NameCensus.

UK surname

Costigan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Oistigin," meaning "son of Oistigin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 239 people recorded with the Costigan surname, ranking it #11,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 604, ranked #8,674, up from #11,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Long Benton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Huntingdonshire and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Costigan is 640 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 152.7%.

1881 census count

239

Ranked #11,446

Modern count

604

2016, ranked #8,674

Peak year

2011

640 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Costigan had 239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016, ranked #8,674.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 351 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Costigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Costigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Costigan 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 239 #11,446
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 351 #10,415
1911 historical 335 #10,584
1997 modern 596 #8,188
1998 modern 621 #8,190
1999 modern 615 #8,307
2000 modern 620 #8,240
2001 modern 595 #8,348
2002 modern 606 #8,401
2003 modern 588 #8,455
2004 modern 585 #8,500
2005 modern 578 #8,495
2006 modern 561 #8,698
2007 modern 563 #8,739
2008 modern 565 #8,780
2009 modern 599 #8,612
2010 modern 618 #8,587
2011 modern 640 #8,257
2012 modern 618 #8,395
2013 modern 618 #8,538
2014 modern 621 #8,566
2015 modern 620 #8,505
2016 modern 604 #8,674

Geography

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Where Costigans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Huntingdonshire, Sefton and Sandwell. 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 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Long Benton Northumberland
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 017 Rochdale
2 Huntingdonshire 004 Huntingdonshire
3 Sefton 022 Sefton
4 Sandwell 001 Sandwell
5 Sandwell 003 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Costigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Costigan

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

Costigan 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

Costigan 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 Costigan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Costigan

The surname Costigan originates from Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Cuistighean," which means "descendant of the prudent or wise one." The name was widely found in County Mayo and parts of Connacht.

Costigan is believed to have evolved from various spellings, such as "O'Cuistighean," "O'Cuisdighean," and "O'Cuistighne." The prefix "O'" signifies the family's descent from the Irish clan system.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Costigan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. It mentions a notable figure named Turlough Costigan, who was a distinguished scholar and poet in the late 16th century.

In the early 18th century, the Costigan family played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. John Costigan (1742-1828), a prominent leader from County Mayo, was actively involved in the uprising against British rule.

Another notable bearer of the Costigan name was John Austin Costigan (1835-1902), an Irish-born Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament and played a crucial role in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The name Costigan has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Costigan's Cross, a hamlet in County Mayo, and Costigan's Bridge, a landmark in County Sligo.

Throughout history, several other individuals with the surname Costigan have left their mark in various fields, including:

1. George Purcell Costigan (1835-1913), an Irish barrister and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland. 2. John Costigan (1835-1900), an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. 3. Michael Costigan (1844-1913), an Irish-born American entrepreneur and real estate developer who played a significant role in the development of Los Angeles. 4. William J. Costigan (1888-1957), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Colorado. 5. John Costigan (1910-2002), an Irish politician and member of Dáil Éireann, representing the Labour Party.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Costigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Costigan 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 73 Costigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 73 2.64x
Yorkshire 56 2.42x
Northumberland 22 6.34x
Middlesex 21 0.90x
Durham 14 2.02x
Surrey 12 1.06x
Warwickshire 12 2.04x
Lanarkshire 9 1.19x
Staffordshire 9 1.14x
Flintshire 3 4.79x
Hampshire 3 0.63x
Dorset 2 1.31x
Sussex 2 0.51x
Cheshire 1 0.19x

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 28 Costigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.51x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 28 22.51x
Leeds 27 20.70x
Longbenton 16 108.92x
Bishopwearmouth 13 21.84x
Birmingham 10 5.10x
Middlesbrough 9 29.92x
Mile End Old Town London 8 16.12x
Halifax 7 20.64x
Liverpool 7 4.17x
Pendleton In Salford 7 21.24x
Radcliffe 7 52.51x
Toxteth Park 7 7.47x
Wednesbury 7 35.59x
Bradford 6 10.73x
North Shields 6 86.71x
Barony 5 2.62x
Newington 5 5.81x
Walton Le Dale 5 67.29x
Battersea 4 4.66x
Glasgow 4 2.99x
West Derby 4 4.94x
Chelsea London 3 4.27x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.31x
Manningham 3 10.54x
Rhuddlan 3 54.35x
St Luke London 3 8.02x
Bradford 2 15.44x
Cowfold 2 240.96x
Crumpsall 2 30.67x
Poole St James 2 34.78x
Salford 2 2.46x
Aldershot 1 6.25x
Bow London 1 3.37x
Clapham 1 3.43x
Everton 1 1.13x
Farnborough 1 19.92x
Gomersal 1 9.28x
Heston 1 12.92x
Holdenhurst 1 7.98x
Hylton 1 81.97x
Islington London 1 0.44x
Kensington London 1 0.77x
Kirkdale 1 2.15x
Lambeth 1 0.49x
Leamington 1 25.64x
Leamington Priors 1 6.91x
Mortlake 1 19.76x
Shoreditch London 1 0.99x
Smallthorne 1 34.25x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.43x
Tranmere 1 5.29x
West Bromwich 1 2.22x
Westminster St John 1 3.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Catherine 8
Sarah 7
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Bridget 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Millicent 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Briget 1
Cecilia 1
Charen 1
Eleanor 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jeannie 1
Julia 1
L. 1
Louisa 1
Maggey 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Meggy 1
Meriah 1
Norah 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Costigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Costigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 239 people were recorded with the Costigan surname. That placed it at #11,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Costigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 604 in 2016. That gives Costigan a modern rank of #8,674.

What does the Costigan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Oistigin," meaning "son of Oistigin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Costigan map show?

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