UK surname
An anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Flathartaigh, meaning "descendant of Flatharty" or "proud ruler".
In the 1881 census there were 132 people recorded with the Flaharty surname, ranking it #16,744 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #16,744 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Merthyr Tydfil, St Marylebone and Old Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flaharty is 132 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.5%.
1881 census count
132
Ranked #16,744
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1881
132 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Flaharty surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Flaharty surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 51 | #24,096 |
| 1861 | historical | 71 | #24,765 |
| 1881 | historical | 132 | #16,744 |
| 1891 | historical | 88 | #25,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Merthyr Tydfil, St Marylebone, Old Monkland, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Old Monkland | Lanark |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Flaharty surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flaharty, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Flaharty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Flaharty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Flaharty is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flaharty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Flaharty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Flaharty originated in Ireland and is thought to be a variant of the Irish surname Flaherty. The name is derived from the Old Irish Ó Flathartaigh, which means "descendant of Flatharta." Flatharta was a personal name that may have been derived from the word "flaith," meaning prince or ruler.
The earliest recorded instances of the Flaharty name can be found in historical records from County Galway in the west of Ireland. It is believed that the Flahertys and their variants were originally a prominent family in this region, with some branches also settling in County Mayo and other parts of Connacht.
In the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, there are references to several individuals with the name Flaherty or its variants. One notable example is Conchobhar Ó Flathartaigh, who was listed as the Lord of Iar Connacht (West Connacht) in the year 1244.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, many Irish families with surnames like Flaharty were dispossessed of their lands and forced to migrate due to the English conquest and plantation of Ireland. As a result, the name spread to other parts of Ireland and beyond.
One early recorded instance of the Flaharty spelling is found in the 1659 Census of Ireland, which lists a Thomas Flaharty as a landowner in County Galway. In the 18th century, the name appears in various records from County Mayo, with individuals such as John Flaharty (born around 1720) and Patrick Flaharty (born around 1760).
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Flaharty or its variants. These include:
1. Michael Flaherty (1788-1853), an Irish-American lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. 2. James Flaharty (1820-1903), an Irish-born clergyman who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. 3. John Flaharty (1831-1902), an Irish-born businessman and politician who served as the 25th Mayor of San Francisco, California. 4. William Flaharty (1852-1929), an Irish-American labor leader and trade unionist who played a significant role in the development of the labor movement in the United States. 5. Mary Flaherty (1898-1984), an Irish-American lawyer and judge who was one of the first women to serve as a judge in the state of New York.
The surname Flaharty, with its origins in the Irish Ó Flathartaigh, has a long and storied history that spans centuries and crosses continents. While it has evolved in spelling over time, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of Irish families and their contributions to various societies around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flaharty surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 26 Flahartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 1.70x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.32x |
| Warwickshire | 17 | 5.24x |
| Northumberland | 15 | 7.83x |
| Cheshire | 10 | 3.52x |
| Glamorgan | 10 | 4.46x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.59x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 1.68x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 1.61x |
| Angus | 5 | 4.19x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.39x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.12x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.79x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 17 Flahartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 17 | 15.71x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 9 | 41.76x |
| Islington London | 8 | 6.41x |
| Glasgow | 7 | 9.47x |
| Great Bolton | 7 | 34.59x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 10.18x |
| Wednesbury | 7 | 64.46x |
| Berwick Upon Tweed | 6 | 147.78x |
| Congleton | 6 | 122.20x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 6.47x |
| Charlton | 5 | 171.23x |
| Dundee | 5 | 11.23x |
| Burnley | 4 | 31.08x |
| Heap | 4 | 49.38x |
| Westgate | 4 | 33.73x |
| Bury | 3 | 17.19x |
| Wallsend | 3 | 49.34x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 8.83x |
| Blackburn | 2 | 4.92x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 2 | 49.14x |
| Chudleigh | 2 | 235.29x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 5.90x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 2 | 20.14x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 4.92x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 2 | 183.49x |
| Stockport | 2 | 13.67x |
| Stokesley | 2 | 250.00x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 6.02x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 5.33x |
| Sully | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Weston On Trent | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flaharty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Flaharty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Flaharty households.
FAQ
In 1881, 132 people were recorded with the Flaharty surname. That placed it at #16,744 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Flaharty a modern rank of #38,825.
An anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Flathartaigh, meaning "descendant of Flatharty" or "proud ruler".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flaharty bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.