NameCensus.

UK surname

Coogan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Cuagain," meaning "descendant of Cuagan," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Coogan surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 840, ranked #6,645, up from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Skye South, Manchester and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coogan is 854 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 333.0%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

840

2016, ranked #6,645

Peak year

2010

854 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coogan had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 840 in 2016, ranked #6,645.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Coogan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coogan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coogan 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 196 #15,163
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 179 #16,023
1997 modern 756 #6,844
1998 modern 781 #6,890
1999 modern 794 #6,844
2000 modern 782 #6,899
2001 modern 757 #6,944
2002 modern 755 #7,076
2003 modern 730 #7,148
2004 modern 752 #7,005
2005 modern 736 #7,061
2006 modern 760 #6,908
2007 modern 776 #6,866
2008 modern 792 #6,811
2009 modern 829 #6,699
2010 modern 854 #6,663
2011 modern 831 #6,726
2012 modern 786 #6,945
2013 modern 821 #6,796
2014 modern 834 #6,757
2015 modern 828 #6,735
2016 modern 840 #6,645

Geography

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Where Coogans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Skye South, Manchester, Poole, Cornwall and Liverpool. 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 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Skye South Highland
2 Manchester 002 Manchester
3 Poole 007 Poole
4 Cornwall 068 Cornwall
5 Liverpool 022 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coogan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coogan

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Coogan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coogan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Coogan

The surname Coogan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Cuogán," which means "little hunk" or "little pet." It is believed to have originated in County Cavan, located in the northern part of Ireland, during the 8th or 9th century.

The name Coogan can be traced back to the ancient Irish clan of Ó Cuogáin, who were prominent landowners in the Cavan region. The earliest known written record of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a notable figure named Gilla-Pátraic Ó Cuogáin in the year 1216.

In the 14th century, the Coogan family held significant influence and power in the Barony of Tullyhaw, which was part of the ancient territory of Breifne. The Coogans were known for their loyalty to the O'Reilly clan, who were the ruling family of East Breifne (modern-day County Cavan).

One of the earliest known Coogans was Sir Phelim Coogan (c. 1590-1653), an Irish soldier and rebel who played a prominent role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. He was a member of the Irish Catholic gentry and led the forces of Ulster in the uprising against English rule.

Another notable figure with the Coogan surname was William Coogan (1832-1922), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist. He emigrated to the United States in the 1850s and became a successful entrepreneur in the brewing industry. Coogan founded the William Coogan & Co. Brewery in Detroit, Michigan.

In the 19th century, the surname Coogan also gained recognition through the work of John Coogan (1827-1894), an Irish-American politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the state of Missouri from 1865 to 1867.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Coogan was Jackie Coogan (1914-1984), an American actor and comedian who rose to fame as a child star in the 1920s. He is best remembered for his iconic role as Uncle Fester in the TV series "The Addams Family."

The Coogan surname has maintained a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in Counties Cavan and Monaghan, where many descendants of the original Ó Cuogáin clan still reside. Over time, various spelling variations have emerged, such as Cookan, Cooghan, and Cogan, reflecting regional dialects and anglicization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coogan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coogan 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 88 Coogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 88 3.94x
Angus 27 15.48x
Lanarkshire 21 3.45x
Renfrewshire 19 13.02x
Yorkshire 10 0.54x
Midlothian 8 3.17x
Cheshire 4 0.96x
Durham 4 0.71x
Staffordshire 4 0.63x
Hampshire 2 0.52x
Middlesex 2 0.11x
Surrey 2 0.22x
Derbyshire 1 0.34x
Sussex 1 0.32x

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 28 Coogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.64x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 28 20.64x
Liff Benvie 23 86.86x
Abbey 17 76.37x
Widnes 12 74.49x
Lesmahagow 9 139.75x
Manchester 9 8.96x
Old Monkland 9 37.25x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 39.46x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 19.72x
Edinburgh Old Church 6 297.03x
Horton In Bradford 6 20.60x
Little Heaton 6 1132.08x
Dundee 4 6.14x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 16.49x
Wolstanton 4 20.73x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 26.76x
Hindley 3 31.51x
Liscard 3 40.05x
Middlesbrough 3 12.35x
Barony 2 1.30x
Castleton 2 8.96x
Mearns 2 78.13x
Pendleton In Salford 2 7.52x
Richmond 2 15.56x
St George In East London 2 11.29x
West Derby 2 3.06x
Aldershot 1 7.73x
Church Hulme 1 232.56x
Eckington 1 13.97x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 20.41x
Everton 1 1.40x
Hamilton 1 5.89x
Hastings St Mary 1 12.66x
Hulme 1 2.14x
Kimberworth 1 9.66x
Kirkdale 1 2.66x
Portsea 1 1.32x
Salford 1 1.52x
South Leith 1 3.52x
Toxteth Park 1 1.32x
Walton On Hill 1 8.26x
Warrington 1 3.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Margaret 5
Catherine 4
Bridget 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Ana 1
Anne 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizh. 1
Grace 1
Honoria 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
James 6
Thomas 6
William 6
Edward 4
Joseph 4
David 3
Patrick 3
Andrew 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Edwd. 1
Frederick 1
Laurence 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Patric 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Coogan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coogan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Coogan surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coogan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 840 in 2016. That gives Coogan a modern rank of #6,645.

What does the Coogan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Cuagain," meaning "descendant of Cuagan," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Coogan map show?

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