Doohan
An Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Dúdhghainn meaning "descendant of Dúdhghan".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Doohan. That puts it at #82,044 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Doohan 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
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#82,044
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
230
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 230 bearers of the surname Doohan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 82044th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Doohan, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Doohan
The surname Doohan has its origins in Ireland, where it emerged as a variant of the Gaelic O'Dubhachain sept. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "dubhach," meaning "sorrowful" or "melancholy." It is believed to have originated in County Sligo, where the family was located as early as the 12th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Doohan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a "Dubhachan O'Dubhachain" who was a prominent poet and scholar in the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in the form "O'Doohan" in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were administrative records of the English monarchy's dealings in Ireland. This spelling variation suggests that the name was subject to anglicization during this period.
The earliest known bearer of the surname Doohan was Patrick Doohan, born in County Sligo in 1580. He was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community.
Another notable individual with the surname Doohan was James Doohan (1920-2005), a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the original Star Trek television series and subsequent films. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Irish immigrant parents.
In the 17th century, the name Doohan was recorded in the Hearth Money Rolls, a tax record used in Ireland at the time. This document lists several individuals with the surname, indicating the family's presence in various parts of the country.
Another historical figure with the surname Doohan was Maureen Doohan (1896-1987), an Irish author and playwright. She was born in County Sligo and was a prominent figure in the Irish literary scene during the early 20th century.
The Doohan family also had a presence in the United States, with several individuals bearing the surname recorded in early census records. One notable American with the name was John Doohan (1815-1892), a businessman and philanthropist from New York City.
Throughout its history, the surname Doohan has maintained its strong ties to its Irish origins, with many bearers of the name tracing their ancestry back to County Sligo and the surrounding regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Doohan
Among Census respondents with the surname Doohan, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Doohan 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 Doohan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.0%
- Unknown or suppressed3.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Doohan 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #84,310 | #82,044 | 2.7% |
| Count | 207 | 230 | 11.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Doohan bearers went from 207 to 230 (+11.1% change). The surname moved up 2,266 positions in the national ranking, going from #84,310 to #82,044.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Doohan
FAQ
Doohan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Doohan?
The surname Doohan holds position #82,044 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Doohan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Doohan, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.0%. 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.