DON

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Don (Surname)

Don is a surname of British origin that has its roots in Old English pre 7th Century. The name is occupational in nature, deriving from the word "dunn," which means hill. Therefore, the surname Don refers to someone who lived near or on a hill.

Distribution and Variants

The surname Don has been recorded throughout England, predominantly in regions with hilly terrain. Variants of the surname include Dunn, Donne, and Dunne.

Notable Individuals

Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron): A renowned British poet, who was born George Gordon Byron, later adopted the surname "Don" through his family line.
George Don: A Scottish botanist known for his work on plant classification and taxonomy in the early 19th century.

Legacy

The surname Don continues to be present in English-speaking communities around the world, often symbolising traits associated with hills such as strength, endurance, and stability. The name has endured for centuries, reflecting the longstanding connection between the land and its people in British culture.

There are approximately 1,409 people named Don in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,650th most common surname in Britain. Around 22 in a million people in Britain are named Don.

Surname type: From given name or forename

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Alan
Alexander
Andrew
Brian
David
James
John
Michael
Robert
Thomas
William

Female

Anne
Barbara
Christine
Claire
Diane
Elizabeth
Jane
Karen
Margaret
Mary
Nicola
Sandra
Sarah

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.