NameCensus.

UK surname

Cregan

A variant of a locational surname referring to someone from Cregan, Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Cregan surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 440, ranked #10,992, up from #14,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Bolton and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cregan is 452 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 157.3%.

1881 census count

171

Ranked #14,212

Modern count

440

2016, ranked #10,992

Peak year

2013

452 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cregan had 171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016, ranked #10,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 209 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cregan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cregan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cregan 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 171 #14,212
1891 historical 145 #18,752
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 175 #16,246
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 405 #11,344
2000 modern 392 #11,564
2001 modern 387 #11,484
2002 modern 411 #11,208
2003 modern 408 #11,115
2004 modern 416 #10,963
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 397 #11,317
2007 modern 412 #11,116
2008 modern 412 #11,210
2009 modern 434 #11,014
2010 modern 435 #11,208
2011 modern 428 #11,219
2012 modern 448 #10,702
2013 modern 452 #10,795
2014 modern 452 #10,857
2015 modern 449 #10,836
2016 modern 440 #10,992

Geography

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Where Cregans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Bolton, Oldham, Exeter and Deans Village. 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 1
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 009 South Somerset
2 Bolton 007 Bolton
3 Oldham 011 Oldham
4 Exeter 014 Exeter
5 Deans Village City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cregan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cregan

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

Cregan 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

Cregan falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cregan 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 Cregan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cregan

The surname Cregan originated in Ireland and is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O'Criogain." The name is derived from the word "criogain," which means "a little poet or rhymer." It is believed that the Cregan clan hailed from County Clare, where they held a prominent position among the Dalcassian tribes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cregan name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1317, the annals mention "Mahon O'Cregan," a distinguished bard and poet who lived in County Clare.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cregans were actively involved in the Gaelic resistance against English rule in Ireland. In 1585, a member of the clan, Donough O'Cregan, was hanged for his part in the Desmond Rebellions.

In the 17th century, the Cregan lands were confiscated by the English Crown during the Cromwellian Settlement. Many Cregans were forced to leave their ancestral homeland and settle in other parts of Ireland or abroad.

One notable figure in Cregan history is John Cregan (1711-1798), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in the preservation of Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. He is known for compiling a dictionary of the Irish language and for his efforts in establishing hedge schools to educate the Irish people.

Another prominent Cregan was John Joseph Cregan (1824-1904), a Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Elphin in Ireland. He was known for his advocacy of Irish nationalism and his support for the Irish language.

In the 19th century, many Cregans immigrated to the United States, Canada, and Australia, seeking better opportunities and freedom from religious persecution. One such immigrant was John Cregan (1809-1890), who settled in New York City and became a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Lastly, a more recent figure of note is Austin Cregan (1925-2008), an Irish playwright and novelist known for works such as "The Playboy of the Western World" and "Riders to the Sea." His plays explored themes of Irish culture, identity, and the struggles of rural life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cregan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cregan 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 45 Cregans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 45 2.25x
Yorkshire 25 1.50x
Middlesex 24 1.42x
Cheshire 12 3.22x
Kent 9 1.56x
Cumberland 7 4.82x
Devon 6 1.71x
East Lothian 6 26.85x
Monmouthshire 6 4.92x
Lanarkshire 5 0.92x
Sussex 5 1.76x
Durham 4 0.80x
Hampshire 4 1.16x
Essex 3 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.32x
Surrey 3 0.36x
Warwickshire 2 0.47x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Herefordshire 1 1.45x
Royal Navy 1 4.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beswick in Lancashire leads with 10 Cregans recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.31x.

Place Total Index
Beswick 10 195.31x
Salford 10 16.98x
Chelsea London 9 17.70x
Great Bolton 9 33.94x
Hampstead London 9 34.25x
Stockport 8 41.73x
Caldewgate 7 87.94x
Kimberworth 6 64.66x
Linthorpe 6 60.12x
Manchester 6 6.66x
Newport 6 103.09x
Rotherham 6 63.63x
Tranent 6 198.68x
Plumstead 5 26.06x
Barony 4 2.90x
Broadwater 4 61.26x
Sheffield 4 7.51x
Southampton St Mary 4 18.39x
Fulham London 3 12.26x
Greenwich 3 11.17x
Liverpool 3 2.47x
Middlesbrough 3 13.78x
Nottingham St Peter 3 118.11x
Oldham 3 4.64x
West Ham 3 4.08x
Birkenhead 2 6.74x
Conside Knitsley 2 51.28x
Kensington London 2 2.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 7.39x
Richmond 2 17.36x
Yealmpton 2 370.37x
Aston 1 0.85x
Bartestree 1 833.33x
Battersea 1 1.61x
Birmingham 1 0.71x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.32x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 6.29x
Chester St Michael 1 227.27x
Chorley 1 8.90x
Devonport 1 24.75x
Dukinfield 1 5.81x
Elvet 1 27.62x
Exeter St David 1 33.33x
Foremark 1 2500.00x
Gillingham 1 8.42x
Glasgow 1 1.03x
St George In East London 1 6.30x
Subdeanery 1 46.30x
Wigan 1 3.57x
Withington 1 15.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 11
James 9
Michael 6
Henry 4
Charles 3
Francis 3
Joseph 3
Martin 2
Owen 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2
William 2
Alexander 1
Ansell 1
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Denis 1
Duncan 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Cregan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cregan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Cregan surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cregan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016. That gives Cregan a modern rank of #10,992.

What does the Cregan surname mean?

A variant of a locational surname referring to someone from Cregan, Ireland.

What does the Cregan map show?

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