Duncan is used as a family name or surname in Ireland, Scotland. It is 6 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Duncan
No. of characters: 6
Origin: Ireland, Scotland
Meaning:

Duncan is a variant of Jinkins. See Jenkins - See John - This baptismal name, which is of Norman introduction, has rarely passed into a surname. The Lond. Direct. for 1852 affords but one instance. It has been, however, the source, in various modified forms, of a considerable number of names, some of which are amongst the most common in the whole circle of our nomenclature. Its immediate derivative, John son, and its Welsh genitive form , Jones, substantiate this assertion; but we have besides Johns, Johnes, Joanes, Johncock, Janson, Jannings, Jennings, Jenks, Jenkyn, Jenkins, and Jinkins, Jenkinson, and perhaps Janes and Jenson. The Flemish nickname Hans from Johannes, seems to be the root of Hanson, Hancock, etc. Jack and Jackson might seem to claim the same parentage, but I think there is more reason for affiliating them upon James.

A termination of several surnames, as Littlejohn, Micklejohn, Upjohn, Prettyjohn, Applejohn, Properjohn, and Brownjohn.

Some of these, as Upjohn and Apple john, may be corruptions—the rest seem to be significant and descriptive. John is a personal name so common throughout Christendom that some prefix by way of epithet seems occasionally to have been necessary, in order to distinguish between two or more persons bearing it; thus the French have their Grosjeans, 'big or fat Johns;' the Dutch their Grootjans, or ó bulky Johns; ' the Italians their Gioranizzi, or 'handsome large Johns;' the Highlanders their Mac- Fadyeans, the sons of 'long John,' as also their Mac-Trors or sons of 'big John;' and the Lowland Scotch their Mickejohns or 'large stout Johns.' In the Hundred Rolls, we have one Duraund lo Bon Johan-'Durrant the Goodl-John!'.

Duncan is the variant form of Jenkins. See John - This baptismal name, which is of Norman introduction, has rarely passed into a surname. The Lond. Direct. for 1852 affords but one instance. It has been, however, the source, in various modified forms, of a considerable number of names, some of which are amongst the most common in the whole circle of our nomenclature. Its immediate derivative, John son, and its Welsh genitive form , Jones, substantiate this assertion; but we have besides Johns, Johnes, Joanes, Johncock, Janson, Jannings, Jennings, Jenks, Jenkyn, Jenkins, and Jinkins, Jenkinson, and perhaps Janes and Jenson. The Flemish nickname Hans from Johannes, seems to be the root of Hanson, Hancock, etc. Jack and Jackson might seem to claim the same parentage, but I think there is more reason for affiliating them upon James.

A termination of several surnames, as Littlejohn, Micklejohn, Upjohn, Prettyjohn, Applejohn, Properjohn, and Brownjohn.

Some of these, as Upjohn and Apple john, may be corruptions—the rest seem to be significant and descriptive. John is a personal name so common throughout Christendom that some prefix by way of epithet seems occasionally to have been necessary, in order to distinguish between two or more persons bearing it; thus the French have their Grosjeans, 'big or fat Johns;' the Dutch their Grootjans, or ó bulky Johns; ' the Italians their Gioranizzi, or 'handsome large Johns;' the Highlanders their Mac- Fadyeans, the sons of 'long John,' as also their Mac-Trors or sons of 'big John;' and the Lowland Scotch their Mickejohns or 'large stout Johns.' In the Hundred Rolls, we have one Duraund lo Bon Johan-'Durrant the Goodl-John!'.

Variation of the Jenkins. Jenkin's or little John's.

Descendant of Donnchad meaning "brown warrior".

Family name Duncan is variant form of Jenkins. The son of little Jen or Jenk, pet variants of John meaning "gracious gift of Jehovah".

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

A variant of Dunkin. An English corruption of the Scottish Duncan. The Duncans south 'at an early date, for one Donecan had got as far as Somersetshire at the making of Domesday In the XIV. century it was often written Dunkan and Duncon in English records.

How popular is Duncan?

Duncan is common in United States, Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Guyana, Panama, Ireland, Colombia, Tanzania, Wales, Zimbabwe, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Grenada, Brazil, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Malawi, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Chile, Venezuela, Belize, France, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, Philippines, Ecuador, Japan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Papua New Guinea.

Duncan is ranked 1916 on our list.

