History of your Surname
Get access to Donelston family records.Start a free trial

Donelston Family History

Donelston Name 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: Donelson, Donalson, Colston, Rolston, Elston, Holston, Nelson

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Donelston family from?

You can see how Donelston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Donelston family name was found in the USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 3 Donelston families living in Massachusetts. This was about 50% of all the recorded Donelston's in USA. Massachusetts and 1 other state had the highest population of Donelston families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Donelston surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Donelston ancestors do for a living?

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Donelston ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

What Donelston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9 census records available for the last name Donelston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Donelston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Donelston

Passenger Lists

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Donelston. 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 Donelston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7 military records available for the last name Donelston. For the veterans among your Donelston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Donelston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Donelston family history

Discover More

What is the average Donelston lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Donelston family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Donelston last name

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