NameCensus.

UK surname

Gannon

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mag Fhionnáin," meaning "descendant of Fionnán," a personal name meaning "fair" or "white."

In the 1881 census there were 1,299 people recorded with the Gannon surname, ranking it #3,150 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,763, ranked #1,801, up from #3,150 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Powys and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gannon is 3,859 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 189.7%.

1881 census count

1,299

Ranked #3,150

Modern count

3,763

2016, ranked #1,801

Peak year

2010

3,859 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gannon had 1,299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,150 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,763 in 2016, ranked #1,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,789 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gannon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gannon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gannon 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 441 #5,582
1861 historical 702 #3,859
1881 historical 1,299 #3,150
1891 historical 1,252 #3,449
1901 historical 1,789 #2,924
1911 historical 1,694 #2,897
1997 modern 3,572 #1,813
1998 modern 3,642 #1,852
1999 modern 3,707 #1,835
2000 modern 3,724 #1,813
2001 modern 3,682 #1,794
2002 modern 3,748 #1,808
2003 modern 3,696 #1,792
2004 modern 3,673 #1,802
2005 modern 3,618 #1,805
2006 modern 3,599 #1,813
2007 modern 3,589 #1,837
2008 modern 3,672 #1,804
2009 modern 3,768 #1,810
2010 modern 3,859 #1,802
2011 modern 3,770 #1,823
2012 modern 3,728 #1,802
2013 modern 3,814 #1,800
2014 modern 3,837 #1,793
2015 modern 3,767 #1,808
2016 modern 3,763 #1,801

Geography

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Where Gannons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Powys, Liverpool and St. Helens. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
2 Powys 003 Powys
3 Liverpool 006 Liverpool
4 St. Helens 002 St. Helens
5 St. Helens 019 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gannon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gannon

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

Gannon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gannon

The surname Gannon is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name "Gannad," meaning "fair offspring" or "fair-haired." Its roots can be traced back to County Westmeath, Ireland, where it first emerged in the 11th century.

The name is believed to have evolved from the Old Irish word "gann," meaning "rare" or "scarce," which was often used as a term of endearment. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval Irish manuscripts, such as the Annals of the Four Masters, which date back to the 12th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Gannon O'Flaherty, a 13th-century Irish cleric and scholar from County Galway. He was renowned for his theological works and his efforts to preserve Irish language and culture.

Another notable figure was Sir John Gannon, an Irish soldier and statesman who lived in the 16th century. He served as Lord Deputy of Ireland and played a crucial role in the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

In the 17th century, the name Gannon was found in various records, including the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which listed heads of households for tax purposes. One such entry was for a Patrick Gannon in County Westmeath.

During the 18th century, the name gained prominence in the United States as Irish immigrants settled in various regions. One notable figure was Reverend Stephen Gannon, an Irish-born Catholic priest who founded St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City in 1815.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with several notable individuals, including Michael Joseph Gannon (1800-1859), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who founded St. Louis University in Missouri.

Throughout its history, the surname Gannon has been linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Gannons Cross in County Westmeath and Gannon's Grove in County Galway. These places likely derived their names from early bearers of the surname who settled in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gannon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gannon 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 526 Gannons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 526 3.51x
Yorkshire 187 1.49x
Cheshire 96 3.44x
Staffordshire 66 1.55x
Middlesex 65 0.51x
Warwickshire 49 1.54x
Durham 47 1.25x
Lanarkshire 43 1.05x
Surrey 25 0.41x
Midlothian 23 1.36x
Glamorgan 18 0.82x
Essex 15 0.60x
Northumberland 15 0.80x
Perthshire 13 2.29x
Cumberland 12 1.10x
Renfrewshire 10 1.02x
Norfolk 9 0.46x
Denbighshire 8 1.68x
Derbyshire 8 0.40x
Anglesey 6 2.68x
Leicestershire 6 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 5 1.47x
Gloucestershire 5 0.20x
Hampshire 5 0.19x
Worcestershire 5 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.23x
Royal Navy 4 2.66x
Devon 3 0.11x
Kent 3 0.07x
Angus 2 0.17x
Hertfordshire 2 0.23x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Isle of Man 1 0.43x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x
Merionethshire 1 0.43x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.25x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.06x

