NameCensus.

UK surname

Flaherty

An Irish surname derived from Ó Flaithbheartaigh, meaning "descendant of Flaithbheartach," a personal name meaning "bright ruler" or "bright prince."

In the 1881 census there were 909 people recorded with the Flaherty surname, ranking it #4,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,529, ranked #1,921, up from #4,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Knowsley and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flaherty is 3,683 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 288.2%.

1881 census count

909

Ranked #4,211

Modern count

3,529

2016, ranked #1,921

Peak year

2010

3,683 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flaherty had 909 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,529 in 2016, ranked #1,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,313 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Flaherty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flaherty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flaherty 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 424 #6,061
1881 historical 909 #4,211
1891 historical 982 #4,208
1901 historical 1,313 #3,805
1911 historical 1,135 #4,105
1997 modern 3,470 #1,867
1998 modern 3,586 #1,887
1999 modern 3,620 #1,878
2000 modern 3,537 #1,914
2001 modern 3,463 #1,917
2002 modern 3,573 #1,898
2003 modern 3,433 #1,930
2004 modern 3,531 #1,872
2005 modern 3,444 #1,893
2006 modern 3,421 #1,902
2007 modern 3,451 #1,904
2008 modern 3,510 #1,893
2009 modern 3,602 #1,892
2010 modern 3,683 #1,889
2011 modern 3,659 #1,878
2012 modern 3,509 #1,921
2013 modern 3,595 #1,906
2014 modern 3,607 #1,906
2015 modern 3,585 #1,899
2016 modern 3,529 #1,921

Geography

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Where Flahertys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Knowsley, Cannock Chase, Halton and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 025 Kirklees
2 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
3 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
4 Halton 013 Halton
5 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flaherty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flaherty

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Flaherty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Flaherty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Flaherty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flaherty 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

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

Meaning and origin of Flaherty

The surname Flaherty originated from the Irish Gaelic O'Flathartaigh. The prefix "O" denotes a grandson or male descendant, while the root word "Flathartaigh" is derived from the Irish word "flaith," meaning prince or ruler. This suggests that the Flaherty surname has roots in Irish nobility or chieftains from ancient times.

The Flaherty family can trace their origins to County Galway in the West of Ireland, particularly in the region of Connemara. This area was historically dominated by the powerful O'Flaherty clan, who ruled as kings and princes in the region for centuries. The earliest recorded reference to the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the 12th century.

One of the most notable figures in the Flaherty lineage was Murrough na dTuadh O'Flaherty, who lived in the late 16th century. He was a renowned leader of the O'Flaherty clan and played a pivotal role in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland. Another prominent member of the family was Roderic O'Flaherty (1629-1718), a renowned Irish historian and author of the influential work "Ogygia," which explored the origins of Irish mythology and culture.

The Flaherty name can also be found in various historical documents and records throughout Ireland, such as the Annals of Loch Cé, which mentions the death of Morogh O'Flaherty in 1385. Additionally, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any references to the Flaherty name, as it primarily focused on England and Wales.

Other notable individuals bearing the Flaherty surname include:

1. Thomas Flaherty (1753-1824), an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 2. Robert J. Flaherty (1884-1951), a pioneering American filmmaker known for his documentary "Nanook of the North." 3. Liam O'Flaherty (1896-1984), an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known for his works "The Informer" and "Insurrection." 4. John Flaherty (1920-2001), an American film director and screenwriter, known for his work on films like "The Flamingo Kid" and "Goodbye, Columbus." 5. Patricia Flaherty Pagan (born 1940), an American author and co-founder of the Spider Woman Theater, a Native American performance group.

