Dolan is an Irish surname and given name, originating from the Gaelic 'Ó Dóláin', which means 'descendant of Dolan'. It's likely that the name was derived from a personal name like 'Domhnall' or 'Dólaing', both of which have ancient roots in Ireland. In its earliest form, the name might have been associated with the ancient kingdom of Uí Dálaigh, located in modern-day County Kerry.
The name Dolan experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with annual birth counts ranging from a low of 5 to a high of 36. The most notable peak occurred in 1996 with 36 births, while the most recent data shows a decline with only 14 births in 2023. Over the entire period spanning from 1914 to 2023, there were a total of 1701 births named Dolan.