This page is my attempt to sort out the Doran clan in County Donegal from the late 18th through the late 19th century. As first names so often repeat, and people didn’t move too far away from their loved ones (unless they left Co. Donegal entirely) I’m organizing the information by Registration District, Parish and Townland, then by timeline and then by name. Affiliated families will also be included when that helps to sort out the various records. Some locations overlap between districts. If I made a mistake, please use the contact form on the home page to let me know.
The Civil Parishes and Townlands of County Donegal https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bhilchey/genealogy/DonegalMain.html offers a good definition of these legislative terms and a map to indicate where each is in relationship to the other.
The administrative term Barony was used up until the end of the 19th century. the Baronies in Donegal starting from the northeast going clockwise included: Inishowen East, Inishowen West, Raphoe, Through, Banagh, Boylagh, and Kilmacrenan. These terms show up in the Tithe Applotment Books and Griffiths Valuations.
The County of Donegal has five municipal districts: Letterkenny, Inishowen, Stranorlar, Donegal, and Glenties. The following screen grab is from https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=c7846b6386ea44bf8142447ce1f4ec3f where you can use the interactive map. This screen grab is just to provide a quick overview of the administrative districts.
Letterkenny District
Key urban center in the northeast. It is situated on the River Swilly in East Donegal.The town of Letterkenny is the largest in this district and the largest in the County.
DORAN: A search of the records on Irishgenealogy.ie for the time period before 1900 does not provide a single birth
1871
James Doran, a two year old child of a laborer died of convulsions on the 7th of Feb 1871 at Ballybooe. Margaret Doran of the same location was in attendance at his death. A second record for the same death is posted on that webpage without an image.
1872
Daniel Doran, a one year old child of a laborer died of whooping cough on 30th of January, 1872. James Doran was present at the child’s death. I cannot read the name of the exact location. Again a second record for the same death is posted there without an image.
1882
Catherine Doran, age 28, died on the 2nd of February 1882. She was unmarried. I cannot read the name of her occupation. She died at some sort of hospital or asylum in Letterkenny. No family in attendance.
Given that these were the only records of Dorans in the Letterkenny this research stops here for now at least, unless some additional information becomes available.
Inishowen District
Covers the Inishowen Peninsula. The largest town on the peninsula is Buncrana which is located on Lough Swilly. Other large towns are Carndonagh and Moville.
Stranolar District
Central district. The urban center is called Ballybofey-Stranorlar, with the river Finn separating the twin towns.
1865
Biddy Doran (probably a pet name for Bridget or Delia) was born to John Doran (a farmer) and his wife Anne Kelly at Cooladawson on the 7th of May 1865.
1872
Margaret Doran was born September 8, 1872 to James Doran (a farmer) and his wife Margaret Toner at the townland of Leaght in Killygordon, Donaghmore
No Doran marriages and no deaths were reported for Stranolar from the beginning of civil registration up throug 1900.
Donegal District
Covers the southern part of the county. It is situated between Donegal Bay and the Bluestack Mountains. Along with the town of Donegal, other towns of interest include Dunkineely and Mountcharles.
Glenties District
Covers the rugged western coastal areas. The town is located where two glens meet. towns include Ardara, Finntown and Glencolumbkille.
Dongloe District, Templecrone
1864-1881
The Griffiths Valuations
Donegal Civil Birth Registrations Dungloe District, Templecrone – 1864 to 1881, Surname D. (search for Doran) http://donegalgenealogy.com/dungloebthd.htm. Accessed 25 Mar 2026.Note: the actual birth registrations, and births for children born after 1881 can be freely accessed at https://www.irishgenealogy.ie
The above referenced “Surname D” page includes the birth date & location for the children of men with the surname Doran: 6 children of Charles Doran and Catherine “Kate” Doogan of Croveigh (also spelled Crovey), 1 child of Connell Doran and Bridget Gallagher of Dooey, 3 children of James Doran and Anne Conaghan of Meenacrieve, 1 child of John Doran and Bridget McBride of Angnary, 1 child of Michael Doran and Mary Boyle of Stranasaggart, 1 child of Owen Doran and Fanny Boyle of Croveigh, and 1 child of William Doran and Fanny Sharkey of Croveigh. Each couple may have had other children, but they do not fall into this time frame.
Further research into this site includes births of children born to women whose maiden name was Doran. These include 4 children born to Anthony Gallagher and Ellen Doran of Croviegh, 2 children of Patrick Gallagher and his wife Hannah Doran of Croveigh, 3 children of Candy O’Donnell and his wife Anne Doran of Meenacrieve, and 4 children of Hugh O’Donnell and his wife Margaret Doran.
Starting with the Tithe Applotment Books, we find 5 references to men with the Doran surname. In 1828, we find Michl Doran of Dresden, Clonca. I cannot find a current name for this townland and Michael Doran of Dresternan, Culdaff. this townland is now known as Drissternan. In 1834, the names included Daniel Doran of Ardrumman, Aughnish, John Doran and Hugh Doran both of Arddrummon, Aughnish. In both cases, the spelling of the last two town lands is irregular. They are one townland, currently known as Ardrumman.
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