NameCensus.

UK surname

Coghlan

A surname of Irish origin meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".

In the 1881 census there were 549 people recorded with the Coghlan surname, ranking it #6,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,032, ranked #5,656, up from #6,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Stanley and Murthly and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coghlan is 1,062 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.0%.

1881 census count

549

Ranked #6,284

Modern count

1,032

2016, ranked #5,656

Peak year

1999

1,062 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coghlan had 549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016, ranked #5,656.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 711 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Coghlan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coghlan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coghlan 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 336 #6,970
1861 historical 347 #7,357
1881 historical 549 #6,284
1891 historical 626 #6,177
1901 historical 699 #6,295
1911 historical 711 #5,998
1997 modern 954 #5,699
1998 modern 1,041 #5,480
1999 modern 1,062 #5,428
2000 modern 1,057 #5,440
2001 modern 1,032 #5,447
2002 modern 1,040 #5,508
2003 modern 1,013 #5,534
2004 modern 1,006 #5,569
2005 modern 1,007 #5,515
2006 modern 1,013 #5,503
2007 modern 1,023 #5,508
2008 modern 1,039 #5,472
2009 modern 1,036 #5,612
2010 modern 1,036 #5,713
2011 modern 1,009 #5,776
2012 modern 1,018 #5,655
2013 modern 1,036 #5,677
2014 modern 1,050 #5,624
2015 modern 1,031 #5,669
2016 modern 1,032 #5,656

Geography

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Where Coghlans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Stanley and Murthly, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and Stafford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
2 Stanley and Murthly Perth and Kinross
3 Stoke-on-Trent 005 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Birmingham 126 Birmingham
5 Stafford 010 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coghlan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coghlan

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Coghlan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Coghlan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Coghlan 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

Coghlan is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Coghlan

The surname Coghlan originated in Ireland, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Irish Gaelic language. It is derived from the Gaelic words "cu" meaning hound and "glas" meaning green or grey, suggesting a possible meaning of "grey hound" or "green hound."

In its earliest recorded form, the name was spelled as "O'Coghlan" or "O'Coughlan," indicating it was a patronymic surname, with the prefix "O'" signifying "descendant of." The Coghlan family was historically associated with County Westmeath, where they held significant influence and land holdings as members of the Gaelic nobility.

One of the earliest documented references to the Coghlan name can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention several notable members of the Coghlan clan, including Muircheartach O'Coghlan, who served as Lord of Delvin in the late 12th century.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the Coghlan family played a prominent role in resisting the Norman incursions into their territories. They engaged in numerous conflicts with the Anglo-Norman forces, as recorded in various historical accounts from that era.

Another notable figure bearing the Coghlan name was John Coghlan (1724-1807), an Irish Catholic priest who became a prominent educator and author. He established several successful schools in Ireland and wrote several influential works on education and theology.

In the 19th century, James Coghlan (1803-1870) gained recognition as a British Army officer who served in various campaigns, including the Crimean War. He was awarded the prestigious Crimea Medal for his distinguished service.

As the Coghlan family spread across Ireland and beyond, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, such as Coghlan, Coughlan, Coughlane, and Coughlin. These variations often reflected regional dialects or linguistic adaptations over time.

While the Coghlan surname is most closely associated with Ireland, it has also been found in other parts of the world due to Irish immigration and diaspora communities. Today, individuals bearing this name can be found across various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coghlan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coghlan 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 147 Coghlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 147 2.30x
Middlesex 147 2.73x
Surrey 52 1.98x
Cheshire 29 2.44x
Yorkshire 27 0.51x
Kent 19 1.03x
Sussex 19 2.09x
Glamorgan 18 1.92x
Hampshire 17 1.54x
Gloucestershire 9 0.85x
Staffordshire 9 0.50x
Devon 8 0.71x
Durham 7 0.44x
Lanarkshire 6 0.34x
Fife 5 1.57x
Hertfordshire 4 1.08x
Cornwall 3 0.49x
Dorset 3 0.85x
Essex 3 0.28x
Oxfordshire 3 0.90x
Royal Navy 3 4.68x
Warwickshire 3 0.22x
Midlothian 2 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.28x
Channel Islands 1 0.63x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.81x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Renfrewshire 1 0.24x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Stirlingshire 1 0.50x
Worcestershire 1 0.14x

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 21 Coghlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.41x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 21 5.41x
Manchester 21 7.31x
Camberwell 19 5.52x
Kensington London 17 5.68x
St Martin In Fields 15 46.53x
Brighton 12 6.55x
St Pancras London 12 2.77x
Chester St John Baptist 11 51.50x
Fareham 11 82.96x
Mile End Old Town London 11 9.60x
Birkenhead 10 10.55x
Blackley 10 89.29x
Islington London 10 1.92x
Newington 10 5.03x
Poplar London 10 9.84x
Toxteth Park 10 4.62x
Hammersmith London 9 6.79x
Cheetham 8 16.79x
Clerkenwell London 8 6.29x
Everton 8 3.93x
Stafford St Mary 8 31.09x
West Derby 8 4.28x
Woolwich 8 11.79x
Chelsea London 7 4.31x
Croydon 7 4.81x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 20.38x
Lewes St Ann 7 226.54x
Morley 7 25.23x
St Marylebone London 7 2.43x
Bermondsey 6 3.74x
Beswick 6 36.72x
Govan 6 1.39x
Great Bolton 6 7.09x
Hampstead London 6 7.15x
Kirkdale 6 5.58x
Liscard 6 28.01x
North Meols 6 9.59x
Shoreditch London 6 2.57x
Falkland 5 99.80x
Gelligaer 5 23.35x
Lambeth 5 1.06x
Reynoldston 5 862.07x
Whiston 5 194.55x
Wigan 5 5.60x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.71x
Bristol St James In 4 25.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.94x
Clifton 4 7.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 5.77x
Hougham 4 36.63x
Malborough 4 89.69x
Paddington London 4 2.02x
Salford 4 2.13x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.22x
Aldenham 3 88.76x
Aston 3 0.80x
Crumpsall 3 19.92x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 9.35x
Layton With Warbreck 3 12.79x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 3.33x
Ramsgate 3 10.00x
Royal Navy 3 5.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.77x
Swansea Town 3 3.90x
East Ham 2 10.14x
Elton 2 9.06x
Fowey 2 71.43x
Fulham London 2 2.56x
Gorton 2 3.33x
Hackney London 2 0.66x
Isleworth 2 8.35x
Lancaster 2 5.26x
Mile End New Town London 2 18.80x
Minster In Sheppey 2 6.57x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 6.40x
Portland 2 10.53x
Snaith Cowick 2 62.70x
St Giles In Fields London 2 7.57x
Westminster St James 2 3.61x
Wetherby 2 57.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 41
William 24
James 21
Thomas 16
Patrick 11
Charles 10
Michael 10
Edward 9
George 8
Henry 8
Francis 7
Daniel 6
Joseph 6
Andrew 4
Jeremiah 4
Timothy 4
Arthur 3
Chas. 3
Cornelius 3
Dennis 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Matthew 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Ambrose 1
Clifford 1
Corneluis 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
F.P. 1
Frank 1
Fredk 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jerrold 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Miles 1
Mrtin 1
P.F. 1

FAQ

Coghlan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coghlan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 549 people were recorded with the Coghlan surname. That placed it at #6,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coghlan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016. That gives Coghlan a modern rank of #5,656.

What does the Coghlan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".

What does the Coghlan map show?

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