Despite the fact that the number of Duncan bearers increased by 3.66 per cent in 2010 US census to 135187 since 2000, the surname slipped by 9 spots and ranked at 212. The last name was found in around 5 per ten thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 76.39 78.88
Black 17.33 16.48
Hispanic or Latino 2.55 1.66
Others 2.21 1.65
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.99 0.94
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.52 0.39
Duncan is quite popular family name mostly used in United States however Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha lie ahead in terms of density. Around 285805 people have been found who wears Duncan as their family name. Duncan is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with hundred thousands of Duncan:
187 United States179,530
Countries with ten thousands of Duncan:
132 Australia20,481
375 England19,780
32 Scotland17,153
295 Canada14,888
Countries with thousands of Duncan:
77 New Zealand4,624
115 Jamaica4,508
2,180 South Africa3,125
148 Northern Ireland2,238
98 Trinidad and Tobago1,813
2,901 Kenya1,783
6,962 Nigeria1,718
473 Liberia1,196
89 Guyana1,038
Countries with hundreds of Duncan:
497 Panama956
872 Ireland852
3,120 Colombia659
8,560 Tanzania631
587 Wales578
5,190 Zimbabwe458
1,552 Dominican Republic424
26,771 Thailand424
43 Grenada378
21,262 Brazil376
64 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines344
98 Saint Lucia321
7,180 Malaysia278
9,128 Mexico241
17,726 Saudi Arabia239
33,517 Germany235
10,288 Malawi218
15,671 Spain193
14,763 Netherlands189
3,161 Denmark185
3,649 Chile183
5,096 Venezuela171
469 Belize170
59,752 France163
11,382 Ghana152
2,974 Namibia145
2,975 Botswana143
76,852 Philippines126
6,731 Ecuador124
20,521 Japan122
117 Saint Kitts and Nevis103
10,659 Papua New Guinea101
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
1,123 Costa Rica98
18,730 Belgium89
17 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha75
12,150 Ivory Coast69
30,812 Uganda69
267 United States Virgin Islands68
544 Barbados66
6,835 Portugal66
1,874 Nicaragua61
476 Malta60
1,272 China59
205 Guernsey59
29 Anguilla55
52,685 Argentina54
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
250,737 India50
325 Jersey49
15,868 Peru49
344 Isle of Man47
5,087 Cuba43
16,038 Norway42
17,263 Switzerland42
10,676 Kuwait39
12,381 Iraq37
434 Antigua and Barbuda35
20,789 Sweden33
87,725 Italy32
213,487 Russia31
19,854 United Arab Emirates31
27,106 Israel27
4,689 Suriname26
342 Cayman Islands24
3,011 Honduras23
3,127 Hong Kong22
41,758 Austria21
4,231 Cyprus21
1,143 Guam21
314,803 Indonesia17
690 Bermuda15
271 British Virgin Islands15
80,079 Greece15
37,235 Hungary15
585 Gibraltar13
18,211 Singapore13
268 Turks and Caicos Islands13
126,214 Poland11
13,802 Taiwan11
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
903 South Korea10
20,130 Afghanistan9
1,511 Aruba9
5,469 Bahrain9
112,590 Cameroon9
12,579 Haiti9
54,497 Morocco9
8,246 Tunisia9
95,036 Kazakhstan8
97,842 Czechia7
15,196 Solomon Islands7
848 Bahamas6
6,082 Oman6
55,922 Qatar6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Ireland

Michel Duncan was 22 years old when he migrated to New-York during Irish famine on May 15, 1846. He lived in Lough, Ireland where he worked as workman and took Virginian from Liverpool. 22 years old Thomas Duncan, Workman Patt Duncan, 1 year old Thomas Duncan, Spinster Jane Duncan, Isabella Duncan (25) Spinster, Workman Timothy Duncan, 20 years old Mary Duncan, James Duncan (29) Painter, and 210 other Duncan around 51.69% of whom were workman while others worked as spinster and farmer, blacksmith, ploughman, engineer, barrel maker/ cooper, miner, tailoress, servant, shoemaker, joiner, mechanic migrated to US from Liverpool, Dublin and Glasgow.

From Germany

Agatha Duncan hailed from Germany. 3 years old embarked for USA from Liverpool on Louisiana and arrived on October 13, 1865. B. Duncan (35) Laborer, Of unknown age Catherine Duncan, 36 years old Fries. Duncan, Marie Duncan, 28 years old Kath. Duncan, Rudolf Duncan, are others that migrated to US.

