NameCensus.

UK surname

Connaughton

A surname derived from County Connaught in Ireland, referring to someone from that region.

In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Connaughton surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 588, ranked #8,855, up from #20,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Chesterfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Oldham and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Connaughton is 633 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 532.3%.

1881 census count

93

Ranked #20,593

Modern count

588

2016, ranked #8,855

Peak year

2010

633 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Connaughton had 93 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016, ranked #8,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 206 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Connaughton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Connaughton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Connaughton 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 93 #20,593
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 590 #8,250
1998 modern 619 #8,209
1999 modern 621 #8,253
2000 modern 606 #8,374
2001 modern 591 #8,377
2002 modern 614 #8,316
2003 modern 600 #8,340
2004 modern 592 #8,431
2005 modern 585 #8,422
2006 modern 586 #8,431
2007 modern 598 #8,375
2008 modern 597 #8,452
2009 modern 608 #8,509
2010 modern 633 #8,427
2011 modern 616 #8,511
2012 modern 595 #8,671
2013 modern 588 #8,867
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 600 #8,738
2016 modern 588 #8,855

Geography

Back to top

Where Connaughtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Chesterfield, Blackburn and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Oldham, Trafford, Wealden and Wigan. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Chesterfield Derbyshire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 018 Telford and Wrekin
2 Oldham 029 Oldham
3 Trafford 025 Trafford
4 Wealden 012 Wealden
5 Wigan 026 Wigan

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Connaughton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Connaughton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Connaughton, 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 Connaughton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Connaughton 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, Connaughton 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

Connaughton 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

Connaughton 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 Connaughton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Connaughton

The surname Connaughton is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Connachtain, meaning "descendant of Connachtan." This name is associated with County Galway in the western province of Connacht, Ireland.

The name Connaughton emerged as a prominent surname in the region during the Middle Ages, with several notable historical references. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a chieftain named Connaughton in the early 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Connaughton family held significant landholdings in County Galway, particularly around the town of Athenry. Records from this period, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, list various Connaughtons as landowners and prominent figures in the local community.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the surname was Dermot Connaughton, who lived in the late 15th century and was a member of the influential O'Kelly clan of County Galway. Another notable Connaughton was Brian Connaughton, born in the early 17th century, who served as a Captain in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Connaughton name appeared in various historical records, such as parish registers and land deeds, throughout Counties Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon. Several Connaughtons were involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, fighting against British rule.

A prominent figure in Irish history was Patrick Connaughton, born in 1822 in County Galway. He was a prominent member of the Young Ireland movement, advocating for Irish independence through peaceful means. Another notable Connaughton was John Connaughton, born in 1848, a respected educator and headmaster of several schools in County Galway.

In the literary world, Michael Connaughton, born in 1882 in County Mayo, was a renowned poet and author who wrote extensively about Irish folklore and rural life. His works, such as "The Broken Haggis" and "The Bog Wanderers," are considered important contributions to Irish literature.

The Connaughton surname has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Connaughton's Bridge in County Galway and Connaughton's Well in County Mayo, further highlighting the family's historic ties to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Connaughton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Connaughton 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 46 Connaughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 46 4.23x
Yorkshire 15 1.65x
Denbighshire 9 25.99x
Derbyshire 8 5.57x
Northumberland 6 4.40x
Lanarkshire 4 1.35x
Staffordshire 2 0.65x
Cheshire 1 0.49x
Durham 1 0.37x
Royal Navy 1 9.16x
Surrey 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 10 Connaughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.44x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 10 20.44x
Chesterfield 8 148.70x
Sutton Stoneferry 7 269.23x
Wrexham Regis 7 272.37x
Blackburn 6 20.73x
Great Bolton 6 41.64x
Leeds 6 11.70x
Wallsend 6 138.57x
Widnes 6 76.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 21.03x
Govan 4 5.45x
Droylsden 3 84.51x
Hulme 3 13.21x
Bradford 2 9.10x
Lichfield St Chad 2 285.71x
Salford 2 6.25x
Wrexham Abbot 2 229.89x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 32.26x
Bishopwearmouth 1 4.27x
Cheetham 1 12.33x
Kirkdale 1 5.46x
Little Bolton 1 7.15x
Lymm 1 68.03x
Newington 1 2.95x
Royal Navy 1 10.71x
Tonge 1 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Catherine 5
Margt. 4
Sarah 4
Bridget 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 10
James 8
John 7
Thomas 5
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Bartholomew 1
Charles 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Paul 1
Terrence 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Connaughton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Connaughton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Connaughton surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Connaughton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016. That gives Connaughton a modern rank of #8,855.

What does the Connaughton surname mean?

A surname derived from County Connaught in Ireland, referring to someone from that region.

What does the Connaughton map show?

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