Explore the Family Name Donovan
The meaning of Donovan
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’ + dubh ‘black’ + the diminutive suffix -án. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Finbarr, Aidan, Aileen, Brigid, Declan, Delma, Siobhan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Donovan in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Donovan slightly decreased in the decade between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Donovan was the 799th most popular surname in the United States; by 2010, it dropped to 853rd. Despite this drop in rank, the number of individuals with this surname actually increased during this period, going from 39,270 in 2000 to 40,410 in 2010, a growth of 2.9 percent. However, when looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a decrease of approximately 6 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #799 | #853 | -6.76% |
| Count | 39,270 | 40,410 | 2.9% |
| Proportion per 100k | 14.56 | 13.7 | -5.91% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Donovan
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts among those bearing the surname Donovan. While the majority identified as White (92.94 percent in 2010, down from 94.59 percent in 2000), there were increases in all other ethnic identities. The Hispanic population saw the most significant rise, going from 1.87 percent in 2000 to 2.79 percent in 2010—a nearly 50 percent increase. The percentage of those identifying as Black also increased, from 1.7 percent in 2000 to 2 percent in 2010. Similar growth was found amongst those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those of two or more races. Those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively steady, increasing only slightly from 0.23 percent in 2000 to 0.27 percent in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.59% | 92.94% | -1.74% |
| Hispanic | 1.87% | 2.79% | 49.2% |
| Black | 1.7% | 2% | 17.65% |
| Two or More Races | 1.08% | 1.33% | 23.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.53% | 0.68% | 28.3% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.23% | 0.27% | 17.39% |
Donovan ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Donovan is British & Irish, which comprises 60.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (15.6%) and Italian (5.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 60.3% |
| French & German | 15.6% |
| Italian | 5.8% |
| Other | 18.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Donovan
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Donovan have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.20% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
What Donovan haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Donovan is R-A2220, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-A2220 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-A2294, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Hayes, Obrien, Black, O'Brien, Evans, Roberts, Conner, Griffin, Newman, Kelley.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Donovan surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Donovan have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Donovan" Surname 41.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Donovan" Surname 27.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Donovan" Surname 17.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Donovan" Surname 42.3%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Donovan?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Donovan are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition