NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaughan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gáibhtheacháin," meaning "descendant of a fierce warrior."

In the 1881 census there were 301 people recorded with the Gaughan surname, ranking it #9,694 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,806, ranked #3,504, up from #9,694 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitchurch, Halifax and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Burnley and Mosspark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaughan is 1,808 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 500.0%.

1881 census count

301

Ranked #9,694

Modern count

1,806

2016, ranked #3,504

Peak year

2014

1,808 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaughan had 301 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,694 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,806 in 2016, ranked #3,504.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 372 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gaughan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaughan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaughan 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 301 #9,694
1891 historical 282 #11,597
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 194 #15,250
1997 modern 1,599 #3,702
1998 modern 1,688 #3,653
1999 modern 1,669 #3,718
2000 modern 1,651 #3,738
2001 modern 1,613 #3,745
2002 modern 1,663 #3,711
2003 modern 1,685 #3,604
2004 modern 1,648 #3,676
2005 modern 1,641 #3,655
2006 modern 1,663 #3,613
2007 modern 1,681 #3,609
2008 modern 1,709 #3,581
2009 modern 1,727 #3,614
2010 modern 1,794 #3,580
2011 modern 1,790 #3,548
2012 modern 1,796 #3,488
2013 modern 1,786 #3,556
2014 modern 1,808 #3,539
2015 modern 1,789 #3,538
2016 modern 1,806 #3,504

Geography

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Where Gaughans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitchurch, Halifax, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Burnley, Mosspark, Wakefield and West Calder and Polbeth. 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 Whitchurch Shropshire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
2 Burnley 010 Burnley
3 Mosspark Glasgow City
4 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
5 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaughan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaughan

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gaughan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gaughan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gaughan

The surname Gaughan is of Irish origin, and it is believed to have originated in County Westmeath, Ireland, in the 16th century. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic personal name "Geachan," which means "the little bright one" or "the shining one."

The earliest recorded instance of the name Gaughan dates back to the 16th century, when it was spelled as "Geaughane" or "Geaghan." These early spellings reflect the Gaelic pronunciation of the name. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "Gaughan."

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Gaughan can be found in the Petty's Census of Ireland, conducted in 1659. This census recorded several Gaughan families living in County Westmeath. The name was also mentioned in the Irish Chancery Rolls of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Gaughan family was well-established in County Westmeath, particularly in the baronies of Rathconrath and Corkaree. Some notable Gaughans from this period include John Gaughan (1700-1785), a landowner and merchant in Mullingar, and Patrick Gaughan (1725-1798), a prominent Catholic activist who fought for the rights of Irish Catholics during the Penal Laws.

As the Gaughan family spread across Ireland, the name also appeared in various place names, such as Gaughanstown in County Westmeath and Gaughansbeg in County Laois. These place names reflect the influence and presence of the Gaughan family in different parts of Ireland.

In the 19th century, several Gaughans achieved notable positions and contributed to various fields. For example, James Gaughan (1815-1891) was a prominent Catholic priest and educator who served as the President of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. John Gaughan (1820-1895) was an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, from 1873 to 1875.

Other notable Gaughans include Michael Gaughan (1848-1913), an Irish nationalist and Member of Parliament for County Leitrim, and Edward Gaughan (1856-1935), an Irish-American judge who served on the New York Supreme Court.

Throughout its history, the surname Gaughan has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, and it continues to be a part of the rich cultural heritage of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaughan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaughan 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 75 Gaughans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 75 2.58x
Lanarkshire 67 7.06x
Lancashire 61 1.75x
Midlothian 17 4.32x
Northumberland 17 3.89x
Shropshire 14 5.52x
Durham 11 1.26x
Ayrshire 9 4.10x
Derbyshire 7 1.52x
Renfrewshire 7 3.08x
Dunbartonshire 5 6.34x
Cheshire 4 0.62x
Glamorgan 4 0.78x
Warwickshire 2 0.27x
Orkney 1 3.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 41 Gaughans recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.32x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 41 24.32x
Leeds 32 19.48x
Whitchurch 14 284.55x
Burnley 13 44.31x
Govan 12 5.11x
Liverpool 12 5.67x
Keighley 10 32.25x
Lasswade 10 111.23x
Gorbals 9 159.57x
Heworth 9 52.30x
Southowram 9 101.35x
Dunlop 8 583.94x
York St George 8 349.35x
Chesterfield 7 40.63x
Hunslet 7 15.43x
Paisley High Church 7 38.63x
Westgate 6 22.18x
Wetherby 6 315.79x
Blackburn 5 5.39x
Row 5 48.97x
Widnes 5 19.90x
Aberdare 4 11.40x
Byker 4 18.53x
Chorley 4 20.46x
Cockpen 4 86.96x
Dukinfield 4 13.36x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 15.33x
Pendleton In Salford 4 9.64x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 29.97x
Habergham Eaves 3 9.42x
Rutherglen 3 21.54x
Wardleworth 3 15.07x
Birmingham 2 0.81x
Dewsbury 2 6.70x
Fulwood 2 53.19x
Great Ryle 2 2857.14x
Preston 2 2.15x
Shettleston 2 23.53x
Toxteth Park 2 1.70x
Aspull 1 12.21x
Ayr 1 9.64x
Barnard Castle 1 23.15x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.33x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.61x
Clitheroe 1 9.76x
Gate Fulford 1 14.73x
Kirkwall St Ola 1 20.66x
Manchester 1 0.64x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.42x
Spotland 1 2.58x
West Derby 1 0.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Bridget 10
Ann 8
Ellen 6
Margaret 6
Catherine 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Kate 3
Sarah 3
Cathrine 2
Eliza 2
Margret 2
Minnie 2
Winefred 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Anora 1
Barbara 1
Catherina 1
Cecelie 1
Elinor 1
Florence 1
Jane 1
John 1
Lettie 1
Margueret 1
Norah 1
Susahannah 1
Winefrid 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Thomas 12
Michael 10
Patrick 9
William 8
James 7
Anthony 6
Edward 3
Peter 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Bartolemew 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Patr. 1
Phillip 1
Ted 1
Thady 1

FAQ

Gaughan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaughan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 301 people were recorded with the Gaughan surname. That placed it at #9,694 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaughan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,806 in 2016. That gives Gaughan a modern rank of #3,504.

What does the Gaughan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gáibhtheacháin," meaning "descendant of a fierce warrior."

What does the Gaughan map show?

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