NameCensus.

UK surname

Feehan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Fiahán meaning "descendant of Fíachan".

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Feehan surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, up from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Paisley North and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Feehan is 484 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 768.6%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2010

484 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Feehan had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 67 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Feehan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Feehan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Feehan 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 61 #26,724
1997 modern 425 #10,510
1998 modern 444 #10,513
1999 modern 450 #10,451
2000 modern 449 #10,459
2001 modern 448 #10,274
2002 modern 468 #10,117
2003 modern 464 #10,003
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 449 #10,230
2006 modern 455 #10,160
2007 modern 466 #10,070
2008 modern 471 #10,091
2009 modern 476 #10,227
2010 modern 484 #10,288
2011 modern 474 #10,366
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 455 #10,743
2014 modern 456 #10,781
2015 modern 450 #10,819
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Feehans 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 Cardiff, Paisley North, Wolverhampton, Hinckley and Bosworth and East Northamptonshire. 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 Cardiff 022 Cardiff
2 Paisley North Renfrewshire
3 Wolverhampton 003 Wolverhampton
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 006 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 East Northamptonshire 009 East Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Feehan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Feehan

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Feehan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Feehan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Feehan 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

Feehan 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

Feehan falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Feehan

The surname Feehan is of Irish origin and is believed to have emerged in the 16th century. It is a variant spelling of the Gaelic name "O'Fiachain," which means "descendant of Fiachan." Fiachan was a personal name derived from the Irish word "fiach," meaning "raven" or "hunter."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to County Mayo in the west of Ireland. It is thought to have been concentrated in the baronies of Carra and Erris, where the family held lands and played a significant role in the local community.

In medieval Irish records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "O'Feehyly," "O'Feehilly," and "O'Feehily." These variants reflect the fluid nature of spelling conventions during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donnchadh Ó Fiachna, a prominent Irish poet who lived in the late 16th century. His poetry, which celebrated the exploits of local chieftains, provides valuable insights into the cultural and political landscape of the time.

Another notable figure was Fearghal Ó Fiachna, a renowned scholar and scribe who lived in the 17th century. He was responsible for transcribing and preserving several important Irish manuscripts, ensuring the survival of invaluable historical and literary works.

During the 18th century, the name Feehan gained prominence in County Mayo. Patrick Feehan, born in 1752, was a successful merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

In the 19th century, John Feehan (1813-1887) was a respected Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Tuam. He was known for his dedication to education and his efforts to improve the lives of the local population.

Another notable figure was Michael Feehan (1857-1923), a successful businessman and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of his hometown, Westport, in County Mayo, and was widely respected for his generosity and civic engagement.

Over time, the name Feehan has spread beyond Ireland, with members of the family settling in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Feehan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Feehan 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 21 Feehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 21 3.56x
Lanarkshire 9 5.60x
Yorkshire 8 1.62x
Staffordshire 7 4.17x
Gloucestershire 2 2.05x
Worcestershire 2 3.08x
Hampshire 1 0.98x
Warwickshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 9 Feehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.63x.

Place Total Index
Govan 9 22.63x
Walsall Foreign 7 80.74x
Liverpool 6 16.75x
Thornaby 5 271.74x
Hulme 4 32.47x
Pendleton In Salford 4 56.90x
West Derby 4 23.18x
Leeds 3 10.78x
Bristol Temple 2 312.50x
Spetchley 2 6666.67x
Birmingham 1 2.39x
Farnborough 1 93.46x
Harpurhey 1 121.95x
Kirkdale 1 10.07x
Walton On Hill 1 31.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Angain 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Fanny 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Margrate 1
Marhays 1
May 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Daniel 3
Thomas 3
John 2
Michael 2
Dennis 1
Martin 1
Patrick 1
Peter 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 Feehan households.

FAQ

Feehan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Feehan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Feehan surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Feehan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Feehan a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Feehan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Fiahán meaning "descendant of Fíachan".

What does the Feehan map show?

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