NameCensus.

UK surname

Gargan

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Gargan surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 533, ranked #9,534, up from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Toxteth Park and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Salford and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gargan is 533 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 289.1%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

533

2016, ranked #9,534

Peak year

2016

533 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gargan had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016, ranked #9,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gargan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gargan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gargan 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 164 #17,144
1911 historical 93 #23,492
1997 modern 439 #10,264
1998 modern 444 #10,513
1999 modern 451 #10,435
2000 modern 446 #10,516
2001 modern 442 #10,388
2002 modern 455 #10,349
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 462 #10,092
2005 modern 468 #9,909
2006 modern 476 #9,836
2007 modern 471 #9,992
2008 modern 479 #9,964
2009 modern 509 #9,712
2010 modern 502 #10,029
2011 modern 486 #10,168
2012 modern 493 #9,975
2013 modern 521 #9,722
2014 modern 521 #9,788
2015 modern 518 #9,761
2016 modern 533 #9,534

Geography

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Where Gargans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Toxteth Park, Eccles, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Newlands. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Salford and Knowsley. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Newlands Peebles

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 019 Bolton
2 Salford 016 Salford
3 Knowsley 008 Knowsley
4 Bolton 010 Bolton
5 Knowsley 019 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gargan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gargan

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

Gargan is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gargan

The surname Gargan is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "garg," which means fierce or valiant, and can be traced to the ancient Irish clan of O'Gargain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gargan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. This text mentions several individuals bearing the name, including Domnall O'Gargain, who was a prominent chieftain in County Sligo in the late 12th century.

The surname Gargan can also be linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Garganvillen, a small village in County Tipperary. This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location or territory associated with the O'Gargain clan.

In the 16th century, the Gargan surname gained further prominence with the birth of Edmond Gargan (c. 1550-1610), a renowned Irish scholar and philosopher who studied at the University of Paris. He later became a professor of philosophy at the University of Reims in France.

Another notable figure with the Gargan surname was John Gargan (1770-1846), an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

In the 19th century, the Gargan name was also associated with the Irish literary world. Thomas Gargan (1817-1892) was a renowned poet and playwright from County Mayo, known for his works celebrating Irish culture and traditions.

Other notable individuals bearing the Gargan surname include: - Michael Gargan (1867-1947), an Irish-American politician and judge who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York Supreme Court. - Francis Gargan (1900-1976), an American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, including roles in classic movies like "The Thin Man" and "It Happened One Night." - Patricia Gargan (1925-2018), an American author and journalist who wrote several books on subjects ranging from art to travel.

While the surname Gargan has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Irish emigrants and their descendants. However, its origin and connection to the ancient O'Gargain clan remain a significant part of its rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gargan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gargan 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. Yorkshire leads with 40 Gargans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 40 3.00x
Lancashire 37 2.32x
Angus 22 17.64x
Isle of Man 9 36.00x
Peeblesshire 8 126.38x
Renfrewshire 7 6.71x
Lanarkshire 5 1.15x
Kent 4 0.87x
Midlothian 3 1.66x
Durham 1 0.25x
Herefordshire 1 1.81x
Middlesex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 15 Gargans recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.22x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 15 32.22x
Bradford 10 30.97x
Halifax 9 45.97x
Salford 9 19.16x
Batley 8 63.09x
Malew 8 366.97x
Newlands 8 2105.26x
Bowling 7 52.99x
Liff Benvie 7 36.98x
Paisley High Church 7 84.24x
Pendleton In Salford 5 26.27x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 108.70x
Widnes 5 43.40x
Horton In Bradford 3 14.40x
Huddersfield 3 15.44x
Lasswade 3 72.82x
Old Monkland 3 17.36x
Woolwich 3 17.68x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 24.94x
Hulme 2 6.00x
Litherland 2 59.88x
Liverpool 2 2.06x
Manchester 2 2.78x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 7.88x
Brancepeth 1 136.99x
Carnwath 1 37.17x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.15x
Gillingham 1 10.56x
Govan 1 0.93x
Kirkdale 1 3.72x
Parr 1 17.51x
Rushen 1 59.17x
Stauntonon Arrow 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Catherine 5
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Margaret 4
Bridget 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Katie 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
James 4
Thomas 4
Patrick 3
William 3
Edward 2
Edwd. 2
Michael 2
Arthur 1
Bartholomew 1
Brian 1
Daniel 1
Domai 1
Francis 1
Garrett 1
George 1
Henry 1
Jm. 1
Joseph 1
Josh. 1
Louie 1
Martin 1
Michel 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1

FAQ

Gargan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gargan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Gargan surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gargan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016. That gives Gargan a modern rank of #9,534.

What does the Gargan surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Ireland.

What does the Gargan map show?

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