NameCensus.

UK surname

Deignan

Irish surname meaning "stranger" or "foreigner".

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Deignan surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ18, Harborough and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deignan is 139 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 631.6%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2016

139 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deignan had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Deignan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deignan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deignan 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 46 #29,047
1911 historical 43 #28,581
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Deignans 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 IZ18, Harborough, Manchester and IZ14. 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 IZ18 West Dunbartonshire
2 Harborough 002 Harborough
3 Manchester 034 Manchester
4 Manchester 041 Manchester
5 IZ14 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deignan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Deignan 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 Deignan

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Deignan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Deignan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Deignan 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

Deignan is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Deignan falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Deignan

The surname Deignan is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic name O'Deighnan, which means "descendant of the ruddy or reddish-brown one." This name is believed to have originated in the 11th or 12th century in County Monaghan, Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Deignan surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Gilla-an-Choimdedh Ua Deignan in the year 1282. This suggests that the Deignan family had established themselves in County Monaghan by the late 13th century.

The Deignan surname is also associated with the townland of Deighnánach, which is located in the parish of Tydavnet, County Monaghan. This place name is derived from the Irish word "deigneanach," meaning "a person from Deighnán," which is believed to be a variant spelling of the surname.

In the 16th century, the Deignan family was prominent in County Monaghan, with several members holding influential positions. One notable figure was Donogh O'Deignan, who served as the Lord of Trough in the early 1500s.

Another prominent individual bearing the Deignan surname was Patrick Deignan, a Catholic priest and scholar who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is known for his work as a translator and editor of Irish manuscripts, including the Annals of Ulster.

In the 19th century, John Deignan (1836-1916) was a prominent Irish-American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia. He served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and was involved in various civic organizations.

Other notable individuals with the Deignan surname include:

1. James Deignan (1858-1935), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. 2. Thomas Deignan (1903-1984), an Irish-born Catholic priest and author who wrote several books on Irish history and culture. 3. Brian Deignan (born 1973), an Irish hurler who played for the Waterford senior hurling team. 4. Ciaran Deignan (born 1974), an Irish professional golfer who has competed on the European Tour.

While the Deignan surname has its roots in County Monaghan, Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly due to Irish immigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deignan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deignan 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. Dunbartonshire leads with 6 Deignans recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.48x.

County Total Index
Dunbartonshire 6 120.48x
Middlesex 6 3.24x
Derbyshire 2 6.90x
Durham 2 3.63x
Lanarkshire 2 3.34x
Lancashire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dumbarton in Dunbartonshire leads with 6 Deignans recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.

Place Total Index
Dumbarton 6 869.57x
Mile End Old Town London 3 76.14x
St George Hanover Square 3 92.02x
Chesterfield 2 183.49x
Coundon 2 909.09x
Glasgow 1 9.40x
Hamilton 1 59.88x
Liverpool 1 7.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Bernard 1
Francis 1
James 1
Jerome 1
John 1
Patrick 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 Deignan households.

FAQ

Deignan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deignan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Deignan surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deignan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Deignan a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Deignan surname mean?

Irish surname meaning "stranger" or "foreigner".

What does the Deignan map show?

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