NameCensus.

UK surname

Deegan

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Duiginn, meaning "descendant of Duiginn" (derived from "duige," meaning "dark" or "black").

In the 1881 census there were 201 people recorded with the Deegan surname, ranking it #12,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,451, ranked #4,234, up from #12,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, London parishes and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Port Glasgow Upper East, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and West Lancashire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deegan is 1,476 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 621.9%.

1881 census count

201

Ranked #12,791

Modern count

1,451

2016, ranked #4,234

Peak year

2014

1,476 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deegan had 201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,451 in 2016, ranked #4,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 402 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Deegan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deegan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deegan 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 201 #12,791
1891 historical 238 #13,202
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 402 #9,249
1997 modern 1,302 #4,397
1998 modern 1,323 #4,488
1999 modern 1,354 #4,429
2000 modern 1,350 #4,428
2001 modern 1,334 #4,384
2002 modern 1,371 #4,363
2003 modern 1,346 #4,360
2004 modern 1,348 #4,358
2005 modern 1,333 #4,348
2006 modern 1,339 #4,345
2007 modern 1,334 #4,393
2008 modern 1,348 #4,381
2009 modern 1,359 #4,429
2010 modern 1,411 #4,375
2011 modern 1,394 #4,374
2012 modern 1,412 #4,278
2013 modern 1,456 #4,236
2014 modern 1,476 #4,222
2015 modern 1,466 #4,220
2016 modern 1,451 #4,234

Geography

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Where Deegans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Port Glasgow Upper East, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, West Lancashire, Rochdale and Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde
2 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
3 West Lancashire 010 West Lancashire
4 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
5 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deegan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deegan

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

Deegan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Deegan

The surname Deegan has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "O'Deegan" or "Ui Dheaghain," which means "descendant of Deaghan." The name Deaghan itself is derived from the Irish word "deagh," meaning "good" or "noble."

The Deegan family is believed to have originated in the ancient territory of Ormond, which comprised parts of modern-day County Tipperary and County Kilkenny. The name is particularly associated with the baronies of Ikerrin and Eliogarty in County Tipperary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deegan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Deegan chieftain named Aodh O'Deegan, who was involved in a conflict in the year 1565.

In the 17th century, the name Deegan appears in several historical records related to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent Williamite War in Ireland. Notable individuals from this period include Edmond Deegan, a landowner in County Tipperary whose property was confiscated during the Cromwellian settlement.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Deegan achieved prominence in various fields. One such individual was John Deegan (1768-1853), an Irish military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

Another notable figure was Michael Deegan (1836-1910), an Irish Roman Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and served as the President of St. Patrick's College, Thurles.

In the field of literature, Patrick Deegan (1859-1926) was an Irish poet and author who wrote extensively about the landscapes and people of County Tipperary.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Deegan was James Deegan (1879-1953), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1933 to 1937.

Lastly, Kathleen Deegan (1892-1976) was an Irish-American artist and illustrator known for her work in children's books and magazines during the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deegan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deegan 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 116 Deegans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 116 4.96x
Middlesex 23 1.17x
Ross-shire 8 14.78x
Surrey 8 0.83x
Cheshire 7 1.61x
Essex 6 1.54x
Hampshire 6 1.49x
Lanarkshire 6 0.94x
Yorkshire 4 0.20x
Kent 3 0.45x
Midlothian 3 1.14x
Warwickshire 3 0.60x
Leicestershire 2 0.92x
Channel Islands 1 1.71x
Devon 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.26x
Morayshire 1 3.27x
Somerset 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.30x
Westmorland 1 2.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 23 Deegans recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.11x.

Place Total Index
Bury 23 86.11x
Liverpool 19 13.38x
Kirkdale 11 27.97x
West Derby 11 16.08x
Toxteth Park 10 12.63x
Broughton In Salford 9 42.10x
Everton 9 12.08x
Knockbain 8 629.92x
Spitalfields London 8 53.98x
Stockport 7 31.28x
Barony 6 3.72x
Harwich St Nicholas 6 200.00x
Blackburn 5 8.04x
Fareham 5 103.09x
Parr 5 59.74x
Wandsworth 5 26.36x
Kensington London 4 3.65x
Salford 4 5.82x
Westminster St James 4 19.74x
Battersea 3 4.14x
Birmingham 3 1.81x
Chadderton 3 26.25x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 44.64x
Gillingham 3 21.65x
St Marylebone London 3 2.85x
Glen Parva 2 392.16x
Halifax 2 6.98x
St George Bloomsbury 2 17.68x
Thornton In Fylde 2 39.06x
Wardleworth 2 14.97x
Aldershot 1 7.39x
Bedminster 1 3.36x
Bellie 1 72.46x
Berkeley Hamfallow 1 142.86x
Castleton 1 4.28x
Chelsea London 1 1.68x
Exeter St David 1 28.57x
Farnworth 1 7.14x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.28x
Leeds 1 0.91x
Lewes St John Southover 1 44.84x
Nether Graveship 1 243.90x
Norwood 1 22.17x
Oldham 1 1.33x
St Martin 1 27.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 8
Catherine 6
Ann 5
Margaret 5
Bridget 4
Julia 4
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Betty 2
Catharine 2
Frances 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Bella 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Norah 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Tresca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Michael 12
Patrick 9
James 8
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
William 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Peter 3
David 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Gilbert 1
Hugh 1
Laurence 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Pattrick 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Deegan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deegan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 201 people were recorded with the Deegan surname. That placed it at #12,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deegan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,451 in 2016. That gives Deegan a modern rank of #4,234.

What does the Deegan surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Duiginn, meaning "descendant of Duiginn" (derived from "duige," meaning "dark" or "black").

What does the Deegan map show?

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