The Flaherty surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Irish culture and can be traced back to the ancient clans and chieftains of County Galway. While the name has spread across the globe, its origins remain firmly grounded in the traditions and heritage of the Emerald Isle.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flaherty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flaherty 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 349 Flahertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.27x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 349 3.27x
Yorkshire 93 1.04x
Middlesex 71 0.79x
Staffordshire 55 1.81x
Lanarkshire 48 1.65x
Cheshire 44 2.22x
Kent 37 1.21x
Dunbartonshire 25 10.36x
Warwickshire 20 0.88x
Shropshire 16 2.06x
Durham 15 0.56x
Gloucestershire 14 0.79x
Sussex 14 0.92x
Hampshire 12 0.65x
Derbyshire 10 0.71x
Flintshire 10 4.14x
Midlothian 9 0.75x
Northumberland 9 0.67x
Somerset 9 0.62x
Devon 8 0.43x
Glamorgan 8 0.51x
Monmouthshire 8 1.23x
Royal Navy 8 7.47x
Surrey 6 0.14x
Cumberland 4 0.52x
Herefordshire 3 0.81x
Worcestershire 3 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.35x
Channel Islands 2 0.75x
Essex 2 0.11x
Berwickshire 1 0.92x
Caithness 1 0.81x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 67 Flahertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.35x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 67 10.35x
Manchester 31 6.47x
Oldham 31 9.01x
Stoke Upon Trent 25 7.77x
Govan 23 3.20x
Heap 21 37.14x
Bootle Cum Linacre 20 23.62x
Birmingham 19 2.52x
Everton 18 5.30x
Birkenhead 16 10.12x
Cardross 15 51.74x
Wigan 15 10.07x
Toxteth Park 13 3.60x
Glasgow 12 2.33x
Kirkdale 12 6.69x
Parr 12 31.46x
Pemberton 12 28.23x
St Luke London 12 8.33x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 28.28x
Bradford 10 20.04x
Flint 10 72.94x
Royton 10 30.67x
Shoreditch London 10 2.57x
Huddersfield 9 6.94x
Linthorpe 9 16.94x
Northowram 9 14.42x
Sale 9 36.99x
Sheffield 9 3.18x
Woolwich 9 7.95x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 9.65x
Barony 8 1.09x
Bradford 8 3.71x
Clifton 8 8.98x
Edgmond 8 93.68x
Lathom 8 62.16x
Margate St John Baptist 8 14.25x
Wardleworth 8 13.13x
Wellington 8 18.34x
West Calder 8 33.73x
Kimberworth 7 14.17x
Leeds 7 1.39x
Spotland 7 5.91x
Walsall Borough 7 29.74x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 7 60.09x
Alverstoke 6 9.00x
Bristol St Peter 6 95.24x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.54x
Rugeley 6 27.57x
Wallsend 6 14.15x
Wednesbury 6 7.92x
Westminster St John 6 5.48x
Windle 6 10.00x
Bedwellty 5 4.36x
Bonhill 5 12.90x
Brighton 5 1.64x
Derby All Sts 5 42.55x
Dumbarton 5 14.88x
Islington London 5 0.57x
Old Monkland 5 4.34x
Over 5 24.80x
Ryde 5 12.64x
Salford 5 1.59x
Selby 5 26.87x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 39.31x
St Giles In Fields London 5 11.34x
Westoe 5 3.30x
Willingdon 5 130.21x
Wolverhampton 5 2.14x
Bowling 4 4.54x
Gateshead 4 2.00x
Glossop Dale 4 6.07x
Lambeth 4 0.51x
Macclesfield 4 4.54x
Rickergate 4 24.43x
Stonehouse East 4 42.15x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 12.33x
Greenwich 3 2.10x
Hulme 3 1.35x
Monks Coppenhall 3 4.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 112
Margaret 31
Ellen 30
Ann 24
Bridget 24
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 21
Catherine 15
Annie 8
Julia 8
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Agnes 4
Hannah 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Johanna 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Honoria 2
Joanna 2
Norah 2
Susan 2
Winifred 2
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Bridgett 1
Cather. 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Honorah 1
Isabella 1
Kathleen 1
Kelly 1
Laura 1
Leonora 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margraet 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 93
Thomas 48
William 38
James 36
Patrick 34
Michael 30
Edward 18
Martin 17
Peter 11
Bernard 6
Joseph 6
Timothy 5
Anthony 4
Charles 4
Daniel 4
Francis 4
George 4
Nicholas 4
Alfred 3
Bartholomew 3
Christopher 3
Henry 3
Hugh 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Dennis 2
Edwd. 2
Frederick 2
Owen 2
Barney 1
Bryan 1
Coleman 1
Dan 1
Domonick 1
Edmond 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Johnth. 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Michal 1
Micheal 1
Morgan 1
Pat 1
Patr. 1

FAQ

Flaherty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flaherty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 909 people were recorded with the Flaherty surname. That placed it at #4,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flaherty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,529 in 2016. That gives Flaherty a modern rank of #1,921.

What does the Flaherty surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Flaithbheartaigh, meaning "descendant of Flaithbheartach," a personal name meaning "bright ruler" or "bright prince."

What does the Flaherty map show?

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