Duncan Surname

1,916th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 285,837 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Duncan Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Duncan.' A Scotch surname.

Duncann de Lascell, Bedfordshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Willelmus Dunkan, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Read More About This Surname

Duncan Surname Distribution Map

By incidenceBy frequencyBy rank
Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ARank (high to low)Rank (low to high)
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States179,5621:2,019187
Australia20,4811:1,318132
England19,7801:2,817375
Scotland17,1531:31232
Canada14,8881:2,475295
New Zealand4,6241:97977
Jamaica4,5081:637115
South Africa3,1251:17,3372,180
Northern Ireland2,2381:824148
Trinidad and Tobago1,8131:75298
Kenya1,7831:25,9002,901
Nigeria1,7181:103,1106,962
Liberia1,1961:3,686473
Guyana1,0381:73489
Panama9561:4,092497
Ireland8521:5,527872
Colombia6591:72,4953,120
Tanzania6311:83,9018,560
Wales5781:5,354587
Zimbabwe4581:33,7085,190
Dominican Republic4241:24,6061,552
Thailand4241:166,60026,771
Grenada3781:28743
Brazil3761:569,34721,260
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines3441:32764
Saint Lucia3211:55798
Malaysia2781:106,0947,180
Mexico2411:515,0469,128
Saudi Arabia2391:129,10417,726
Germany2351:342,57633,517
Malawi2181:78,52810,288
Spain1931:242,23915,671
Netherlands1891:89,35014,763
Denmark1851:30,5123,161
Chile1831:96,2653,649
Venezuela1711:176,6325,096
Belize1701:2,091469
France1631:407,50159,752
Ghana1521:177,76811,382
Namibia1451:16,6172,974
Botswana1431:15,2932,975
Philippines1261:803,47876,852
Ecuador1241:128,2736,731
Japan1221:1,047,90420,521
Saint Kitts and Nevis1031:536117
Papua New Guinea1011:80,73010,659
Costa Rica981:48,7761,123
Belgium891:129,17618,730
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha751:7817
Ivory Coast691:334,36612,150
Uganda691:565,78730,812
United States Virgin Islands681:1,623267
Barbados661:4,355544
Portugal661:157,8526,835
Nicaragua611:98,7061,874
Malta601:7,171476
China591:23,174,9421,270
Guernsey591:1,092205
Anguilla551:24429
Argentina541:791,54552,685
India501:15,341,308250,737
Jersey491:2,025325
Peru491:648,65615,868
Isle of Man471:1,826344
Cuba431:267,9705,087
Norway421:122,43516,038
Switzerland421:195,54617,263
Kuwait391:97,45410,676
Iraq371:946,53112,381
Antigua and Barbuda351:2,833434
Sweden331:298,38720,789
Italy321:1,911,14687,725
Russia311:4,649,131213,487
United Arab Emirates311:295,55719,854
Israel271:316,94927,106
Suriname261:21,2544,689
Cayman Islands241:2,662342
Honduras231:383,3243,011
Hong Kong221:333,4313,127
Austria211:405,49741,758
Cyprus211:42,1374,231
Guam211:7,6251,143
Indonesia171:7,779,364314,803
Bermuda151:4,352690
British Virgin Islands151:2,106271
Greece151:738,65380,079
Hungary151:654,41837,235
Gibraltar131:2,612585
Singapore131:423,66918,211
Turks and Caicos Islands131:2,641268
Poland111:3,455,341126,214
Taiwan111:2,131,34113,802
South Korea101:5,124,026903
Afghanistan91:3,572,57620,130
Aruba91:11,4971,511
Bahrain91:149,8455,469
Cameroon91:2,307,674112,590
Haiti91:1,187,10112,579
Morocco91:3,830,67854,497
Tunisia91:67,8478,246
Kazakhstan81:2,210,31295,036
Czechia71:1,519,06797,842
Solomon Islands71:82,86115,196
Bahamas61:65,292848
Oman61:614,6626,082
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Zambia51:3,169,98435,680
Brunei41:104,6832,048
Ethiopia41:24,386,56619,165
Guatemala41:4,020,6677,726
Sri Lanka41:5,202,14012,146
Sudan41:9,377,5498,207
Vanuatu41:65,8191,151
Egypt31:30,645,251132,600
Falkland Islands31:1,044221
Nepal31:9,493,65216,132
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Albania21:1,457,02824,967
Angola21:13,494,60711,780
Azerbaijan21:4,824,56142,415
Bangladesh21:79,678,38625,993
Belarus21:4,750,530139,516
Bulgaria21:3,489,45264,958
El Salvador21:3,171,9446,376
Finland21:2,748,35172,663
Georgia21:1,872,77235,618
Kyrgyzstan21:2,986,32784,533
Macau21:300,8151,009
Puerto Rico21:1,775,0706,602
Senegal21:7,289,6718,117
Turkey21:38,910,711171,901
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Bosnia and Herzegovina11:3,536,40219,532
Burkina Faso11:18,352,10030,051
Cambodia11:15,487,14614,824
Cook Islands11:18,1791,485
Dominica11:75,891912
DR Congo11:73,879,570260,543
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Jordan11:8,842,43726,010
Laos11:6,588,3231,961
Latvia11:2,050,04660,295
Lebanon11:5,637,08332,436
Libya11:6,243,9746,186
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Mali11:16,969,0354,067
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Monaco11:37,0664,748
Montenegro11:639,5659,092
New Caledonia11:276,22310,363
Pakistan11:178,643,885213,220
Romania11:20,077,87089,414
San Marino11:33,214932
Serbia11:7,144,94838,459
Sierra Leone11:7,089,6311,533
Slovenia11:2,487,67531,128
Somalia11:13,452,0619,224
Swaziland11:1,298,1991,718
Syria11:19,301,02222,457
Tonga11:107,313791
Ukraine11:45,522,696503,646
Uzbekistan11:30,929,14267,786
Yemen11:26,425,29455,147
Show All Nations
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1,6781:2,640500
Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ARank (high to low)Rank (low to high)
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland15,9701:23431
England4,4701:5,453832
Wales1381:11,365683
Guernsey21:16,3281,834
Isle of Man21:27,1351,659
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States28,0101:1,793186

