NameCensus.

UK surname

Comiskey

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'O Comasidhe' meaning 'descendent of the commissary' or official keeper.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Comiskey surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 293, ranked #14,981, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Ballingry and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Comiskey is 320 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 761.8%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

293

2016, ranked #14,981

Peak year

2010

320 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Comiskey had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016, ranked #14,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Comiskey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Comiskey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Comiskey 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 35 #31,540
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 18 #31,542
1997 modern 280 #14,136
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 277 #14,474
2002 modern 285 #14,483
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 264 #15,156
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 279 #14,577
2007 modern 294 #14,241
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 309 #14,135
2010 modern 320 #14,088
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 302 #14,690
2014 modern 301 #14,809
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 293 #14,981

Geography

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Where Comiskeys 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 Haringey, Ballingry, St. Helens, Govanhill West and Gorbals and Hutchesontown. 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 Haringey 027 Haringey
2 Ballingry Fife
3 St. Helens 006 St. Helens
4 Govanhill West Glasgow City
5 Gorbals and Hutchesontown Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Comiskey

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Comiskey

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Comiskey 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

Comiskey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Comiskey

The surname Comiskey is of Irish origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Comascaigh," which means "descended from Comascach," a personal name derived from the word "cumas," meaning "power" or "ability."

The earliest recorded instances of the Comiskey name can be found in historical records from County Westmeath, Ireland. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was John Comiskey, who was born around 1550 in Westmeath. He was a landowner and is mentioned in the Fiants of Elizabeth I, which were official records of royal orders and grants during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

In the 17th century, the Comiskey family played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Patrick Comiskey, born around 1610 in Westmeath, was a prominent figure in the uprising against English rule. He served as a captain in the Irish Confederate forces and was later pardoned by Oliver Cromwell after the rebellion was suppressed.

Another notable Comiskey was Charles Comiskey, born in 1859 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a famous baseball player and team owner, best known for founding the Chicago White Sox franchise in 1901. Comiskey played as a talented infielder in the major leagues and later became a successful manager before establishing his own team.

In the literary world, Michael Comiskey, born in 1892 in County Westmeath, Ireland, was a renowned poet and author. He published several collections of poetry, including "Bread for the Wanderer" and "The Rag-Picker," which explored themes of Irish identity and the struggles of the working class.

Another prominent figure with the Comiskey surname was John Comiskey, born in 1845 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Chicago's infrastructure, including the construction of the Comiskey Park baseball stadium, which served as the home of the Chicago White Sox from 1910 to 1990.

While the Comiskey name has its roots in Ireland, it has spread to other parts of the world over the centuries, with families bearing this surname found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name has also experienced various spelling variations, such as Comiskey, Comishe, and Comishey, but the core meaning and origins remain tied to its Irish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Comiskey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Comiskey 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 13 Comiskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.12x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 13 12.12x
West Lothian 8 160.32x
Durham 6 6.08x
East Lothian 4 91.12x
Lancashire 1 0.25x
Northumberland 1 2.03x
Yorkshire 1 0.30x

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 9 Comiskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.94x.

Place Total Index
Govan 9 33.94x
Uphall 8 1454.55x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 140.52x
Glasgow 4 21.01x
Tranent 4 677.97x
Great Crosby 1 93.46x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 39.06x
Wilton In Guisbrough 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ann 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Artha 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
James 1
Micalea 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 Comiskey households.

FAQ

Comiskey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Comiskey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Comiskey surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Comiskey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016. That gives Comiskey a modern rank of #14,981.

What does the Comiskey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'O Comasidhe' meaning 'descendent of the commissary' or official keeper.

What does the Comiskey map show?

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