NameCensus.

UK surname

Cloney

A surname derived from Irish Gaelic meaning "descendant of the cloyne" or "person from Cloyne."

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Cloney surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, up from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Guildford and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cloney is 145 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 248.8%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2015

145 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cloney had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 57 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cloney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cloney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cloney 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 57 #27,846
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Cloneys 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 West Dorset, Guildford, Redcar and Cleveland, Wirral and Paisley West. 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 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
2 Guildford 002 Guildford
3 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Wirral 014 Wirral
5 Paisley West Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cloney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cloney

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Cloney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cloney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cloney 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

Cloney is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cloney

The surname Cloney has its origins in Ireland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cloidhne," which means "boundary" or "boundary ditch." This suggests that the name may have initially been a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near a boundary or ditch.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Irish Annals, where a Donnell Cloney is mentioned as having participated in a battle in the year 1594. The name also appears in various legal documents and land records from the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in counties such as Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the spelling of the name evolved to include variations like Cloney, Clunie, and Clooney. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Scottish surname Cluny, which has a similar pronunciation but a different origin.

One notable figure associated with the Cloney surname is John Cloney (1609-1660), an Irish Catholic priest and Confederate leader during the Irish Confederate Wars. He played a significant role in the defense of Limerick against the Parliamentarian forces and was eventually executed for his involvement in the conflict.

Another prominent individual was Michael Cloney (1793-1867), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and was known for his advocacy of Catholic education rights.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Cloney surname dates back to the late 18th century, when several individuals with this name arrived from Ireland as immigrants. One such individual was John Cloney (1765-1842), who settled in Pennsylvania and worked as a farmer.

Other notable figures with the Cloney surname include:

1. Patrick Cloney (1826-1901), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. 2. Michael Cloney (1847-1925), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who founded schools in Massachusetts. 3. James Cloney (1858-1934), an Irish-American labor leader and politician who served as the president of the American Federation of Labor. 4. Patrick Cloney (1877-1959), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to Catholic charities and educational institutions. 5. Margaret Cloney (1909-1988), an Irish-American writer and journalist who published several works of fiction and non-fiction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cloney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cloney 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 8 Cloneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 8 6.04x
Warwickshire 8 7.75x
Lancashire 7 1.44x
Cheshire 6 6.64x
Staffordshire 6 4.34x
Kent 2 1.43x
Middlesex 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 3.95x
Royal Navy 1 20.49x
Surrey 1 0.50x
Wiltshire 1 2.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 8 Cloneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.42x.

Place Total Index
Govan 8 24.42x
Wolstanton 6 142.86x
Birkenhead 4 55.48x
Warwick St Mary 4 444.44x
Tottington Lower End 3 129.87x
Greenwich 2 30.67x
Kirkdale 2 24.45x
Warwick St Nicholas 2 263.16x
Birmingham 1 2.91x
Cowley 1 126.58x
Hatton 1 714.29x
Laycock 1 625.00x
Liverpool 1 3.39x
Macclesfield 1 24.88x
Monks Coppenhall 1 29.33x
Royal Navy 1 23.98x
St George Hanover Square 1 13.85x
Wandsworth 1 25.38x
West Derby 1 7.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 4
John 2
Nicholas 2
Thomas 2
Denis 1
Francis 1
George 1
James 1
Michael 1

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 Cloney households.

FAQ

Cloney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cloney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Cloney surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cloney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Cloney a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Cloney surname mean?

A surname derived from Irish Gaelic meaning "descendant of the cloyne" or "person from Cloyne."

What does the Cloney map show?

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