This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Donahan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Donahan Family History

Donahan Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Monahan, Conahan, Donathan, Donavan, Jonathan, Donovan, Colahan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Donahan family from?

You can see how Donahan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Donahan family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Donahan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Donahan family living in Wigtownshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Donahan's in Scotland. Wigtownshire had the highest population of Donahan families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Donahan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Donahan ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Clerk was the top reported job for people in the USA named Donahan. 60% of Donahan men worked as a Clerk.

View Census Data for Donahan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    60%
  • Laborer
    40%

What Donahan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 860 census records available for the last name Donahan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Donahan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Donahan

Passenger Lists

There are 252 immigration records available for the last name Donahan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Donahan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 60 military records available for the last name Donahan. For the veterans among your Donahan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Donahan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Donahan family history

Discover More

What is the average Donahan lifespan?

Average Donahan life expectancy in 2003 was 47 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 74.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Donahan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Donahan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Donahan family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial