NameCensus.

UK surname

Dignan

An Irish surname derived from the Irish personal name Diongain or Dingane, meaning "worthy" or "valorous".

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Dignan surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 639, ranked #8,280, up from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Haddington, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Balgay, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge and Methil Methilhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dignan is 709 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 267.2%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

639

2016, ranked #8,280

Peak year

1998

709 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dignan had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016, ranked #8,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 292 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Dignan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dignan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dignan 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 150 #15,296
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 283 #12,117
1911 historical 179 #16,023
1997 modern 685 #7,364
1998 modern 709 #7,398
1999 modern 699 #7,525
2000 modern 701 #7,485
2001 modern 683 #7,500
2002 modern 674 #7,736
2003 modern 656 #7,787
2004 modern 646 #7,875
2005 modern 656 #7,716
2006 modern 668 #7,637
2007 modern 660 #7,778
2008 modern 668 #7,753
2009 modern 666 #7,927
2010 modern 678 #7,975
2011 modern 664 #8,021
2012 modern 656 #8,011
2013 modern 658 #8,134
2014 modern 665 #8,106
2015 modern 650 #8,196
2016 modern 639 #8,280

Geography

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Where Dignans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Haddington, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, 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 Balgay, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, Methil Methilhill, Northfield and Piershill and Doncaster. 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 Haddington Haddington
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Balgay Dundee City
2 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
3 Methil Methilhill Fife
4 Northfield and Piershill City of Edinburgh
5 Doncaster 004 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dignan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dignan

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Dignan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Dignan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dignan 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

Dignan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dignan falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dignan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dignan

The surname Dignan has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is thought to derive from the Irish Gaelic "O'Duibhgheannain," meaning "descendant of the black-headed one." This name likely originated in County Sligo, where it was prevalent among families in the region.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Dignan name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. In these records, a Patrick Dignan is mentioned in relation to a land transaction in County Sligo in the year 1587.

Another notable early appearance of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the 17th century. The annals mention a Conn Dignan, who was a prominent figure in County Sligo in the mid-16th century.

In the 18th century, the Dignan name can be found in various parish records and land surveys in County Sligo and neighboring counties. One notable individual from this period was Terence Dignan (1723-1796), a landowner and local magistrate in County Sligo.

As the Dignan family spread throughout Ireland and beyond, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Dignane, Duignane, and Deighnan appearing in different regions. One notable bearer of this variant was Patrick Deighnan (1832-1915), an Irish-American labor leader and politician in Philadelphia.

In the 19th century, the Dignan name gained prominence in various fields. John Dignan (1847-1923) was a Catholic priest and author from County Sligo who wrote extensively on Irish history and folklore. Another notable figure was Michael Dignan (1856-1931), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, from 1910 to 1914.

As the 20th century dawned, the Dignan name continued to make its mark. John Dignan (1887-1947) was a British Labour Party politician and trade union leader, while Patrick Dignan (1902-1978) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Sligo senior team.

Throughout its history, the Dignan surname has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, particularly in County Sligo and surrounding areas. While the name has spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century and the Gaelic "O'Duibhgheannain" lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dignan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dignan 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 33 Dignans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 1.64x
Midlothian 25 10.99x
Angus 18 11.45x
East Lothian 17 75.62x
Northumberland 9 3.56x
Berwickshire 8 38.93x
Lanarkshire 8 1.46x
Durham 7 1.39x
Cheshire 6 1.60x
Middlesex 6 0.35x
Yorkshire 6 0.36x
Warwickshire 5 1.17x
Kent 4 0.69x
Morayshire 4 15.17x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.75x
Staffordshire 4 0.70x
Surrey 4 0.48x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.64x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Essex 1 0.30x
Fife 1 1.00x
Hampshire 1 0.29x
Stirlingshire 1 1.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 10 Dignans recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.04x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 10 17.04x
Haddington 10 301.20x
Edrom 8 909.09x
Liff Benvie 8 33.51x
Tynemouth 8 59.17x
Dunbar 7 222.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 13.63x
Edinburgh Old 6 434.78x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 6 454.55x
Govan 6 4.42x
Manchester 6 6.62x
South Leith 6 23.45x
Sunderland 5 56.05x
Birmingham 4 2.80x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 69.08x
Elgin 4 77.97x
Liverpool 4 3.27x
Newington 4 6.38x
Salford 4 6.75x
Everton 3 4.67x
Hartford 3 352.94x
Margate St John Baptist 3 28.30x
North Collingham 3 555.56x
Sheffield 3 5.60x
West Derby 3 5.09x
Hulme 2 4.76x
Islington London 2 1.22x
Stockport 2 10.37x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 3.29x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 3.40x
Auchterderran 1 39.53x
Chadderton 1 10.15x
Chatham 1 6.28x
Colinton 1 39.37x
Darlington 1 5.13x
Derby St Alkmund 1 12.56x
Dunipace 1 90.91x
Edinburgh Old Church 1 54.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.09x
Fulham London 1 4.06x
Glasgow 1 1.03x
Gorton 1 5.28x
Iveston 1 42.92x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 74.07x
Kirkwhelpington 1 769.23x
Middlesbrough 1 4.57x
Monks Coppenhall 1 7.07x
North Meols 1 5.07x
Northowram 1 8.48x
Norwood 1 25.77x
Nottingham St Peter 1 39.22x
Portsea 1 1.47x
Shettleston 1 20.37x
Shoreditch London 1 1.36x
St Marylebone London 1 1.10x
Trentham 1 20.53x
Walton On Hill 1 9.17x
Warrington 1 4.19x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 31.85x
West Ham 1 1.35x
Wolstanton 1 5.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ann 5
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Abigail 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Cecil 1
Emmie 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Katy 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Rosanna 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 6
Michael 6
Thomas 5
William 4
Peter 3
Henry 2
Beechal 1
Bernard 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Earnest 1
Francis 1
Joseph 1
Micheal 1
Michel 1
Michl. 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Dignan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dignan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Dignan surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dignan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 639 in 2016. That gives Dignan a modern rank of #8,280.

What does the Dignan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Irish personal name Diongain or Dingane, meaning "worthy" or "valorous".

What does the Dignan map show?

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