NameCensus.

UK surname

Cumiskey

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Cuimín Oisín" meaning descendant of little Oissín.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Cumiskey surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, County Durham and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cumiskey is 347 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4012.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

2011

347 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cumiskey had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cumiskey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cumiskey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cumiskey 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
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 47 #28,929
1911 historical 76 #25,221
1997 modern 276 #14,290
1998 modern 292 #14,120
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 286 #14,385
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 302 #13,938
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 306 #13,724
2007 modern 302 #13,997
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 322 #13,741
2010 modern 338 #13,550
2011 modern 347 #13,167
2012 modern 333 #13,468
2013 modern 333 #13,682
2014 modern 337 #13,659
2015 modern 339 #13,493
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Cumiskeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, County Durham, Sefton, Perth Road and Kirklees. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 002 Calderdale
2 County Durham 019 County Durham
3 Sefton 023 Sefton
4 Perth Road Dundee City
5 Kirklees 037 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cumiskey

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cumiskey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cumiskey, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cumiskey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cumiskey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cumiskey 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

Cumiskey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cumiskey

The surname Cumiskey has its origins in the Gaelic language and is believed to have originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Old Irish personal name "Cumasgach," which means "crooked" or "bent." The name likely referred to a physical characteristic of the original bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cumiskey can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The Annals mention a person named Cumiskey who was involved in a battle in the year 1261.

During the Middle Ages, the Cumiskey family was primarily based in County Monaghan, located in the northern part of Ireland. The name is also associated with the town of Carrickmacross, where it is believed that a branch of the Cumiskey family settled and held land.

In the 16th century, the Cumiskey name appeared in various records related to land disputes and legal proceedings in County Monaghan. One notable individual was Phelim Cumiskey, who was involved in a boundary dispute with a neighboring clan in 1582.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Cumiskey. One of the most well-known was Patrick Cumiskey (1768-1846), an Irish poet and songwriter who wrote in both English and Irish. His works often celebrated Irish culture and tradition.

Another prominent figure was Michael Cumiskey (1839-1915), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate in the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, John Cumiskey (1914-1998) was a respected historian and author who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Irish diaspora. His book "The Irish Emigrant in America" remains an important work in the field of Irish-American studies.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cumiskey include Brian Cumiskey (born 1951), an Irish former professional footballer who played for several clubs in Ireland and England, and Seamus Cumiskey (born 1962), an Irish artist known for his paintings and sculptures inspired by Irish mythology and folklore.

While the surname Cumiskey is not as common as some other Irish names, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cumiskey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cumiskey 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. Northumberland leads with 5 Cumiskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.07x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 5 43.07x
Durham 2 8.62x
Lancashire 1 1.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne All Sts in Northumberland leads with 5 Cumiskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 724.64x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 724.64x
Sunderland 2 487.80x
Wigan 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Cormie 1
James 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cumiskey households.

FAQ

Cumiskey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cumiskey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Cumiskey surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cumiskey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Cumiskey a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Cumiskey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Cuimín Oisín" meaning descendant of little Oissín.

What does the Cumiskey map show?

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