NameCensus.

UK surname

Flynn

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Floinn," meaning "descendant of Flann" (a byname meaning "red" or "ruddy").

In the 1881 census there were 5,709 people recorded with the Flynn surname, ranking it #774 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,102, ranked #389, up from #774 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, The Glens and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flynn is 16,353 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.0%.

1881 census count

5,709

Ranked #774

Modern count

16,102

2016, ranked #389

Peak year

2010

16,353 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flynn had 5,709 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #774 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,102 in 2016, ranked #389.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,272 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Flynn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flynn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flynn 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 1,865 #1,550
1861 historical 2,415 #1,208
1881 historical 5,709 #774
1891 historical 5,883 #801
1901 historical 7,272 #752
1911 historical 6,210 #830
1997 modern 14,850 #409
1998 modern 15,409 #409
1999 modern 15,604 #408
2000 modern 15,461 #410
2001 modern 15,103 #409
2002 modern 15,408 #411
2003 modern 15,044 #412
2004 modern 15,064 #410
2005 modern 15,056 #402
2006 modern 15,130 #400
2007 modern 15,294 #398
2008 modern 15,364 #399
2009 modern 15,924 #396
2010 modern 16,353 #392
2011 modern 16,006 #395
2012 modern 15,732 #396
2013 modern 16,126 #394
2014 modern 16,272 #393
2015 modern 16,116 #394
2016 modern 16,102 #389

Geography

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Where Flynns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, The Glens, Manchester and Birmingham. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 The Glens Dundee City
3 Manchester 013 Manchester
4 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
5 Manchester 009 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flynn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flynn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flynn, 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 Flynn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Flynn 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Flynn 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

Flynn 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

Flynn 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 Flynn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Flynn

The surname Flynn is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Ó Floinn, meaning "descendant of Flann". It can be traced back to the 10th century in Ireland, where it was originally found in County Armagh and County Mayo. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Irish personal name Flann, which means "red" or "ruddy complexion".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Flann mac Mael-tuile" in the year 948. This entry suggests that the name was in use as a personal name during this time period, and it likely evolved into a hereditary surname in the following centuries.

In the 12th century, the surname Flynn appears in the Book of Leinster, an important manuscript containing some of the earliest examples of Irish literature and genealogies. This record indicates that the name was well-established in Ireland by this time.

The earliest recorded bearer of the surname Flynn was Mathghamhain Ó Floinn, who was mentioned in the Annals of Connacht in 1316. This entry provides evidence of the surname's existence in the 14th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Flynn family held lands in County Armagh and played a significant role in the region's history. One notable figure was Gilla-na-naemh Ó Floinn, who was the Bishop of Armagh from 1349 to 1362.

In later centuries, the surname spread throughout Ireland and beyond. Notable individuals with the surname Flynn include:

1. Errol Flynn (1909-1959), an Australian-American actor known for his roles in swashbuckler films. 2. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890-1964), an American labor leader and activist. 3. Raymond Flynn (born 1939), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993. 4. Daniel J. Flynn (1864-1950), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Ogdensburg from 1904 to 1914. 5. Brian Flynn (born 1955), a Welsh football player and manager who played for Burnley and managed the Welsh national team.

Overall, the surname Flynn has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with its origins dating back to the 10th century and its prevalence spanning various regions and historical periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flynn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flynn 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 1,648 Flynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,648 2.48x
Middlesex 608 1.09x
Yorkshire 593 1.07x
Midlothian 282 3.76x
Lanarkshire 279 1.54x
Durham 241 1.45x
Surrey 204 0.75x
Glamorgan 188 1.93x
Staffordshire 168 0.89x
Kent 133 0.70x
Warwickshire 129 0.91x
Angus 115 2.22x
Cheshire 112 0.91x
Hampshire 83 0.72x
Northumberland 83 1.00x
Perthshire 72 2.87x
Cumberland 66 1.37x
Renfrewshire 66 1.52x
Devon 55 0.47x
Gloucestershire 52 0.47x
East Lothian 51 6.89x
Monmouthshire 51 1.26x
Essex 31 0.28x
Worcestershire 30 0.41x
Derbyshire 29 0.33x
Pembrokeshire 24 1.35x
Ayrshire 20 0.48x
Somerset 19 0.21x
Kirkcudbrightshire 18 2.22x
Royal Navy 18 2.70x
Wigtownshire 18 2.42x
Flintshire 17 1.13x
Fife 16 0.48x
Shropshire 15 0.31x
Stirlingshire 15 0.73x
Cornwall 14 0.22x
Dunbartonshire 14 0.93x
Sussex 14 0.15x
Northamptonshire 12 0.23x
Channel Islands 11 0.66x
Lincolnshire 11 0.12x
Norfolk 11 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.25x
Clackmannanshire 9 1.95x
West Lothian 9 1.07x
Dumfriesshire 8 0.65x
Roxburghshire 7 0.69x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.07x
Selkirkshire 5 0.99x
Suffolk 5 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.18x
Dorset 4 0.11x
Herefordshire 4 0.17x
Brecknockshire 3 0.27x
Orkney 3 0.49x
Shetland 3 0.53x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.02x
Argyllshire 1 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
Radnorshire 1 0.22x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

