NameCensus.

UK surname

Corrigan

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Corragáin," meaning "descendant of Corragán" (a diminutive of "corrac," meaning "spear").

In the 1881 census there were 1,340 people recorded with the Corrigan surname, ranking it #3,059 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,719, ranked #1,443, up from #3,059 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Manchester and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Sunderland and Paisley North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corrigan is 4,915 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 252.2%.

1881 census count

1,340

Ranked #3,059

Modern count

4,719

2016, ranked #1,443

Peak year

2010

4,915 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corrigan had 1,340 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,059 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,719 in 2016, ranked #1,443.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,557 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Corrigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corrigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Corrigan 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 329 #7,079
1861 historical 521 #5,031
1881 historical 1,340 #3,059
1891 historical 1,275 #3,391
1901 historical 1,557 #3,307
1911 historical 1,173 #3,984
1997 modern 4,484 #1,467
1998 modern 4,703 #1,449
1999 modern 4,734 #1,448
2000 modern 4,665 #1,462
2001 modern 4,567 #1,464
2002 modern 4,654 #1,464
2003 modern 4,565 #1,457
2004 modern 4,582 #1,451
2005 modern 4,570 #1,431
2006 modern 4,524 #1,446
2007 modern 4,573 #1,445
2008 modern 4,643 #1,424
2009 modern 4,804 #1,417
2010 modern 4,915 #1,414
2011 modern 4,831 #1,425
2012 modern 4,728 #1,421
2013 modern 4,756 #1,442
2014 modern 4,772 #1,445
2015 modern 4,715 #1,444
2016 modern 4,719 #1,443

Geography

Back to top

Where Corrigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Sunderland, Paisley North West, Paisley West and Parkhead West and Barrowfield. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
2 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
3 Paisley North West Renfrewshire
4 Paisley West Renfrewshire
5 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Corrigan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Corrigan

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Corrigan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Corrigan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Corrigan

The surname Corrigan has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O'Corraidhin," which means "descendant of Corraidhin." Corraidhin itself is derived from the Irish word "corrach," meaning "speckled" or "freckled."

The name is believed to have originated in County Mayo, where the Corrigan clan was based. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, appearing in various medieval manuscripts and records from the region.

One notable historical reference involving the Corrigan surname is its mention in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals record a notable figure named Muircheartach O'Corraidhin, who was a chief of the Corrigan clan in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Corrigan began to spread beyond County Mayo as the clan members migrated to other parts of Ireland. This led to variations in the spelling, such as Corrigan, Corregan, and Corrigan.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Corrigan surname have made significant contributions in various fields. One notable figure was Sir Dominick Corrigan (1802-1880), an Irish physician who made important discoveries in the field of cardiovascular medicine, including the description of a specific heart murmur now known as the "Corrigan Pulse."

Another prominent Corrigan was Michael Corrigan (1839-1892), an Irish-American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of New York from 1885 until his death.

In the literary world, Mathew Corrigan (1839-1888) was an Irish-American poet and journalist who wrote extensively about Irish nationalism and the struggle for independence.

Sir Dominic Joseph Corrigan (1802-1880), mentioned earlier, was not only a renowned physician but also a prominent advocate for medical education reform in Ireland.

Lastly, John Corrigan (1930-2017) was an American historian and author who specialized in the study of religion and violence, particularly in the context of the American South.

The Corrigan surname has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with notable individuals bearing the name making significant contributions across various domains throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Corrigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corrigan 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 483 Corrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.11x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 483 3.11x
Lanarkshire 241 5.69x
Durham 105 2.70x
Renfrewshire 91 8.97x
Yorkshire 57 0.44x
Ayrshire 53 5.41x
Cheshire 42 1.45x
Angus 32 2.64x
Midlothian 26 1.48x
Middlesex 24 0.18x
Surrey 24 0.38x
Lincolnshire 23 1.10x
Cumberland 22 1.95x
Warwickshire 21 0.64x
Kent 14 0.31x
Hampshire 11 0.41x
Worcestershire 9 0.53x
Northumberland 8 0.41x
Gloucestershire 6 0.23x
Sussex 6 0.27x
Buteshire 5 6.30x
Monmouthshire 5 0.53x
West Lothian 5 2.54x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.23x
Staffordshire 4 0.09x
Argyllshire 2 0.55x
Denbighshire 2 0.40x
Dorset 2 0.23x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.57x
Essex 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 1.28x
Westmorland 2 0.70x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
East Lothian 1 0.58x
Fife 1 0.13x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.24x
Selkirkshire 1 0.84x

