NameCensus.

UK surname

Flanigan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Flannagáin," meaning "descendant of Flannagán," a personal name meaning "red-faced."

In the 1881 census there were 519 people recorded with the Flanigan surname, ranking it #6,572 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 354, ranked #13,054, down from #6,572 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenend and Carnbroe, Redcar and Cleveland and Coatdyke and Whinhall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flanigan is 519 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.8%.

1881 census count

519

Ranked #6,572

Modern count

354

2016, ranked #13,054

Peak year

1881

519 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flanigan had 519 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,572 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016, ranked #13,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 519 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Flanigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flanigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Flanigan 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 339 #6,922
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 519 #6,572
1891 historical 358 #9,655
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 334 #12,591
1998 modern 347 #12,607
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 328 #12,944
2002 modern 336 #12,992
2003 modern 337 #12,759
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 348 #12,410
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 352 #12,546
2008 modern 351 #12,661
2009 modern 354 #12,858
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 357 #12,915
2012 modern 361 #12,647
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 362 #12,955
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 354 #13,054

Geography

Back to top

Where Flanigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, 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 Greenend and Carnbroe, Redcar and Cleveland, Coatdyke and Whinhall and South Kesteven. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenend and Carnbroe North Lanarkshire
2 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Redcar and Cleveland 010 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Coatdyke and Whinhall North Lanarkshire
5 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Flanigan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Flanigan

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

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Flanigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Flanigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Flanigan 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

Flanigan is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flanigan 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 Flanigan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Flanigan

The surname Flanigan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'O'Flannagain', meaning 'descendant of Flannagan'. The name is believed to have originated in the 9th or 10th century in County Tipperary, Ireland.

The name 'Flannagan' is thought to be derived from the Irish word 'flann', meaning 'red' or 'ruddy', and the diminutive suffix '-agan', indicating a small or young person. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Flanigan appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a 'Flannagan Mac Brolchain' in the year 1086. This indicates that the name was in use in Ireland during the late 11th century.

In the 16th century, the name Flanigan is found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of royal letters and decrees relating to Ireland. A 'Donough Flanigan' is mentioned in a document from 1584, indicating the presence of the name in County Tipperary at that time.

During the 17th century, the name Flanigan appears in various Irish records, including the Petty Census of 1659, which lists several Flanigan families in County Tipperary. This suggests that the name was well-established in that region by that period.

Notable individuals with the surname Flanigan throughout history include:

1. Michael Flanigan (1832-1904), an Irish-American Civil War veteran and politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

2. Patrick Flanigan (1834-1899), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who served as the second president of St. John's University in New York.

3. John Flanigan (1806-1885), an Irish-born American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

4. Thomas Flanigan (1841-1915), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who served as the first president of St. Viator College in Illinois.

5. William Flanigan (1804-1888), an Irish-born American soldier and politician who served as a member of the Illinois State Senate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Flanigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flanigan 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 115 Flanigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 115 1.92x
Yorkshire 74 1.48x
Lanarkshire 72 4.41x
Midlothian 48 7.10x
Renfrewshire 40 10.23x
Middlesex 27 0.54x
Durham 24 1.60x
Staffordshire 22 1.29x
Cheshire 14 1.26x
Wigtownshire 11 16.43x
Angus 10 2.14x
Ayrshire 8 2.12x
Cumberland 8 1.84x
Northumberland 8 1.07x
Kent 6 0.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 5.48x
Warwickshire 4 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.87x
Perthshire 3 1.33x
Shropshire 3 0.69x
Surrey 3 0.12x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.48x
Cornwall 1 0.18x
Devon 1 0.10x
East Lothian 1 1.50x
Essex 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Stirlingshire 1 0.54x
West Lothian 1 1.32x

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 22 Flanigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.05x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 22 6.05x
Govan 21 5.21x
Barony 19 4.60x
York St George 16 406.09x
Glasgow 14 4.83x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 25.25x
Edinburgh Canongate 12 69.81x
Edinburgh Trinity 12 550.46x
Brightside Bierlow 10 10.20x
Little Bolton 10 13.00x
Neilston 10 50.97x
Whithorn 10 196.08x
Burton Upon Trent 8 20.09x
Linthorpe 8 26.83x
Paisley High Church 8 25.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 4.43x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 8 46.43x
West Greenock 8 11.40x
East Greenock 7 18.97x
Everton 7 3.67x
Macclesfield 7 14.15x
Old Monkland 7 10.82x
Parr 7 32.70x
Preston Quarter 7 57.52x
Abbey 6 10.06x
Cumberworth 6 236.22x
Darlington 6 10.36x
Dundee 6 3.44x
Edinburgh New North 6 102.04x
Elton 6 29.01x
Toxteth Park 6 2.96x
Warrington 6 8.46x
Batley 5 10.53x
Doncaster 5 13.69x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.84x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 7.69x
Manchester 5 1.86x
Newton In Makerfield 5 27.29x
Runcorn 5 19.48x
St Lawrence 5 42.27x
Cambusnethan 4 11.04x
Corstorphine 4 107.24x
Edinburgh Tron Church 4 126.18x
Elswick 4 6.68x
Girvan 4 42.24x
Halliwell 4 18.37x
Leeds 4 1.42x
Liff Benvie 4 5.64x
Rutherglen 4 16.72x
Shoreditch London 4 1.83x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.50x
Troqueer 4 41.75x
Birmingham 3 0.71x
Huddersfield 3 4.12x
Hunslet 3 3.85x
Islington London 3 0.61x
Kelloe 3 185.19x
Pembroke St Mary 3 14.53x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 27.83x
Southwark St Saviour 3 11.57x
St Pancras London 3 0.74x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 12.58x
Bothwell 2 4.52x
Bradford 2 7.14x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.10x
Edinburgh New 2 38.10x
Gilberdike Bishopsoil 2 281.69x
Hammersmith London 2 1.61x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Linbridge 2 2857.14x
Perth St Pauls 2 38.17x
Sheffield 2 1.26x
South Leith 2 2.63x
Stockton On Tees 2 2.77x
Todmorden Walsden 2 12.48x
Upper Arley 2 158.73x
Westoe 2 2.35x
Whitechapel London 2 4.02x
Widnes 2 4.63x
Wigan 2 2.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Ellen 12
Margaret 12
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 9
Bridget 7
Ann 6
Catherine 6
Alice 4
Anne 4
Annie 3
Jane 3
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Agnes 1
Bessy 1
Bridet 1
Catharine 1
Christina 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Margrate 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Teresa 1
Winifred 1
Zebar 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Flanigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flanigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 519 people were recorded with the Flanigan surname. That placed it at #6,572 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flanigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016. That gives Flanigan a modern rank of #13,054.

What does the Flanigan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Flannagáin," meaning "descendant of Flannagán," a personal name meaning "red-faced."

What does the Flanigan map show?

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