NameCensus.

UK surname

Boggan

Originating from Celtic origins, a topographic surname referring to a small hill or hillock.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Boggan surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 97, ranked #31,585, down from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warrington, Liverpool and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boggan is 108 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.4%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

97

2016, ranked #31,585

Peak year

1999

108 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Boggan had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016, ranked #31,585.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Boggan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boggan surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boggan 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 34 #31,604
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 87 #31,990
2011 modern 91 #31,442
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 97 #31,585

Geography

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Where Boggans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warrington, Liverpool, Wirral, Leuchars and Guardbridge and Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warrington 022 Warrington
2 Liverpool 022 Liverpool
3 Wirral 029 Wirral
4 Leuchars and Guardbridge Fife
5 Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boggan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boggan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Boggan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Boggan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Boggan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boggan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boggan falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Boggan

The surname BOGGAN is believed to have originated in Ireland, derived from the Gaelic word "bogan," which means "little rock" or "little bulge." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a rocky outcrop or a small hill.

The earliest known record of the BOGGAN surname dates back to the 16th century in County Mayo, Ireland. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, where a Patrick Boggan is mentioned in 1591.

During the 17th century, the BOGGAN surname appeared in various Irish records, particularly in the counties of Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon. It is also found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, which listed householders and their tax obligations.

In the 19th century, the BOGGAN surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Boggan (1810-1885), an Irish politician and judge. He served as a Member of Parliament for Clonmel and later became a Baron of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland.

Another notable figure was Patrick Boggan (1845-1921), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator. He was the founder of St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, and played a significant role in the development of Catholic education in the United States.

The BOGGAN surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Bogganfine in County Mayo and Bogganbeg in County Sligo. These place names likely derived from the surname or were associated with individuals bearing the BOGGAN name.

Other notable individuals with the BOGGAN surname include:

1. Michael Boggan (1853-1929), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist in San Francisco. 2. Thomas Boggan (1838-1912), an Irish-born American Civil War veteran and politician in New York. 3. John Boggan (1795-1867), an Irish landowner and magistrate in County Mayo. 4. Mary Boggan (1860-1932), an Irish-born American educator and founder of a Catholic school in California. 5. Edward Boggan (1876-1949), an Irish-born Australian politician and member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.

While the BOGGAN surname is not among the most common Irish surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields across multiple countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boggan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boggan 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. Durham leads with 17 Boggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.85x.

County Total Index
Durham 17 10.85x
Lancashire 16 2.56x
Northumberland 9 11.48x
Renfrewshire 9 22.05x
Yorkshire 3 0.57x

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 14 Boggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.88x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 14 36.88x
East Greenock 9 233.77x
Westgate 9 185.57x
Esh 7 614.04x
Lamesley 7 833.33x
Westoe 3 33.78x
Churwell 2 555.56x
Broughton In Preston 1 909.09x
West Derby 1 5.47x
York St George 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Ellen 3
Rosanna 2
Adeliade 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Boggan households.

FAQ

Boggan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boggan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Boggan surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boggan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016. That gives Boggan a modern rank of #31,585.

What does the Boggan surname mean?

Originating from Celtic origins, a topographic surname referring to a small hill or hillock.

What does the Boggan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boggan 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.