NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunigan

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Duinnegáin, meaning "descendant of Duinnegán," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Dunigan surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Dennistoun North and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunigan is 106 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.5%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1998

106 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunigan had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 79 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dunigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunigan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunigan 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 81 #32,558
2012 modern 84 #32,502
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Dunigans 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 Sheffield, Dennistoun North, Rotherham and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Sheffield 041 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 038 Sheffield
3 Dennistoun North Glasgow City
4 Rotherham 007 Rotherham
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 012 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunigan

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Dunigan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Dunigan 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

Dunigan falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dunigan

The surname Dunigan is believed to have originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "O'Donnchadha," which means "descendant of Donnchadh." Donnchadh is a compound name formed from the Irish words "donn," meaning "brown," and "cath," meaning "battle."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Dunigan can be traced back to the 16th century in County Cork, Ireland. It was commonly found in the area around the town of Doneraile, which was once known as "Dun-na-Gallóglaigh," meaning "the fort of the gallowglasses."

In the 17th century, the Dunigan family played a significant role in the Confederate Wars of Ireland. John Dunigan, born in 1620, was a captain in the Confederate forces and fought against the English Parliamentary army.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, a prominent member of the Dunigan family was Edmond Dunigan, born in 1595. He was a landowner in County Cork and participated in the uprising against English rule.

The name Dunigan has also been recorded in various historical documents, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. These records mention several members of the Dunigan family being granted land in County Cork.

In the 18th century, Michael Dunigan, born in 1710, was a notable figure in the Irish Catholic community. He was a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a crucial role in the preservation of Catholic traditions during the Penal Laws.

Another notable person with the surname Dunigan was Margaret Dunigan, born in 1785. She was a influential figure in the Irish literary community and was known for her patronage of poets and writers.

The Dunigan family has also left its mark on place names in Ireland. The townland of Dunigans, located in County Cork, is named after the family, reflecting their long-standing presence in the region.

While the name Dunigan has Irish roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration. In the 19th century, many Dunigans left Ireland due to the Great Famine and settled in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunigan 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 14 Dunigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 14 2.05x
Lanarkshire 12 6.45x
Yorkshire 11 1.93x
West Lothian 8 92.27x
Durham 6 3.50x
Midlothian 4 5.19x
Northumberland 2 2.34x
Angus 1 1.88x
Middlesex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shettleston in Lanarkshire leads with 9 Dunigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 538.92x.

Place Total Index
Shettleston 9 538.92x
Bathgate 8 425.53x
Keighley 8 131.58x
Hindley 7 240.55x
Gateshead 4 31.20x
Glasgow 3 9.08x
Manchester 3 9.77x
Mid Calder 3 909.09x
Clifton In York 2 168.07x
Cowpen 2 101.52x
Heworth 2 59.35x
Wigan 2 20.96x
Dun 1 909.09x
Edinburgh Old 1 212.77x
Everton 1 4.59x
Leeds 1 3.11x
Liverpool 1 2.41x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Catherine 2
Cathrine 2
Jane 2
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Wineford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 3
Edward 1
Francis 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Michael 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 Dunigan households.

FAQ

Dunigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Dunigan surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Dunigan a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Dunigan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Duinnegáin, meaning "descendant of Duinnegán," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

What does the Dunigan map show?

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