the late 16th century. He was a landowner and member of the local gentry.
Another notable figure was Sir John Dannelly (1675-1741), a British military officer who served in the War of the Spanish Succession and later became a Member of Parliament.
In the 19th century, James Dannelly (1818-1892) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Alabama, United States, serving as a judge and state legislator.
Across the Atlantic, Marie-Jeanne Dannelly (1834-1901) was a French author and feminist activist, advocating for women's rights and education.
Finally, in the early 20th century, Michael Dannelly (1908-1982) was an American artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits, many of which depicted scenes from his native California.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dannelly
Among Census respondents with the surname Dannelly, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Dannelly bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Dannelly surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dannelly surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #56,195 | #56,195 | 0.0% |
| Count | 364 | 364 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dannelly bearers went from 364 to 364 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #56,195 to #56,195.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dannelly
FAQ
Dannelly surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dannelly?
The surname Dannelly holds position #56,195 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dannelly surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dannelly, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.