Duncan (176,765) may also be a first name.

Duncan Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Duncan.' A Scotch surname.

Duncann de Lascell, Bedfordshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Willelmus Dunkan, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

Gaelic Donnchad, Middle Gaelic. (c. 1520) Duncha, and in the 1467 Gaelic genealogical MS. it appears in the genitive as Donnchaid. The early Irish form Donnchad seems to represent early Celtic Donno-catu-s, 'brown warrior.' from donn and cath. On an ogham stone at Glan Usk near Crickhowel in Wales the name occurs spelled Dunocatus, which points to 'fort warrior,' from dun, 'fort,' as the meaning of the name. The exact meaning is therefore uncertain. Dunchad, eleventh abbot of Hii (Iona) died in 717 (Adamnan, p. 379). Duchad (for Duchad = Dunchad), abbot of Dunkeld, was killed in the battle of Dorsum Crup (Duncrub in Perthshire) c. 965 (CPS., p. 10). Dunchad mac mec Bead mec Hidid gave the field called Achad-madchor to the Abbey of Deer (Bk. Deer, VI 32), and in the same record we have mention of Donnachac mac Sithig toesech clenni Morgainn, 'Duncan Sithech's son, leader of Clan Morgan.' Donchadus, earl of Fife was witness to King David's letter of protection to the clerics of Deer c 1150 (ibid.). Willelmus filius Dunecan witnessed the gift of Swintun to HernuIf the knight c. 1135 (Raine, 12). Dunecanus comes witnessed confirmation charter by William the Lion to Jacobus de Pert of lands of Rosin clerac, n.d. (SCM., II, p. 318). Willelmus filius Duuecani, c. 1200 (CMN., p. 6) is an error for Dunecani. Dunecan, parson of Duuglas, appears as charter witness between 1240—49 (Kelso, p. 163). John Dunkan held a 'waste' in Berwick-on-Tweed in 1367 (Bain, IV, 135), and probably John Duncanson or Dunkanson, mayor of Berwick in the same year was his son (ibid., 132,135). Duncanus 'parvus garcio,' a forestaller in Aberdeen, 1402 (CRA., p. 384). Lieut.-General Jacob Duncan (d. 1685), governor of Funen, was of Scots parentage. The Clann Donnchaidh (Robertson) derives its name from Fat Duncan (Donnchadh Reamhar) de Atholia, chief of the clan in the time of Bruce. In Ireland Donnchadh is Englished Denis' by some, and refined to 'Dionysius' and 'Donatus' by others. Docane (for Docane) 1516, Dokan (for Dokan) 1515, Dokcaine 516, Dunckane 1424, Dunkane 1515, Dwnkane 1527, Dwnken 1707.

— The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) Brown Warrior [Gaelic and Irish Donn(a)chadh-donn, brown + an aspirated form of cath, warrior, war] So Macbain; but Joyce says it is rather Irish and Gaelic Dun-cheann-‘ Fortress Head or Chief.’

— Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

A Scottish name sometimes used as synonym of Donegan, q.v. IF 305*

— A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

“Brown Warrior” in Gaelic (Donnchadh).

— South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Irish, Scottish) Descendant of Donnchad (brown warrior).

— Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

The Gael. Donn-cann (pronounced Doun-kean,) signifying "Brown-head," Originally and still a Christian name.

— Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

The chieftain's castle-from dun, a castle, and creann, a chieftain.

— The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

(Gaelic.) A powerful chieftain, From Bun, a fortress, and ceann, head or chief. Duncean or Duncan, strong—headed.

— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

User-submitted Reference

Part of a family "Duncan" that come from Scotland emigrated to Mexico looking for black oil.

- pawduncan
DNA test information
Display Statistics on:

Duncan Demographics

Duncan Religious Adherence
in Ireland

Sample size: 1,675 (1901)

Religious Adherence
in Ireland

View the most religious surnames in Ireland

Duncan Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Duncan Come From? nationality or country of origin

Duncan (Arabic: دنكن) is found most in The United States. It may appear in the variant forms:. For other potential spellings of this surname click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Duncan? popularity and diffusion

The surname is the 1,916th most widely held family name in the world It is held by around 1 in 25,495 people. Duncan occurs mostly in The Americas, where 67 percent of Duncan are found; 63 percent are found in North America and 63 percent are found in Anglo-North America. Duncan is also the 5,945th most commonly occurring given name on earth, held by 176,765 people.

The last name Duncan is most prevalent in The United States, where it is carried by 179,562 people, or 1 in 2,019. In The United States Duncan is mostly concentrated in: Texas, where 9 percent reside, California, where 8 percent reside and Georgia, where 7 percent reside. Aside from The United States this last name exists in 165 countries. It is also common in Australia, where 7 percent reside and England, where 7 percent reside.

Duncan Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Duncan has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people bearing the Duncan last name rose 641 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it rose 443 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it rose 107 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it contracted 49 percent between 1901 and 2014 and in Wales it rose 419 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Duncan Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those holding the Duncan surname is predominantly Presbyterian (38%) in Ireland, Christian (97%) in Kenya and Christian (96%) in Nigeria.

In The United States those bearing the Duncan last name are 15.59% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 62.36% being registered to vote for the political party.

The amount Duncan earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 25.25% more than the national average, earning 433,464 kr per year; in Peru they earn 63.96% more than the national average, earning S/. 31,784 per year; in South Africa they earn 59.17% more than the national average, earning R 378,240 per year; in Colombia they earn 6.16% less than the national average, earning $21,304,000 COP per year; in United States they earn 3.91% less than the national average, earning $41,463 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.94% more than the national average, earning $51,642 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ASimilarity (high to low)Similarity (low to high)Prevalent jurisdiction A-ZPrevalent jurisdiction Z-A
SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Duncain92267/
Duncane92197/
Duncann9220/
Douncan9214/
Dunkcan927/
Dunncan927/
Dunchan924/
Dunccan923/
Duncand923/
Duncaan922/
Duncian922/
Dunckan922/
Duncamn922/
Duncanq921/
Duncant921/
Duncean921/
Dungcan921/
Dundcan920/
Duincan920/
Dounchan862/
Dunchane861/
Dunnchan861/
Duncaine861/
Douncanc861/
Dhunchan861/
Dunkan83391/
Doncan8362/
Duncon8358/
Duncam8333/
Dumcan8330/
Dunjan8314/
Duncen8311/
Dunsan836/
Dunzan833/
Duncanová803/
Doungcgan801/
Dunjane77160/
Doncean7728/
Dunsang779/
Dunjang778/
Dunshan777/
Dumchan775/
Dungian773/
Doncian773/
Dunzhan773/
Dungcon772/
Dhunjan771/
Dunkand771/
Dunsant771/
Dunscon771/
Dunkane771/
Dunsatn771/
Dunzang771/
Duncham771/
Duntsan771/
Dungkan771/
Dauncen770/
Dunnzan770/
Dunkain770/
Duncoon770/
Dunzian770/
Dunncon770/
Doundchanh751/
Dungkhan7135/
Dunggian718/
Dunnkahn713/
Dunssang711/
Daunhjan711/
Dungkaan711/
Doungcam711/
Doungkan711/
Dounsang711/
Doonchan711/
Dunjeang711/
Dumchean711/
Deuncham711/
Daunjang711/
Daungkan711/
Duncount710/
Dunckham710/
Dunson674,892/
Dumjan67881/
Doncon67269/
Donkan67185/
Donsan67114/
Dunsen6772/
Dunsam6714/
Daungkang6711/
Dumzan6710/
Dunkanova675/
Dunzen675/
Dunkam673/
Duncom672/
Dumcam672/
Dunkon672/
Dumsan671/
Dunnquant671/
Dunzon671/
Doncen671/
Dhaunkain671/
Dunjam670/
Dunxon670/
Show All Similar Surnames

Duncan Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Duncan in the Arabic language
دنكنdnkn-

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Duncan
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis