NameCensus.

UK surname

Fannan

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fannáin, meaning "descendant of Fannán".

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Fannan surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, County Durham and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fannan is 140 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.3%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2015

140 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fannan had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Fannan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fannan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fannan 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 107 #26,754
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Fannans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Manchester, Glasgow and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, County Durham, Hartlepool and York. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 030 Barnsley
2 County Durham 034 County Durham
3 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
4 Barnsley 028 Barnsley
5 York 008 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fannan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fannan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fannan, 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 Fannan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fannan 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fannan 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

Fannan is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fannan 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 Fannan 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fannan

The surname Fannan originated in Ireland, emerging during the Middle Ages, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "fannán," which means "a wanderer" or "a traveler." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who frequently journeyed or had a nomadic lifestyle.

One of the earliest records of the name Fannan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a notable individual named Donnell O'Fannan, who was a chieftain in County Roscommon during the 15th century.

Historically, the Fannan family was concentrated in the western counties of Ireland, particularly in Connacht and parts of Ulster. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Fannanstown in County Roscommon and Fannanvale in County Cavan.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Fannan was Fergus Fannan, a renowned Irish poet and scholar who lived in County Mayo. He was highly respected for his works in the Irish language and is believed to have played a significant role in preserving Irish literary traditions during a period of cultural upheaval.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Brian Fannan, who lived in the 17th century and served as a member of the Irish Parliament. He was a staunch supporter of Catholic rights and played a role in the Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

In the 18th century, John Fannan, a merchant from County Sligo, gained recognition for his successful trading ventures and philanthropic activities. He contributed significantly to the development of his local community and was known for his generosity towards the less fortunate.

As the centuries progressed, the Fannan name spread beyond Ireland, with many individuals bearing the surname migrating to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable figure in the United States was Michael Fannan, a Civil War veteran who served in the Union Army and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in battle.

Throughout history, the surname Fannan has been associated with a rich cultural heritage and has left an indelible mark on various aspects of Irish society, from literature and politics to trade and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fannan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fannan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 35 Fannans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.47x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 35 12.47x
Yorkshire 20 2.33x
Midlothian 7 6.02x
Durham 6 2.32x
Northumberland 6 4.65x
Renfrewshire 5 7.43x
Lancashire 2 0.19x
Middlesex 2 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.52x
Fife 1 1.95x
Hampshire 1 0.56x
Kent 1 0.34x
Surrey 1 0.24x
Warwickshire 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. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 10 Fannans recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.59x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 10 20.59x
Sheffield 10 36.52x
Shettleston 8 318.73x
Glasgow 7 14.04x
New Monkland 7 84.34x
Abbey 5 48.73x
Old Monkland 4 35.91x
South Leith 4 30.58x
Barony 3 4.22x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 101.35x
Govan 3 4.32x
Tynemouth 3 43.35x
Blantyre 2 68.49x
Darlington 2 20.06x
Mile End Old Town London 2 10.83x
North Shields 2 77.52x
Sunderland 2 43.86x
Tudhoe 2 88.50x
Alkrington 1 909.09x
Aston 1 1.66x
Beath 1 61.73x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 36.50x
Camberwell 1 1.80x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.38x
Lanark 1 44.25x
Pilkington 1 25.58x
Southampton St Mary 1 8.94x
Stockport 1 10.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Bridget 2
Ellen 2
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Ginney 1
Isabella 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

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 Fannan households.

FAQ

Fannan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fannan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Fannan surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fannan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Fannan a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Fannan surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fannáin, meaning "descendant of Fannán".

What does the Fannan map show?

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