Duncan Namesakes

  • Peter Martin Duncan, English palaeontologist
  • Helen Duncan, Scottish medium best known as the last person to be imprisoned under the British Witchcraft Act of 1735
  • Lewis Duncan, Canadian politician and lawyer
  • George Smith Duncan, tramway and mining engineer best
  • Otis Dudley Duncan, was "the most important quantitative sociologist in the world
  • John Holt Duncan, was one of eight founders of Beta Theta Pi
  • Glen Duncan, British author born in 1965 in Bolton, Lancashire
  • Patrick Sheane Duncan, American writer, film producer and director
  • Jane Duncan,
  • Alasdair Duncan, author and journalist
  • Trevor Duncan, English composer
  • Maude Duncan, American newspaperwoman and a former mayor of Winslow
  • W. E. P. Duncan, important figure
  • John H. Duncan, American architect
  • Quince Duncan, was born in 1940 in San José, Costa Rica
  • Sara Jeannette Duncan, Mrs
  • Alan Kendall Duncan, American physician
  • Iain Duncan, Canadian former ice hockey forward
  • George Baillie Duncan, prominent evangelical Anglican and Church of Scotland minister
  • Garnett Duncan, United States Representative from Kentucky
  • David F. Duncan, is president of Duncan & Associates
  • David Ewing Duncan, American journalist
  • Ernest Duncan, New Zealand-born mathematician
  • Hank Duncan, American dixieland jazz pianist
  • Philip Duncan, Pentecostal Christian pastor
  • John Alton Duncan, Manitoba lawyer and judge
  • William Henry Duncan, English doctor
  • Ligon Duncan, American Presbyterian scholar and pastor
  • Isadora Duncan, American and French dancer
  • Donald B. Duncan, admiral in the United States Navy
  • Tim Duncan, American retired professional basketball player
  • Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan, British admiral
  • Alan Duncan, British Conservative Party politician
  • Pat Duncan, Canadian politician from Yukon
  • Todd Duncan, American baritone opera singer and actor
  • Carmen Duncan, Australian actress
  • Sandy Duncan, American singer, dancer
  • Dwight Duncan, former politician in Ontario, Canada
  • Len Duncan, American race car driver
  • Lesley Duncan, English singer-songwriter
  • Silas Duncan, officer
  • Dan Duncan, American born in Center, Texas
  • Doug Duncan, American politician and member of the Democratic Party
  • Gary Duncan, American musician, once guitarist with The Brogues
  • John S. Duncan, British neurologist specialising in epilepsy
  • David James Duncan, American novelist and essayist, best
  • Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education
  • Robert B. Duncan, American politician from the state of Oregon
  • Cameron Duncan, writer and director from New Zealand
  • Dally Duncan, Scottish football player and manager
  • Lindsay Duncan, British actress
  • Paula Duncan, Australian actress

Duncan Namesakes

  • Peter Martin Duncan, English palaeontologist
  • Helen Duncan, Scottish medium best known as the last person to be imprisoned under the British Witchcraft Act of 1735
  • Lewis Duncan, Canadian politician and lawyer
  • George Smith Duncan, tramway and mining engineer best
  • Otis Dudley Duncan, was "the most important quantitative sociologist in the world
  • John Holt Duncan, was one of eight founders of Beta Theta Pi
  • Glen Duncan, British author born in 1965 in Bolton, Lancashire
  • Patrick Sheane Duncan, American writer, film producer and director
  • Jane Duncan,
  • Alasdair Duncan, author and journalist
  • Trevor Duncan, English composer
  • Maude Duncan, American newspaperwoman and a former mayor of Winslow
  • W. E. P. Duncan, important figure
  • John H. Duncan, American architect
  • Quince Duncan, was born in 1940 in San José, Costa Rica
  • Sara Jeannette Duncan, Mrs
  • Alan Kendall Duncan, American physician
  • Iain Duncan, Canadian former ice hockey forward
  • George Baillie Duncan, prominent evangelical Anglican and Church of Scotland minister
  • Garnett Duncan, United States Representative from Kentucky
  • David F. Duncan, is president of Duncan & Associates
  • David Ewing Duncan, American journalist
  • Ernest Duncan, New Zealand-born mathematician
  • Hank Duncan, American dixieland jazz pianist
  • Philip Duncan, Pentecostal Christian pastor
  • John Alton Duncan, Manitoba lawyer and judge
  • William Henry Duncan, English doctor
  • Ligon Duncan, American Presbyterian scholar and pastor
  • Isadora Duncan, American and French dancer
  • Donald B. Duncan, admiral in the United States Navy
  • Tim Duncan, American retired professional basketball player
  • Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan, British admiral
  • Alan Duncan, British Conservative Party politician
  • Pat Duncan, Canadian politician from Yukon
  • Todd Duncan, American baritone opera singer and actor
  • Carmen Duncan, Australian actress
  • Sandy Duncan, American singer, dancer
  • Dwight Duncan, former politician in Ontario, Canada
  • Len Duncan, American race car driver
  • Lesley Duncan, English singer-songwriter
  • Silas Duncan, officer
  • Dan Duncan, American born in Center, Texas
  • Doug Duncan, American politician and member of the Democratic Party
  • Gary Duncan, American musician, once guitarist with The Brogues
  • John S. Duncan, British neurologist specialising in epilepsy
  • David James Duncan, American novelist and essayist, best
  • Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education
  • Robert B. Duncan, American politician from the state of Oregon
  • Cameron Duncan, writer and director from New Zealand
  • Dally Duncan, Scottish football player and manager
  • Lindsay Duncan, British actress
  • Paula Duncan, Australian actress

Related Family Names: