NameCensus.

UK surname

Ahearn

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'hEachthigheirn," meaning "descendant of the horse lord" or "descendant of the horse sovereign."

In the 1881 census there were 129 people recorded with the Ahearn surname, ranking it #17,013 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, up from #17,013 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Teignbridge and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ahearn is 293 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.8%.

1881 census count

129

Ranked #17,013

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1999

293 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ahearn had 129 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,013 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Ahearn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ahearn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ahearn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ahearn over time

The 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 129 #17,013
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 271 #14,486
1998 modern 284 #14,402
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 290 #14,237
2001 modern 275 #14,540
2002 modern 282 #14,585
2003 modern 267 #14,950
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 267 #15,042
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 281 #15,276
2012 modern 269 #15,706
2013 modern 273 #15,802
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 264 #16,186
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Ahearns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Teignbridge, St. Helens and Plymouth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
2 Teignbridge 005 Teignbridge
3 St. Helens 006 St. Helens
4 St. Helens 005 St. Helens
5 Plymouth 032 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ahearn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ahearn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ahearn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ahearn, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Ahearn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ahearn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ahearn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ahearn is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ahearn falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ahearn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ahearn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ahearn

The surname AHEARN has its origins in Ireland and is derived from the Irish Gaelic personal name "O'hEachthigheirn" or "O'hEachthigheirna." This name translates to "descendant of the horse-lord" or "descendant of the horse-keeper." It is believed that the name originated in the 10th or 11th century and was most prevalent in the counties of Westmeath and Longford.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, the name is spelled "O'Hachthighern" and refers to a chieftain who lived in the late 12th century. Similar spellings of the name, such as "O'Haugherne" and "O'Hogherne," can be found in various Irish manuscripts and records from the 13th to 16th centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Piers AHEARN, a prominent landowner in County Westmeath in the late 16th century. He was granted lands by the English Crown during the Plantation of Ulster and played a significant role in the colonization of Ireland.

Another notable figure was Theobald AHEARN (1590-1656), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Killaloe from 1641 until his death. He was a staunch supporter of the Irish Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

In the 18th century, John AHEARN (1728-1805) was an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He served in the Continental Army and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Yorktown.

Bridget AHEARN (1807-1888) was an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a prominent figure in the labor movement. She was one of the founders of the Daughters of St. Peter Claver, an organization that advocated for the rights of black workers in the late 19th century.

William AHEARN (1865-1943) was an Irish-American politician and businessman who served as the Mayor of New York City from 1919 to 1921. He played a significant role in the development of the city's transportation infrastructure, including the expansion of the subway system.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ahearn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ahearn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 33 Ahearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 2.16x
Middlesex 29 2.25x
Kent 10 2.28x
Sussex 9 4.15x
Dorset 8 9.47x
Monmouthshire 8 8.60x
Essex 7 2.75x
Royal Navy 7 45.63x
Staffordshire 7 1.61x
Surrey 6 0.96x
Devon 4 1.49x
Hampshire 4 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 21 Ahearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.63x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 21 22.63x
Habergham Eaves 9 64.47x
St Woollos 8 77.00x
Tottenham 8 39.02x
Acton 7 92.72x
Bilston 7 83.14x
Corfe Castle 7 897.44x
Royal Navy 7 53.39x
Southchurch 7 3043.48x
Bermondsey 6 15.65x
Deptford St Paul 5 14.76x
Eastdean 5 3846.15x
St Marylebone London 5 7.27x
Oving 4 547.95x
Poplar London 4 16.46x
Devonport 3 97.40x
Portsea 3 5.80x
Everton 2 4.11x
Hougham 2 76.63x
Chatham 1 8.28x
Chelsea London 1 2.58x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 28.65x
Kensington London 1 1.40x
Paddington London 1 2.11x
Portland 1 22.03x
Portsmouth 1 16.45x
St Luke London 1 4.84x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.97x
Stonehouse East 1 73.53x
West Derby 1 2.24x
Wouldham 1 178.57x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ahearn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ahearn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
William 12
Michael 10
Patrick 6
David 3
James 3
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
M... 1
Maurice 1
Morris 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ahearn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ahearn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 129 people were recorded with the Ahearn surname. That placed it at #17,013 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ahearn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Ahearn a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Ahearn surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'hEachthigheirn," meaning "descendant of the horse lord" or "descendant of the horse sovereign."

What does the Ahearn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ahearn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.