UK surname
A Turkish surname derived from the word "ağa," meaning "chief," "master," or "lord."
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Agan surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Gateshead and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Agan is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.3%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Agan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Agan surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 95 | #17,707 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Gateshead, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Agan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Agan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Agan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Agan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Agan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Agan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Agan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname AGAN has its origins tracing back to Ireland, where it is believed to have emerged in the 10th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "agan," which means "little." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for a small or young person.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name AGAN can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. It mentions an individual named Ruaidhri Agan, who lived in the late 12th century and was a member of the powerful O'Conor clan.
In the 14th century, the AGAN surname appears in the Rental Book of the Cistercian Abbey of Duiske, County Kilkenny, Ireland. This document, which dates back to 1324, lists several tenants with the surname AGAN, indicating the name's presence in the region during that period.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the AGAN surname. One such person was Donnchadh Agan, a 16th-century Irish poet and scholar who was renowned for his mastery of the Irish language and his contributions to the literary traditions of the time.
Another prominent figure was John Agan (1773-1857), an Irish-born American businessman and politician. He served as the 14th Governor of Hawaii from 1842 to 1844 and played a significant role in the early development of the Hawaiian Islands.
In the 19th century, James Agan (1839-1912) was a prominent Irish-American politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was actively involved in Irish-American organizations, advocating for the rights and interests of the Irish community in the United States.
The AGAN surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Agannion, a townland in County Fermanagh, and Aganon, a civil parish in County Wicklow. These place names may have derived from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the deep-rooted connection between the name and the Irish landscape.
William Agan (1865-1944) was an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator. He served as the president of Villanova University from 1922 to 1936 and played a pivotal role in the university's growth and development during his tenure.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Agan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 26 Agans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 3.35x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 11.31x |
| Durham | 9 | 4.63x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 10.66x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.61x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.62x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.63x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.04x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.45x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 10.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cramlington in Northumberland leads with 8 Agans recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cramlington | 8 | 625.00x |
| Gateshead | 8 | 54.95x |
| Wigan | 6 | 55.35x |
| Workington | 6 | 186.34x |
| Blackburn | 4 | 19.39x |
| Hornsey | 4 | 48.43x |
| Standish With Langtree | 4 | 421.05x |
| Newton | 3 | 50.17x |
| Batley | 2 | 32.52x |
| Coxlodge | 2 | 270.27x |
| Manchester | 2 | 5.74x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 9.48x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.82x |
| Bold | 1 | 526.32x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 16.23x |
| Burnley | 1 | 15.31x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 9.62x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 1 | 23.98x |
| Litherland | 1 | 61.73x |
| Merton | 1 | 178.57x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.81x |
| Queensferry | 1 | 416.67x |
| Reading St Giles | 1 | 20.79x |
| Snaith Cowick | 1 | 256.41x |
| Southwark St John | 1 | 50.00x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 29.15x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.81x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 19.19x |
| Walton Le Dale | 1 | 48.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Agan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Agan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Agan households.
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Agan surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Agan a modern rank of #35,648.
A Turkish surname derived from the word "ağa," meaning "chief," "master," or "lord."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Agan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.