The Doran surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 16,704 people carried this name — #2,174 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,700 people counted. That is up 1% from 16,509 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Doran surname

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Deoradháin (“descendant of Deoradhán”), a personal name derived from a diminutive of deoradh (“pilgrim, exile, stranger”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Doran» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 97 births for the Doran name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 4,300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Dublin, Wexford, Down, and Armagh.”

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 60
Ulster 20
Munster 13
Connacht 4

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

32 people named Doran live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Lucerne.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Lucerne 14
Thurgau 7
Aargau 6
Zurich 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 22 people named Doran.

6 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Martinique.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 6
Martinique 12
Haute-Garonne 1
Morbihan 1
Sarthe 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Scotland’s registers today

Doran was recorded 28 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 872nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 48. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

29 families named Doran, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 170 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 11 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 4
Pennsylvania 4
Vermont 3
Massachusetts 3
New York 3
Maryland 3
Virginia 3
South Carolina 3
Maine 1
New Hampshire 1
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 237 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Doran in American newspapers,
1887–1919.

Newspaper page from The Hazel Green Herald carrying the name Doran
The Hazel Green Herald 1887-07-27
Newspaper page from Evening Public Ledger carrying the name Doran
Evening Public Ledger 1919-09-20
Newspaper page from Maryland Suffrage News carrying the name Doran
Maryland Suffrage News 1918-07-13

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 134,010 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Doran in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

30,650 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Doran. The most, 6,293, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,290
Queensland 6,329
Victoria 6,148
Tasmania 2,123
Western Australia 1,935
South Australia 1,557
ACT (Canberra) 216
Northern Territory 20

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Doran.

Who carried it

People named Doran,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Doran
    John Doran 1807–1878 · writer
  • Michael Doran
    Michael Doran 1827–1915 · politician
  • Andrew J. Doran
    Andrew J. Doran 1840–1918 · politician
  • Jack Doran
    Jack Doran 1896–1940 · association football coach
  • Mary Doran
    Mary Doran 1910–1995 · actor

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Jack Doran: Thebees1889, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 166 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Doran,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States6,275 records

6,275 records of the Doran name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 2,003
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,894
  • Other U.S. records 2,378
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Patrick Michael Doran

    Born 1946; from Burlingame, California. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas H. Doran

    Born 1920 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; aircraft worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1968, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Anastatia Doran

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 28; servant. From Waterford, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 6,275 records for Doran in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,340 records

1,340 records of the Doran name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 524
  • Tasmanian Names Index 293
  • Other Australian records 523
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Bridget Doran

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Baretto Junior, sailing from Downs in 1850. Native of Liverpool, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1856. Married 1857 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Ann Doran

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Navarino, sailing from London in 1840. Native of Liverpool, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1846. Married 1846 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Doran

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lord Dalhousie, sailing from Cork in 1852. Native of Kilkenny. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855. Married 1855 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,340 records for Doran in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada208 records

208 records of the Doran name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 154
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 14
  • Other Canadian records 40
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jos Doran

    Came to Ontario in 1872 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for Bracebridge, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert William Doran

    Died 1989, aged 62; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elizabeth Ann Doran

    Buried in 1952 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 71.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 208 records for Doran in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom39 records

39 records of the Doran name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 24
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 11
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Peter Doran

    Died 1975, aged 61; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Louisa Doran

    Buried in 1825 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 37.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Ann Doran

    Will proved in 1939; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 39 records for Doran in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Norway16 records

16 records of the Doran name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Rolf Doran

    Census of 1910: Urtegaten, Kristiania; seaman, born 1892 in Kristiania.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Sofie Doran

    Census of 1910: Hjertheim, Aker; schoolteacher, born 1877 in Fredriksvern.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 16 records for Doran in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand13 records

13 records of the Doran name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  • Other New Zealand records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Doran

    Died 1932, aged 80; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Doran

    Buried in 1872 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 63.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 13 records for Doran in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands9 records

9 records of the Doran name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Johanna Doran

    Died 1832 in Weteringen (Diepenveen), aged 52; day labourer.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Doran

    Married in 1946 in Tilburg.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Doran in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France8 records

8 records of the Doran name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Raymond Albert Doran

    Born 1925 in Paris; died 1979 in Tours (Indre-et-Loire).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Suzanne Louise Elisabeth Doran

    Born 1894 in Saint-Aignan; died 1998 in Saint-Aignan (Morbihan).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Doran in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany2 records

2 records of the Doran name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Bruno Doran

    From Osche, Schwetz. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 11 January 1919 (Jäger Regiment No. 6).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Doran in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Doran.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Doran is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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