NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaughran

A variant Irish surname derived from Ó Gabhrain meaning 'descendant of Gabhrán'.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Gaughran surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 172, ranked #21,648, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Dover and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaughran is 176 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1128.6%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

172

2016, ranked #21,648

Peak year

2013

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaughran had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016, ranked #21,648.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 42 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gaughran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaughran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaughran 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1911 historical 42 #28,691
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 141 #22,794
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 141 #23,137
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 176 #21,291
2016 modern 172 #21,648

Geography

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Where Gaughrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Dover, Stafford, Northampton and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 019 Rochdale
2 Dover 011 Dover
3 Stafford 013 Stafford
4 Northampton 017 Northampton
5 Cheshire West and Chester 032 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaughran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaughran

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Gaughran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gaughran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gaughran 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

Gaughran is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gaughran falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gaughran 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 Gaughran, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gaughran

The surname Gaughran has its origins in Ireland, emerging during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "gabhran," which means "little goat" or "young goat." This suggests that the name may have originated as a nickname for someone who resembled or had characteristics associated with a goat, such as agility or stubbornness.

The earliest recorded instances of the Gaughran surname can be traced back to the 16th century in County Westmeath, Ireland. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Tadhg Gaughran, who lived in the late 1500s and was a member of a prominent local family.

The Gaughran name has also been found in various historical records and manuscripts from the 17th and 18th centuries. For example, in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, there are references to individuals with the surname Gaughran participating in significant events and battles during that time period.

Over the centuries, the Gaughran surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Gawran, Gawren, and Gawrin. These variations likely emerged due to differences in local dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices during earlier times.

Notable individuals with the Gaughran surname throughout history include:

1. John Gaughran (1788-1864), an Irish politician and member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. 2. Patrick Gaughran (1815-1892), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Meath from 1857 to 1892. 3. Mary Gaughran (1860-1932), an Irish author and poet known for her works depicting life in rural Ireland. 4. Michael Gaughran (1892-1971), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Gaughran Foundation. 5. Liam Gaughran (1935-2018), an Irish hurler who played for the Westmeath senior hurling team and won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1963.

While the Gaughran name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to emigration and migration patterns over the centuries. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Irish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaughran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaughran 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. Denbighshire leads with 12 Gaughrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 233.01x.

County Total Index
Denbighshire 12 233.01x
Cheshire 1 3.32x
Yorkshire 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wrexham Regis in Denbighshire leads with 12 Gaughrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Wrexham Regis 12 3157.89x
Barnsley 1 71.94x
Oxton 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Esther 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
Christopher 1
John 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Phillip 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gaughran households.

FAQ

Gaughran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaughran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Gaughran surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaughran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 172 in 2016. That gives Gaughran a modern rank of #21,648.

What does the Gaughran surname mean?

A variant Irish surname derived from Ó Gabhrain meaning 'descendant of Gabhrán'.

What does the Gaughran map show?

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