NameCensus.

UK surname

Bohan

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "boghán" meaning "small bow" or "ribbon."

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Bohan surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 378, ranked #12,393, up from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Manchester and Thrybergh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Auchinleck and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bohan is 419 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 320.0%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

378

2016, ranked #12,393

Peak year

2000

419 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bohan had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 378 in 2016, ranked #12,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 120 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Bohan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bohan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bohan 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 72 #24,643
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 378 #11,474
1998 modern 404 #11,261
1999 modern 416 #11,110
2000 modern 419 #11,028
2001 modern 401 #11,214
2002 modern 407 #11,294
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 398 #11,304
2007 modern 396 #11,459
2008 modern 395 #11,598
2009 modern 409 #11,524
2010 modern 407 #11,824
2011 modern 388 #12,121
2012 modern 363 #12,592
2013 modern 391 #12,123
2014 modern 389 #12,258
2015 modern 383 #12,295
2016 modern 378 #12,393

Geography

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Where Bohans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Manchester, Thrybergh, Liverpool and Berwick-on-Tweed. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Auchinleck, Sheffield, Wishaw South and Merton. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Thrybergh Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Berwick-on-Tweed Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 021 Telford and Wrekin
2 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
3 Sheffield 055 Sheffield
4 Wishaw South North Lanarkshire
5 Merton 014 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bohan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bohan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Bohan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bohan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bohan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bohan 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

Bohan falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bohan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Bohan

The surname BOHAN has its roots in Ireland, where it first appeared in the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Gaelic words "bo" meaning cow, and "bhan" meaning white, suggesting the name may have originally referred to someone who owned or tended white cattle.

Records indicate the name was particularly prevalent in County Fermanagh, where the Bohan clan settled and established themselves as landowners. The earliest known bearer of the name was Conall Bohan, a nobleman mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the year 780.

During the medieval period, the name appears in various Irish manuscripts and legal documents. One notable example is the mention of Diarmaid Bohan in the 14th century Annals of Connacht, detailing his involvement in a local conflict.

The Bohan name also has ties to place names in Ireland, such as Bohanagh in County Galway, which likely means "the place of the Bohans." This suggests the name was once associated with specific territories held by the family.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the Bohan surname. One of the earliest was Eoghan Bohan, born in 1598, who served as a captain in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

Another prominent figure was Michael Bohan (1640-1702), a Catholic priest who faced persecution during the Penal Laws but continued to minister in secret. His defiance earned him the nickname "The Hunted Priest."

In more recent times, James Bohan (1892-1972) was an Irish Republican Army volunteer who participated in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became a respected historian and author.

John Bohan (1928-2001) was a celebrated Irish sculptor whose works can be found in galleries and public spaces across Ireland and beyond.

Additionally, Mary Bohan (1934-2005) was a renowned Irish actress who graced stages in Ireland, Britain, and the United States, earning critical acclaim for her performances in both classic and contemporary plays.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bohan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bohan 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 34 Bohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 34 3.30x
Yorkshire 33 3.84x
Hampshire 4 2.25x
Northumberland 4 3.10x
Worcestershire 4 3.53x
Middlesex 3 0.35x
Cheshire 2 1.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.74x
Durham 1 0.39x
Glamorgan 1 0.66x
Leicestershire 1 1.04x
Surrey 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northowram in Yorkshire leads with 12 Bohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 199.01x.

Place Total Index
Northowram 12 199.01x
Eccleston In Prescot 9 174.08x
Thrybergh 7 11666.67x
Widnes 7 94.21x
Liverpool 6 9.59x
Berwick Upon Tweed 4 145.99x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 48.90x
Worcester St Martin 4 261.44x
Basingstoke 3 146.34x
Eston 3 160.43x
Hunslet 3 22.37x
Snaith Cowick 3 588.24x
Manchester 2 4.32x
Manningham 2 18.87x
Prescot 2 107.53x
Stockport 2 20.28x
Birkdale 1 38.31x
Camberwell 1 1.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 6.11x
Darley 1 181.82x
Esh 1 53.19x
Kirkdale 1 5.77x
Melton Mowbray 1 57.80x
Nether Hallam 1 8.59x
Normanby In 1 43.48x
Penmark 1 714.29x
Ripon 1 50.00x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 26.60x
St Michael Cornhill 1 1428.57x
Titchfield 1 74.63x
Warrington 1 8.19x
Whitechapel London 1 11.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ellen 5
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Sarah 2
Allice 1
Annabel 1
Bridget 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Hellen 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bohan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bohan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Bohan surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bohan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 378 in 2016. That gives Bohan a modern rank of #12,393.

What does the Bohan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "boghán" meaning "small bow" or "ribbon."

What does the Bohan map show?

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