NameCensus.

UK surname

Dullaghan

A surname of Irish origin referring to someone with darker or tanned complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Dullaghan surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 156, ranked #23,098, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Salford and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dullaghan is 168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

156

2016, ranked #23,098

Peak year

2010

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dullaghan had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016, ranked #23,098.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Dullaghan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dullaghan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dullaghan 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 20 #31,803
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 164 #21,628
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 156 #23,098

Geography

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Where Dullaghans 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 Pembrokeshire, Salford, Northumberland and Liverpool. 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 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
2 Salford 029 Salford
3 Salford 030 Salford
4 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
5 Liverpool 059 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dullaghan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dullaghan

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Dullaghan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dullaghan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Dullaghan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dullaghan is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dullaghan 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 Dullaghan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Dullaghan

The surname Dullaghan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Dúlacháin, meaning "descendant of Dúlachán." The name is rooted in the Irish word "dulach," which translates to "seaweed" or "bulrush." This suggests that the name may have originated from an ancestor who resided near marshlands or coastal regions abundant in these aquatic plants.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century in County Mayo, Ireland. Historical records indicate that the Dullaghan family were prominent landowners and chieftains in the Erris region of Mayo. The name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Tadhg Ó Dúlacháin who was a notable figure in the 15th century.

One notable bearer of the Dullaghan name was Pádraig Ó Dúlacháin (1585-1662), a celebrated Irish poet and scholar who composed works in both Irish and Latin. His poetry often reflected the tumultuous political and social climate of 17th-century Ireland during the Confederate Wars and the Cromwellian conquest.

Another prominent individual was Séamus Ó Dúlacháin (1720-1795), a renowned Irish harpist and composer from County Mayo. He was renowned for his mastery of the traditional Irish harp and played a significant role in preserving the rich heritage of Irish music during a period when it faced suppression.

In the 19th century, the Dullaghan family was well-established in County Mayo, with several members serving as prominent clergymen within the Catholic Church. One such figure was Reverend Michael Dullaghan (1825-1892), who was appointed as the parish priest of Belmullet in 1868 and played a pivotal role in the development of the local community.

The Dullaghan name also has a notable presence in other parts of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Sligo and Galway. For instance, Patrick Dullaghan (1875-1943) was a respected Irish politician and journalist who served as a Member of Parliament for the Sligo Borough constituency in the early 20th century.

While the Dullaghan surname originated in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to Irish emigration. However, the name remains deeply rooted in its Irish heritage, with a rich history that spans several centuries and encompasses figures from various walks of life, including poets, musicians, clergymen, and politicians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dullaghan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dullaghan 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. Durham leads with 1 Dullaghans recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willington in Durham leads with 1 Dullaghans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Willington 1 5000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
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 Dullaghan households.

Occupation Count
Coke Drawer 1

FAQ

Dullaghan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dullaghan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Dullaghan surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dullaghan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016. That gives Dullaghan a modern rank of #23,098.

What does the Dullaghan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin referring to someone with darker or tanned complexion.

What does the Dullaghan map show?

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