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 115 Gannons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.62x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 115 12.62x
Oldham 50 10.33x
Birmingham 45 4.24x
Stockport 27 18.80x
Bradford 24 7.91x
Gorton 22 15.60x
Batley 21 17.64x
Newcastle Under Lyme 21 27.81x
Glasgow 20 2.75x
Leeds 20 2.83x
Huddersfield 19 10.41x
Blackburn 18 4.51x
Manchester 18 2.67x
Great Bolton 17 8.56x
Salford 17 3.85x
Warrington 17 9.56x
Newton In Makerfield 16 34.83x
Didsbury 15 75.30x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 4.27x
Sheffield 14 3.51x
Govan 13 1.29x
Bromley London 12 4.31x
Ryhope 12 45.96x
Chester St John Baptist 11 21.93x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 4.62x
West Ham 11 2.00x
Astley 10 86.43x
Macclesfield 10 8.06x
Ardwick 9 6.65x
Atherton 9 16.48x
Caldewgate 9 15.09x
Congleton 9 18.66x
Hulme 9 2.87x
Islington London 9 0.73x
Newton Nottage 9 149.01x
Norwich St James 9 59.02x
Oystermouth 9 52.85x
Perth East Church 9 16.82x
Wardleworth 9 10.50x
Barony 8 0.77x
Burslem 8 6.54x
Droylsden 8 16.35x
Lea Ashton Ingol 8 80.32x
Parr 8 14.91x
Shipton In Great 8 430.11x
Tottenham 8 3.97x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 8 18.53x
Walton On Hill 8 9.84x
Wednesbury 8 7.50x
Wrexham Abbot 8 66.67x
Almondbury 7 11.56x
Broughton In Salford 7 5.10x
Nether Hallam 7 4.13x
Newchurch 7 5.70x
Putney 7 12.15x
Sale 7 20.45x
St Pancras London 7 0.69x
Stone 7 12.83x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 5.14x
Bermondsey 6 1.59x
Buglawton 6 89.29x
Byker 6 6.45x
Dewsbury 6 4.67x
East Rainton 6 82.42x
Haslingden 6 9.66x
Holyhead 6 14.36x
Kirkdale 6 2.38x
Little Crosby 6 248.96x
Northowram 6 6.83x
Selby 6 22.92x
Cornsay 5 49.36x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 11.60x
Edinburgh Trinity 5 91.74x
Heap 5 6.28x
Horfield 5 20.04x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 5.13x
Rotherham 5 7.08x
Skelton In Howden 5 500.00x
Toxteth Park 5 0.98x
West Greenock 5 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 148
Catherine 46
Bridget 40
Margaret 34
Ann 33
Ellen 33
Sarah 28
Elizabeth 24
Annie 20
Jane 13
Kate 11
Hannah 9
Julia 8
Maria 8
Eliza 6
Anne 5
Emma 5
Margret 5
Cathrine 4
Margt. 4
Winifred 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Bridgett 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizabh. 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Pauline 2
Cecilia 1
Esther 1
Evaleen 1
Frances 1
Hanora 1
Jessia 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Katie 1
Leonoria 1
Letitia 1
Letta 1
Lillie 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 110
Thomas 81
Patrick 73
James 66
Michael 49
William 37
Edward 19
Martin 17
Joseph 15
Peter 11
Henry 10
Charles 9
Francis 9
Thos. 9
George 8
Bernard 5
Laurence 4
Owen 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Austin 3
Daniel 3
Dennis 3
Timothy 3
Ann 2
Anthony 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Luke 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Pat 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Alfd.E. 1
Butram 1
Carl 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Geo.F. 1
Michl. 1
Pat. 1
Patk. 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Gannon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gannon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,299 people were recorded with the Gannon surname. That placed it at #3,150 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gannon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,763 in 2016. That gives Gannon a modern rank of #1,801.

What does the Gannon surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mag Fhionnáin," meaning "descendant of Fionnán," a personal name meaning "fair" or "white."

What does the Gannon map show?

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