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 99 Corrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.49x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 99 10.49x
Glasgow 68 9.05x
Govan 44 4.20x
Manchester 42 6.01x
Barony 39 3.64x
Cheetham 31 26.76x
New Monkland 26 20.78x
Kilmarnock 20 17.15x
Louth 20 41.69x
Wolsingham 20 56.35x
Birmingham 19 1.73x
Toxteth Park 19 3.61x
Liff Benvie 17 9.23x
Parr 17 30.59x
West Derby 17 3.74x
Abbey 16 10.34x
Kilbarchan 16 51.91x
Shettleston 16 42.21x
Dundee 15 3.31x
Paisley High Church 15 18.57x
Widnes 15 13.39x
Everton 14 2.83x
Much Woolton 14 66.41x
Ryhope 14 51.78x
Great Bolton 13 6.32x
Little Bolton 13 6.51x
Bradford 12 3.82x
Eastwood 12 19.21x
Kilbirnie 12 51.00x
Wigan 12 5.53x
Old Monkland 11 6.55x
Oldham 11 2.19x
Altrincham 10 19.81x
Gateshead 10 3.43x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 5.93x
Salford 10 2.19x
Blackburn 9 2.18x
Ince In Makerfield 9 12.45x
Mearns 9 50.65x
Stourbridge 9 20.46x
Cambuslang 8 18.74x
Cleator 8 17.05x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 8 65.84x
Fulham London 8 4.21x
Halifax 8 4.20x
Heaton Norris 8 9.05x
Oswaldtwistle 8 14.58x
Paisley Middle Church 8 13.54x
Sale 8 22.57x
Stockport 8 5.38x
Sutton 8 15.36x
Whiston 8 66.01x
Barrow In Furness 7 3.31x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 5.67x
Chorley 7 8.03x
Dukinfield 7 5.24x
Halliwell 7 12.38x
Leeds 7 0.96x
Renfrew 7 20.90x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.66x
Witton Gilbert 7 45.54x
Ardwick 6 4.28x
Bexley 6 15.19x
Bradford 6 8.25x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 2.48x
Cadder 6 19.19x
Dalziel 6 13.17x
Ditton 6 94.49x
Edinburgh St Johns 6 54.20x
Esh 6 21.17x
Hulme 6 1.85x
North Shields 6 15.44x
South Leith 6 3.04x
St Pancras London 6 0.57x
Standish With Langtree 6 31.36x
Tarbolton 6 37.22x
Bromley London 5 1.74x
Crosscanonby 5 13.42x
Harpurhey 5 23.19x
Tanshelf 5 48.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Catherine 31
Margaret 31
Ann 26
Ellen 25
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 19
Bridget 15
Jane 13
Eliza 10
Hannah 8
Anne 7
Isabella 7
Kate 7
Rose 7
Annie 6
Maria 6
Susannah 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Catharine 4
Julia 4
Amelia 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Maggy 2
Margt. 2
Phoebe 2
Anna 1
Bridgett 1
Bridgit 1
Cath. 1
E.A. 1
Edie 1
Elizab. 1
Elizabth 1
Ellenor 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 86
James 59
Patrick 46
Thomas 37
William 28
Michael 25
Peter 22
Joseph 19
Hugh 10
Edward 9
Martin 7
Robert 6
Anthony 4
Bernard 4
Charles 4
Francis 4
George 4
Henry 4
Matthew 4
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Robt. 3
Thos. 3
Timothy 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Dan 2
Herbert 2
Miles 2
Nicholas 2
Owen 2
Philip 2
Stephen 2
Vincent 2
Wm. 2
Ashley 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Darby 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
H. 1
H.P.W. 1
Hubert 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Michal 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Corrigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corrigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,340 people were recorded with the Corrigan surname. That placed it at #3,059 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corrigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,719 in 2016. That gives Corrigan a modern rank of #1,443.

What does the Corrigan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Corragáin," meaning "descendant of Corragán" (a diminutive of "corrac," meaning "spear").

What does the Corrigan map show?

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