NameCensus.

UK surname

Enright

Of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Indreachtach," meaning "attacker" or "raider."

In the 1881 census there were 278 people recorded with the Enright surname, ranking it #10,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,354, ranked #4,451, up from #10,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Telford and Wrekin and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Enright is 1,392 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 387.1%.

1881 census count

278

Ranked #10,259

Modern count

1,354

2016, ranked #4,451

Peak year

2011

1,392 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Enright had 278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,354 in 2016, ranked #4,451.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 469 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Enright surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Enright surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Enright 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 278 #10,259
1891 historical 376 #9,319
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 469 #8,232
1997 modern 1,272 #4,479
1998 modern 1,315 #4,519
1999 modern 1,342 #4,466
2000 modern 1,342 #4,449
2001 modern 1,322 #4,426
2002 modern 1,366 #4,378
2003 modern 1,333 #4,389
2004 modern 1,337 #4,391
2005 modern 1,281 #4,490
2006 modern 1,297 #4,453
2007 modern 1,322 #4,420
2008 modern 1,300 #4,510
2009 modern 1,323 #4,538
2010 modern 1,376 #4,470
2011 modern 1,392 #4,380
2012 modern 1,346 #4,431
2013 modern 1,365 #4,461
2014 modern 1,385 #4,432
2015 modern 1,376 #4,408
2016 modern 1,354 #4,451

Geography

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Where Enrights are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St Marylebone and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Telford and Wrekin, Central Bedfordshire, West Lancashire and Bradford. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 032 Sunderland
2 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
3 Central Bedfordshire 026 Central Bedfordshire
4 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
5 Bradford 008 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Enright

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Enright

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Enright surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Enright household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Enright is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Enright 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

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

Meaning and origin of Enright

The surname Enright is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Limerick and Kerry. It is thought to have derived from the Gaelic words "an rioghacht," which translate to "the kingdom" or "the royal one."

The name Enright is believed to have been first recorded in the 12th century, during the Norman invasion of Ireland. It is possible that the name was originally associated with a person who held a position of authority or had a connection to the royal family or a noble lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Enright is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1172, the annals mention a person named Muircheartach Enright, who was described as a chieftain or leader of a clan in the region of Munster.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Enright was prevalent in the counties of Limerick and Kerry, where many families with this surname held land and played influential roles in local affairs. In the 1659 Census of Ireland, several Enright families were recorded in these areas, with variations in spelling such as Enraght and Inright.

One notable figure from history with the surname Enright was John Enright, a 17th-century Irish soldier who fought in the Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He was born around 1620 in County Kerry and played a significant role in defending the city of Limerick against the forces of Oliver Cromwell.

Another prominent individual with the Enright surname was Sir John Enright, who lived in the late 18th century. He was a member of the Irish Parliament and served as the High Sheriff of County Limerick in 1795.

In the 19th century, John Enright (1785-1868) was a renowned Irish Catholic priest and educator. He founded several schools in County Limerick and played a crucial role in promoting education among the Catholic population of Ireland.

Michael Enright (1832-1900) was an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales in the late 19th century.

Joseph Enright (1856-1929) was an American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the iconic Grand Central Terminal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Enright families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Enright 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. Middlesex leads with 108 Enrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 3.86x
Lancashire 53 1.60x
Surrey 31 2.27x
Glamorgan 9 1.85x
Kent 9 0.94x
Gloucestershire 8 1.46x
Hampshire 8 1.39x
Brecknockshire 7 12.50x
Yorkshire 7 0.25x
Royal Navy 6 17.99x
Cheshire 5 0.81x
Cumberland 5 2.07x
Durham 5 0.60x
Cornwall 4 1.26x
Lanarkshire 4 0.44x
Channel Islands 3 3.62x
Essex 3 0.54x
Somerset 3 0.67x
Devon 2 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.53x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.33x
Hertfordshire 1 0.52x
Inverness-shire 1 1.20x
Midlothian 1 0.27x
Monmouthshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 24 Enrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.06x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 24 16.06x
Poplar London 13 24.60x
St Botolph Aldgate London 11 190.64x
Hackney London 10 6.37x
Liverpool 10 4.96x
Battersea 9 8.74x
Swansea Town 9 22.52x
Bermondsey 8 9.60x
Bethnal Green London 8 6.58x
Leeds 7 4.47x
Llangattock 7 153.51x
Warrington 7 17.78x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 23.99x
Bromley London 6 9.74x
Bury 6 15.81x
Royal Navy 6 21.04x
St Martin In Fields 6 35.80x
Accrington 5 16.56x
Bristol St James In 5 61.96x
Camberwell 5 2.80x
Chelsea London 5 5.93x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 65.96x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 13.86x
Westminster St James 5 17.37x
Alverstoke 4 19.26x
Glasgow 4 2.49x
Hoose 4 344.83x
Marazion 4 1052.63x
Newington 4 3.87x
Shoreditch London 4 3.30x
South Stoneham 4 32.13x
Spitalfields London 4 18.99x
Bedminster 3 7.08x
Bradford 3 19.29x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 32.47x
Harrington 3 103.09x
Hulme 3 4.33x
Lambeth 3 1.23x
Litherland 3 43.17x
St Helier 3 11.11x
St Pancras London 3 1.33x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 7.58x
Clifton 2 7.20x
Clifton Cum Salwick 2 500.00x
Farnworth 2 10.05x
Lenton 2 22.50x
West Derby 2 2.06x
Westminster St John 2 5.87x
Whitehaven 2 15.56x
Bedwellty 1 2.80x
Bowdon 1 40.82x
Cheltenham 1 2.36x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.51x
East Ham 1 9.75x
East Stonehouse 1 8.71x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.66x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.72x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.68x
North Meols 1 3.08x
Old Kilpatrick 1 11.25x
Paignton 1 22.57x
Rettendon 1 144.93x
Rusholme 1 11.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.78x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.03x
St Luke London 1 2.23x
Strath 1 39.37x
Tottenham 1 2.24x
Walthamstow 1 5.03x
Ware 1 18.08x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.41x
Whitechapel London 1 3.62x
Woking 1 12.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Ellen 13
Margaret 11
Bridget 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Elizabeth 5
Kate 5
Sarah 4
Anne 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Hanora 2
Jane 2
Johanna 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Aurstasia 1
Caroline 1
Cathe. 1
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Johana 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Monica 1
Norah 1
Rachel 1
Rattie 1
Royanna 1
Searia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
Thomas 12
William 11
James 10
Patrick 10
Michael 9
George 6
Joseph 5
Wm. 5
Daniel 3
Maurice 3
Thos. 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Robt. 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Cornelius 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Florence 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Jerry 1
Jno. 1
Morris 1
Richard 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Enright surname: questions and answers

How common was the Enright surname in 1881?

In 1881, 278 people were recorded with the Enright surname. That placed it at #10,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Enright surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,354 in 2016. That gives Enright a modern rank of #4,451.

What does the Enright surname mean?

Of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Indreachtach," meaning "attacker" or "raider."

What does the Enright map show?

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