NameCensus.

UK surname

Brogan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Brógáin," meaning "descendant of Brógán," a personal name meaning "sorrowful."

In the 1881 census there were 1,002 people recorded with the Brogan surname, ranking it #3,897 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,221, ranked #2,112, up from #3,897 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Govan Combination and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Riddrie and Hogganfield, Ballingry and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Brogan is 3,277 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 221.5%.

1881 census count

1,002

Ranked #3,897

Modern count

3,221

2016, ranked #2,112

Peak year

2010

3,277 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Brogan had 1,002 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,897 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,221 in 2016, ranked #2,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,351 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Brogan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Brogan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Brogan 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 498 #5,020
1861 historical 588 #4,497
1881 historical 1,002 #3,897
1891 historical 1,109 #3,820
1901 historical 1,351 #3,712
1911 historical 781 #5,568
1997 modern 2,869 #2,248
1998 modern 2,978 #2,265
1999 modern 3,018 #2,254
2000 modern 2,947 #2,290
2001 modern 2,889 #2,282
2002 modern 2,946 #2,287
2003 modern 2,940 #2,232
2004 modern 2,951 #2,223
2005 modern 2,980 #2,171
2006 modern 2,986 #2,171
2007 modern 3,053 #2,145
2008 modern 3,095 #2,129
2009 modern 3,213 #2,108
2010 modern 3,277 #2,117
2011 modern 3,216 #2,121
2012 modern 3,110 #2,155
2013 modern 3,196 #2,141
2014 modern 3,244 #2,130
2015 modern 3,244 #2,109
2016 modern 3,221 #2,112

Geography

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Where Brogans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Govan Combination, Wigan, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Riddrie and Hogganfield, Ballingry, Manchester, Drumoyne and Shieldhall and Rotherham. 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 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Riddrie and Hogganfield Glasgow City
2 Ballingry Fife
3 Manchester 005 Manchester
4 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
5 Rotherham 009 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Brogan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Brogan

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Brogan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Brogan is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Brogan 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 Brogan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Brogan

The surname Brogan originated in Ireland and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "bróg," which means "shoe" or "brogue." The name likely referred to a maker or seller of brogues, a type of sturdy leather shoe.

In the early 17th century, the name Brogan appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were official records of the English Crown in Ireland. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Patrick Brogan, who was mentioned in the Fiants in 1603.

The Brogan name has been found in various historical records throughout Ireland, particularly in counties such as Fermanagh, Donegal, and Tyrone. In the Petty's Census of 1659, which was a survey of households in Ireland, several Brogan families were listed in these regions.

One notable figure with the Brogan surname was Joseph Brogan (1610-1690), an Irish Catholic priest and author. He was a member of the Franciscan Order and wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

Another historical figure was John Brogan (1805-1875), an Irish-born American politician who served as the 14th Governor of Missouri from 1861 to 1865. He played a significant role in keeping Missouri in the Union during the American Civil War.

In the 19th century, the Brogan name became more widespread in the United States, particularly in areas with large Irish immigrant populations. One example is Thomas Brogan (1824-1905), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, who founded the Brogan Building and Loan Association.

The name Brogan has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Brogan's Glen in County Fermanagh and Brogan's Hill in County Donegal. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the Brogan surname who lived in or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the Brogan surname include Michael Brogan (1936-2019), an Irish actor and playwright best known for his roles in films like "The Commitments" and "The Snapper," and John Brogan (1957-), an American artist and sculptor renowned for his large-scale public installations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Brogan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Brogan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 288 Brogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.04x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 288 9.04x
Lancashire 217 1.86x
Yorkshire 142 1.45x
Renfrewshire 80 10.48x
Ayrshire 37 5.02x
Angus 28 3.07x
Durham 25 0.85x
Northumberland 23 1.57x
Cheshire 20 0.92x
Midlothian 20 1.52x
Berwickshire 16 13.41x
Dunbartonshire 16 6.04x
Stirlingshire 16 4.40x
Middlesex 13 0.13x
Fife 10 1.71x
Channel Islands 8 2.74x
Gloucestershire 8 0.41x
Staffordshire 8 0.24x
Kent 7 0.21x
Derbyshire 4 0.26x
Surrey 4 0.08x
Essex 3 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 2.10x
Perthshire 3 0.68x
West Lothian 2 1.35x
Buteshire 1 1.68x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.46x
Peeblesshire 1 2.16x
Ross-shire 1 0.37x
Roxburghshire 1 0.56x
Royal Navy 1 0.85x
Selkirkshire 1 1.12x
Sussex 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 96 Brogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.90x.

