2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Donahe
Irish surname referring to a descendant or follower of Donnchadh.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Donahe. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Donahe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Donahe in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Donahe, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Donahe
The surname Donahe has its origins in the ancient Irish Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Donegal and Tyrone, during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "Domhnach" or "Donnchadh," which translate to "Sunday" or "Churchman."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Donahe surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the 15th century. In these annals, references are made to individuals bearing the name Donahe or its variant spellings, such as Donaghy or Donoughy.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Donahe surname gained prominence in various parts of Ireland. Notable individuals from this period include Turlough Donahe, a chieftain of the O'Donnelly clan in County Tyrone, who lived in the late 16th century. Another prominent figure was Rory Donahe, a renowned poet and bard from County Donegal, born around 1580.
As the surname spread throughout Ireland, it also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts. In the 18th century, the Donahe name was recorded in the Hearth Money Rolls, a tax record compiled during the reign of King William III. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution of the surname across different regions of Ireland.
One notable individual bearing the Donahe surname was Michael Donahe, a prominent Irish patriot and revolutionary who lived during the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and was later captured and executed by British forces.
In the 19th century, the Donahe surname continued to be associated with various historical figures. One such individual was John Donahe, a renowned Irish poet and writer born in County Tyrone in 1820. His works explored themes of Irish culture, tradition, and nationalism.
Another notable figure from this period was Patrick Donahe, a prominent Irish Catholic priest and educator who was born in County Donegal in 1835. He played a crucial role in establishing several educational institutions and advocating for the rights of Irish Catholics.
As the centuries progressed, the Donahe surname spread beyond Ireland, with many individuals immigrating to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and various European countries. However, the name's rich history and connection to its Irish roots remained deeply rooted in its origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Donahe
Among Census respondents with the surname Donahe, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Donahe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Donahe surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.5% · 98
- Two or more races6.0% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino5.2% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.6% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Donahe
Donahe appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#145,220
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,291 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+2 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 192 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #145,220 | 114 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 10,291 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.8%) | Up 192 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Donahe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #145,220 | #145,028 | 0.1% |
| Count | 114 | 116 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Donahe bearers went from 114 to 116 (+1.8% change). The surname moved up 192 positions in the national ranking, going from #145,220 to #145,028.
FAQ
Donahe surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Donahe?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Donahe. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Donahe?
Donahe ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Donahe. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Donahe.
Has Donahe become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Donahe went from 114 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 2 (+1.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #145,220 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Donahe?
Among Census respondents with the surname Donahe, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (5.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Donahe in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.5% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Donahe appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.5%), Two or More Races (6.0%), Hispanic (5.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Donahe (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Donahe mean?
Irish surname referring to a descendant or follower of Donnchadh. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Donahe (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Donahe?
Find out how many people have the last name Donahe on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.