NameCensus.

UK surname

Cavanagh

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Caomhánach," meaning "a descendant of Caomhán" (a personal name meaning "gentle" or "beautiful").

In the 1881 census there were 2,255 people recorded with the Cavanagh surname, ranking it #1,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,641, ranked #1,467, up from #1,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Wirral and Toryglen and Oatlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cavanagh is 4,761 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.8%.

1881 census count

2,255

Ranked #1,976

Modern count

4,641

2016, ranked #1,467

Peak year

2010

4,761 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cavanagh had 2,255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,641 in 2016, ranked #1,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,729 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cavanagh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cavanagh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cavanagh 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 612 #4,216
1861 historical 924 #3,003
1881 historical 2,255 #1,976
1891 historical 2,217 #2,104
1901 historical 2,729 #2,035
1911 historical 2,511 #2,045
1997 modern 4,357 #1,500
1998 modern 4,486 #1,508
1999 modern 4,612 #1,485
2000 modern 4,546 #1,495
2001 modern 4,431 #1,499
2002 modern 4,558 #1,495
2003 modern 4,453 #1,491
2004 modern 4,468 #1,488
2005 modern 4,364 #1,501
2006 modern 4,401 #1,490
2007 modern 4,437 #1,486
2008 modern 4,495 #1,481
2009 modern 4,645 #1,469
2010 modern 4,761 #1,464
2011 modern 4,697 #1,461
2012 modern 4,587 #1,468
2013 modern 4,673 #1,469
2014 modern 4,714 #1,465
2015 modern 4,666 #1,465
2016 modern 4,641 #1,467

Geography

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Where Cavanaghs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Wirral, Toryglen and Oatlands and Pumpherston and Uphall Station. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
2 Wirral 022 Wirral
3 Wirral 019 Wirral
4 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
5 Pumpherston and Uphall Station West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cavanagh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cavanagh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cavanagh, 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 Cavanagh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cavanagh 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cavanagh is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Cavanagh 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

Cavanagh 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 Cavanagh 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 Cavanagh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cavanagh

The surname Cavanagh has its origins in Ireland, emerging in the 11th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Cavanaigh, meaning "descendant of Cavanagh." The name is derived from the Irish word "caomhánach," meaning "monk" or "servant."

The Cavanaghs were a prominent family in County Donegal, Ireland, and were part of the Cenél Conaill dynasty. They held significant power and influence in the region during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, an chronicles of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

In the 13th century, the Cavanaghs were involved in various conflicts with other Irish clans and the Anglo-Norman invaders. One notable figure was Donnchad Ó Cavanaigh, who led the Cavanagh clan in battles against the English in Donegal in the late 13th century.

As the name spread across Ireland, variations in spelling emerged, including Cavanagh, Kavanaugh, Kavanagh, and Cavanaugh. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Ballykavanagh and Clonmullen in County Carlow.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Cavanagh throughout history are:

1. Brian Cavanagh (c. 1590-1647), an Irish Catholic priest and chronicler who documented events during the Irish Confederate Wars. 2. Michael Cavanagh (1823-1890), an Irish-born Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. 3. John Cavanagh (1864-1939), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. 4. Art Cavanagh (1930-2020), an American professional baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics. 5. James Cavanagh (1958-2004), an Irish hurler who played for the Kilkenny senior hurling team and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

The surname Cavanagh continues to be found across Ireland, as well as in countries with significant Irish diaspora populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cavanagh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cavanagh 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 952 Cavanaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 952 3.64x
Middlesex 208 0.94x
Lanarkshire 175 2.46x
Yorkshire 138 0.63x
Cheshire 121 2.49x
Durham 116 1.77x
Northumberland 78 2.38x
Midlothian 48 1.63x
Surrey 48 0.45x
Staffordshire 47 0.63x
Angus 43 2.11x
Cumberland 28 1.48x
Hampshire 28 0.62x
Kent 28 0.37x
Renfrewshire 26 1.52x
Warwickshire 25 0.45x
Devon 23 0.50x
Derbyshire 11 0.32x
Dunbartonshire 10 1.69x
East Lothian 10 3.43x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.68x
West Lothian 9 2.71x
Buteshire 8 5.99x
Glamorgan 8 0.21x
Channel Islands 7 1.07x
Ayrshire 6 0.36x
Essex 6 0.14x
Leicestershire 5 0.20x
Sussex 5 0.13x
Dorset 4 0.28x
Gloucestershire 4 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.13x
Royal Navy 4 1.52x
Stirlingshire 4 0.49x
Lincolnshire 2 0.06x
Monmouthshire 2 0.13x
Norfolk 2 0.06x
Peeblesshire 2 1.93x
Brecknockshire 1 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.17x
Shetland 1 0.44x
Somerset 1 0.03x

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 163 Cavanaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 163 10.26x
Manchester 137 11.65x
Birkenhead 78 20.12x
Salford 59 7.67x
Barony 52 2.88x
Everton 48 5.76x
Govan 44 2.50x
Leeds 44 3.57x
Kirkdale 36 8.18x
Hulme 34 6.23x
Toxteth Park 34 3.84x
Easington 30 315.46x
Oldham 28 3.32x
Glasgow 27 2.13x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 26 13.28x
West Derby 26 3.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 21 1.77x
St George In East London 21 10.13x
St Pancras London 21 1.18x
Birmingham 20 1.08x
Dundee 20 2.62x
Stoke Damerel 20 6.23x
Prescot 19 40.18x
Widnes 19 10.07x
Islington London 17 0.80x
Openshaw 16 13.07x
Camberwell 15 1.07x
Gorton 15 6.10x
Little Bolton 15 4.46x
Stafford St Mary 15 14.25x
Blackburn 14 2.01x
Liff Benvie 14 4.52x
Warrington 14 4.52x
Bradford 13 2.46x
Elswick 13 4.97x
Helmington Row 13 42.58x
Newton 13 6.45x
Shoreditch London 13 1.36x
St George Hanover Square 13 3.35x
York St George 13 75.54x
Barton Upon Irwell 12 6.10x
Blantyre 12 16.17x
Preston 12 1.72x
Stockport 12 4.79x
Berwick Upon Tweed 11 15.83x
Beswick 11 16.45x
Hackney London 11 0.89x
Spotland 11 3.78x
Sunderland 11 9.50x
Wednesbury 11 5.92x
Much Woolton 10 28.18x
Ormiston 10 129.20x
Pendleton In Salford 10 3.21x
St Giles In Fields London 10 9.25x
St Luke London 10 2.83x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.94x
Egremont 9 19.89x
Huddersfield 9 2.83x
Iver 9 52.42x
Portsea 9 1.02x
Row 9 11.75x
Wheelton 9 76.92x
Bothwell 8 4.14x
Bury 8 2.68x
Cambusnethan 8 5.05x
Crumpsall 8 12.98x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 2.82x
Kilbride 8 48.66x
Portsmouth 8 7.69x
Skelmersdale 8 18.36x
St Martin In Fields 8 6.06x
St Marylebone London 8 0.68x
Tipton 8 3.51x
Bathgate 7 9.72x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 3.37x
Great Bolton 7 2.02x
Lea Ashton Ingol 7 40.32x
Liscard 7 7.99x
Mitcham 7 10.31x
Renfrew 7 12.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 231
Margaret 72
Elizabeth 70
Ellen 54
Ann 52
Catherine 52
Bridget 41
Sarah 35
Jane 30
Eliza 26
Annie 20
Alice 16
Maria 16
Anne 15
Kate 15
Rose 9
Margt. 8
Martha 7
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Julia 6
Louisa 6
Margret 6
Teresa 6
Winifred 6
Charlotte 5
Lucy 5
Maggie 5
Rebecca 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Amy 3
Cathrine 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Lizzie 3
Theresa 3
A. 2
Catharine 2
Christina 2
Marian 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 176
James 105
Thomas 78
William 72
Patrick 64
Michael 54
Edward 45
Charles 29
Joseph 22
Peter 20
Daniel 17
George 17
Henry 15
Francis 12
Arthur 11
Martin 11
Matthew 8
Andrew 7
Hugh 7
Richard 7
Dennis 5
Jno. 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Christopher 4
Frank 4
Mark 4
Mathew 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Anthony 3
David 3
Jeremiah 3
Philip 3
Samuel 3
Timothy 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Gerald 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Laurence 2
Maurice 2
Michel 2
Moses 2
Owen 2
Patk. 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Cavanagh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cavanagh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,255 people were recorded with the Cavanagh surname. That placed it at #1,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cavanagh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,641 in 2016. That gives Cavanagh a modern rank of #1,467.

What does the Cavanagh surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Caomhánach," meaning "a descendant of Caomhán" (a personal name meaning "gentle" or "beautiful").

What does the Cavanagh map show?

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