Place Total Index
Barony 96 11.90x
Govan 66 8.38x
Otley 52 219.32x
Maryhill 45 72.15x
Glasgow 29 5.13x
Wigan 29 17.75x
Oldham 26 6.89x
Easingwold 24 348.33x
Liverpool 24 3.38x
Eccleston In Prescot 22 37.49x
Liff Benvie 22 15.88x
Bootle Cum Linacre 20 21.54x
Birkenhead 15 8.65x
Bowling 15 15.51x
Campsie 15 75.23x
Abbey 14 12.02x
West Greenock 13 9.49x
Cockpen 12 77.77x
Middle Greenock 12 57.58x
Dalziel 11 32.09x
Manchester 11 2.09x
Bothwell 10 11.57x
Cornsay 10 126.74x
Old Monkland 10 7.91x
Toxteth Park 10 2.53x
Walton Le Dale 10 31.84x
East Greenock 9 12.48x
Edrom 9 176.13x
Biddulph 8 42.64x
Huyton With Roby 8 58.39x
Rothley 8 2000.00x
St Helier 8 8.42x
West Derby 8 2.34x
Bradford 7 2.96x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 3.85x
Dalmellington 7 32.29x
Dunse 7 61.89x
Leeds 7 1.27x
Muirkirk 7 40.44x
Paisley Low Church 7 28.96x
Auchterderran 6 40.93x
Cambusnethan 6 8.48x
Dundee 6 1.76x
Kilbarchan 6 25.87x
New Kilpatrick 6 23.82x
North Shields 6 20.51x
Whitton 6 259.74x
Auckinleck 5 21.90x
Beith 5 22.73x
Clifford Cum Boston 5 56.95x
Gorbals 5 26.44x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 25.95x
Port Glasgow 5 13.55x
St Giles In Fields London 5 10.35x
York St Margaret 5 82.64x
Bradford 4 7.31x
Burnley 4 4.06x
Girvan 4 21.61x
Golborne 4 26.25x
Higher Booths 4 18.98x
Holbeck 4 6.18x
Holy Trinity 4 1.70x
Kensington London 4 0.73x
Liberton 4 19.64x
Little Bolton 4 2.66x
Paisley High Church 4 6.58x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.87x
Shitlington 4 39.60x
Cadder 3 12.75x
Cardross 3 9.44x
Congleton 3 7.98x
Glossop Dale 3 4.15x
Greenwich 3 1.91x
Kilmalcolm 3 32.79x
Kilmaurs 3 23.90x
Kirkcaldy 3 10.37x
Neilston 3 7.83x
Normanby In 3 11.49x
Scarborough 3 3.38x
Warrington 3 2.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Catherine 18
Margaret 15
Ann 13
Bridget 13
Elizabeth 13
Ellen 13
Jane 11
Sarah 7
Annie 6
Kate 6
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Hannah 3
Susan 3
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Margt. 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Cathe. 1
Dorthy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Janet 1
Jesse 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Margarett 1
Margart 1
Margt.A. 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Mgt. 1
Polly 1
R. 1
Rosy 1
Sabina 1
Selina 1
Sussanah 1
Theresa 1
Therisa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
James 30
Thomas 29
Patrick 24
William 20
Michael 16
Edward 11
Peter 10
Anthony 7
Martin 7
Francis 5
Joseph 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
George 3
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Bernard 1
Bridget 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Dominic 1
Domunic 1
Frances 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Nehemiah 1
Nicholas 1
Owen 1
Stephen 1
Tarrence 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Brogan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Brogan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,002 people were recorded with the Brogan surname. That placed it at #3,897 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Brogan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,221 in 2016. That gives Brogan a modern rank of #2,112.

What does the Brogan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Brógáin," meaning "descendant of Brógán," a personal name meaning "sorrowful."

What does the Brogan map show?

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