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 317 Flynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.87x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 317 7.87x
Manchester 152 5.09x
Birmingham 98 2.09x
Leeds 95 3.04x
Glasgow 86 2.68x
Dundee 78 4.03x
West Derby 74 3.81x
Barony 67 1.46x
Camberwell 66 1.85x
Everton 63 2.98x
Govan 62 1.39x
Oldham 59 2.76x
Blackburn 54 3.06x
Kirkdale 51 4.57x
Preston 49 2.76x
Salford 45 2.31x
St Marylebone London 43 1.44x
Huddersfield 42 5.20x
Toxteth Park 42 1.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 40 1.33x
Inveresk 38 18.74x
Islington London 38 0.70x
St Pancras London 38 0.84x
Portsea 37 1.65x
Edinburgh Canongate 36 18.88x
South Leith 36 4.27x
Wardleworth 36 9.49x
Warrington 36 4.58x
Middlesbrough 34 4.71x
Shoreditch London 34 1.40x
Edinburgh Old Church 31 51.55x
Westminster St James 31 5.39x
Aston 29 0.75x
Cardiff St Mary 29 5.41x
Newcastle Under Lyme 29 8.68x
Newchurch 29 5.34x
Pendleton In Salford 29 3.67x
St Luke London 29 3.23x
Liff Benvie 28 3.56x
Millom 28 18.98x
Much Woolton 27 29.99x
Birkenhead 26 2.64x
Bootle Cum Linacre 26 4.93x
St Andrew Holborn London 26 10.74x
Widnes 25 5.22x
Ardwick 24 4.01x
Darlington 24 3.74x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 23 3.19x
Lambeth 23 0.47x
Paisley High Church 23 6.67x
Sheffield 23 1.30x
Wakefield 23 5.41x
Bethnal Green London 22 0.91x
Bristol St James In 22 13.64x
Poplar London 22 2.08x
St George In East London 22 4.18x
Barrow In Furness 21 2.33x
Blantyre 21 11.15x
Burnley 21 3.76x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 21 4.23x
Swansea Town 21 2.63x
Wolverhampton 21 1.45x
Barton Upon Irwell 20 4.00x
Cardiff St John 20 6.29x
Gillingham 20 5.08x
Minster In Sheppey 20 6.33x
Chorlton On Medlock 19 1.80x
Kensington London 19 0.61x
Ormskirk 19 14.97x
Perth Middle Church 19 20.13x
Stoke Damerel 19 2.33x
Merthyr Tydfil 18 1.92x
Pontefract 18 15.08x
Royal Navy 18 3.16x
Bradford 17 1.27x
Chelsea London 17 1.01x
Esh 17 14.04x
Horton In Bradford 17 1.96x
Woolwich 17 2.41x
Walsall Foreign 16 1.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 556
Margaret 169
Catherine 161
Ellen 137
Ann 122
Bridget 122
Elizabeth 102
Sarah 67
Jane 52
Annie 44
Kate 43
Alice 37
Julia 32
Hannah 29
Eliza 28
Emma 22
Martha 21
Maria 19
Margt. 18
Agnes 17
Rose 16
Anne 14
Caroline 13
Isabella 13
Emily 12
Frances 11
Elizth. 10
Cathrine 9
Margret 9
Susan 9
Florence 8
Harriet 8
Helen 8
Johanna 8
Louisa 8
Selina 8
Ada 7
Catharine 7
Charlotte 7
Edith 7
Eleanor 7
Lucy 7
Winifred 7
Esther 6
Norah 6
Teresa 6
Bridgett 5
Ethel 5
Harriett 5
Maggie 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 469
Thomas 234
James 221
Patrick 180
Michael 161
William 159
Edward 68
Peter 57
Joseph 52
Charles 47
Martin 43
Daniel 38
Henry 36
George 33
David 31
Francis 31
Richard 30
Thos. 23
Bernard 19
Timothy 18
Denis 17
Wm. 17
Anthony 15
Hugh 15
Dennis 14
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
Bartholomew 10
Robert 10
Andrew 9
Cornelius 9
Frederick 9
Owen 9
Christopher 8
Luke 8
Matthew 8
Albert 7
Jas. 7
Jeremiah 7
Stephen 7
Herbert 6
Maurice 6
Chas. 5
Frank 5
Jno. 5
Morris 5
Mark 4
Walter 4
J. 3
Patk. 3

FAQ

Flynn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flynn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,709 people were recorded with the Flynn surname. That placed it at #774 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flynn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,102 in 2016. That gives Flynn a modern rank of #389.

What does the Flynn surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Floinn," meaning "descendant of Flann" (a byname meaning "red" or "ruddy").

What does the Flynn map show?

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