Find out how popular the last name Doak is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Doak.

Doak, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Doak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Doak in America

Doak is the 9307th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Doak surname appeared 3,498 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Doak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Doak to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Doak

The surname Doak has its origins in the Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the word 'dubhachaidh', which means 'a dark place' or 'a black dwelling'. This suggests that the name may have been originally given to someone who lived in a remote or secluded area, or perhaps in a place that was surrounded by dense forests or hills.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Doak can be traced back to the 16th century in Ulster, Ireland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Doak, who was born in County Antrim around 1580. This was a turbulent period in Irish history, with frequent conflicts between the native Irish and English settlers.

In the 17th century, the name Doak began to spread to other parts of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone. During this time, the name also appeared in various historical records, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, which were tax records that listed householders and their dwellings.

As the centuries passed, the Doak family continued to establish roots in different parts of Ireland and Scotland. One notable figure was James Doak, a Scottish minister who lived in the late 17th century and was known for his fiery sermons and unwavering faith.

In the 18th century, the name Doak began to appear in North America, as many Irish and Scottish families sought new opportunities and freedoms in the colonies. One of the earliest recorded Doaks in America was John Doak, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1710 and later settled in Pennsylvania.

Another significant figure in the history of the Doak surname was Samuel Doak, an Irish-American Presbyterian minister and educator. Born in Pennsylvania in 1749, he founded several schools and colleges in the American frontier, including Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Virginia.

As the Doak family continued to grow and spread throughout the world, they left their mark in various fields, from literature and politics to science and the arts. One notable example is Frank Doak, an English novelist and playwright who lived in the late 19th century and was known for his works set in the American West.

Throughout its long and diverse history, the surname Doak has been a reflection of the resilience, determination, and adaptability of those who have carried it. From its humble beginnings in the remote corners of Ireland and Scotland to its present-day global reach, the name Doak has woven itself into the rich tapestry of human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Doak

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Doak.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Doak was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Doak has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Doak was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Doak, please contact us.

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