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

Donaby, 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 Donaby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Donaby in America

Donaby is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Donaby surname appeared 149 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Donaby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Donaby 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 Donaby

The surname DONABY has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "by" signifying a village or town. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who resided in a village or settlement located near a hill or elevated terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DONABY surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appears as "de Donebi," reflecting the Old English roots and spelling variations common during that era.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling alterations, including Doneby, Donnebie, and Donnaby, before settling into the modern form of DONABY. These variations often reflected regional dialect differences or variations in scribal practices.

One notable historical figure bearing the DONABY name was Sir John Donaby (c. 1450-1521), a prominent English nobleman and landowner from Lincolnshire. He served as a member of Parliament and played a significant role in the local administration during the Tudor period.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Donaby (c. 1570-1638), a philanthropist and benefactor from Bedfordshire. She endowed funds for the establishment of a school and charitable trust, which continued to operate well into the 19th century.

In the 17th century, a branch of the DONABY family settled in the parish of Dunsby, Lincolnshire, giving rise to the place name association. This connection is evident in the records of Edward Donaby (1625-1691), a prosperous landowner and farmer from the area.

Moving into the 18th century, we find William Donaby (1710-1782), a prominent merchant and shipowner from Bristol, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade and commerce during that period.

Another noteworthy figure was Mary Donaby (1785-1865), a renowned educator and advocate for women's education. She founded one of the earliest schools for girls in London and wrote several influential works on the importance of female education.

Throughout its history, the DONABY surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, and the surrounding areas. While the name has undergone spelling variations and geographic dispersions, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the linguistic and cultural heritage of the English countryside.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Donaby

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

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 Donaby 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 Donaby 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 Donaby was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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