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 Doney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Doney Family History

Doney Surname Meaning

English (Cornwall): of uncertain origin. There is a Richard Donowe recorded in 1451-64 as a tenant in Manuels Saint Columb Minor whose surname appears to be a pet form of an unidentified personal name with the Cornish hypocoristic suffix -ow. Formally this might have become Doney but Donowe itself seems not to have survived unless it was altered to Downey.

However, there is no evidence to suggest any connection of this west Cornwall surname with Doney in central and east Cornwall (Bodmin and Quethiock). Alternatively, perhaps it is a variant of the Devon name Downey and with the main vowel shortened and lowered but evidence for this is lacking.

Americanized form of French Canadian Daunais or Donais.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Doney family from?

You can see how Doney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Doney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Doney families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 304 Doney families living in Cornwall. This was about 45% of all the recorded Doney's in United Kingdom. Cornwall had the highest population of Doney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Doney 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 Doney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Doney. 13% of Doney men worked as a Builders Labourer and 75% of Doney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Doney were Farmer and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Doney | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    13%
  • General Labourer
    13%
  • Horseman On Farm
    10%
  • Farmer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Doney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Doney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Doney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Doney

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Doney. 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 Doney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Doney. For the veterans among your Doney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Doney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Doney family history

Discover More

What is the average Doney lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Doney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Doney in 1944 was 25, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Doney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Doney 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 Doney family tree

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