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Donovan Family History

Donovan Surname Meaning

Irish (Cork): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Donndubháin ‘descendant of Donndubhán’ a personal name composed of the elements donn ‘brown-haired man’ or ‘chieftain’.

The name is further enriched by the element dubh ‘black’ which adds depth to its meaning.

Additionally, the diminutive suffix -án signifies a smaller or affectionate form of the base name.

This name illustrates the combination of physical characteristics and leadership qualities inherent in Gaelic naming traditions.

Overall, Ó Donndubháin embodies a rich cultural heritage rooted in Ireland's history.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Donovan family from?

You can see how Donovan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Donovan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Donovan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,975 Donovan families living in London. This was about 45% of all the recorded Donovan's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Donovan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Donovan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Donovan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Donovan. 19% of Donovan men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Donovan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Donovan were Dock Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Donovan | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    19%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Dock Labourer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Donovan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 361,000 census records available for the last name Donovan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Donovan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Donovan

Passenger Lists

There are 75,000 immigration records available for the last name Donovan. 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 Donovan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 62,000 military records available for the last name Donovan. For the veterans among your Donovan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Donovan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Donovan family history

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What is the average Donovan lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Donovan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Donovan in 1942 was 59, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Donovan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Donovan 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.

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