NameCensus.

UK surname

Grattan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "gráta," meaning grace or graciousness.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Grattan surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, up from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Liverpool, Bradford and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Wirral and The Glens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grattan is 573 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.4%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

1999

573 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grattan had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Grattan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grattan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grattan 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 337 #10,547
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 568 #8,704
1999 modern 573 #8,702
2000 modern 552 #8,917
2001 modern 546 #8,849
2002 modern 551 #8,973
2003 modern 522 #9,204
2004 modern 539 #8,991
2005 modern 522 #9,159
2006 modern 527 #9,106
2007 modern 536 #9,068
2008 modern 536 #9,139
2009 modern 557 #9,081
2010 modern 570 #9,106
2011 modern 553 #9,228
2012 modern 548 #9,194
2013 modern 566 #9,109
2014 modern 566 #9,174
2015 modern 557 #9,206
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Grattans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Liverpool, Bradford, Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Wirral, The Glens and Pollok North and East. 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 Liverpool Lancashire
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 004 Burnley
2 Wirral 027 Wirral
3 The Glens Dundee City
4 Wirral 021 Wirral
5 Pollok North and East Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grattan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grattan

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

Grattan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grattan 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 Grattan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Grattan

The surname GRATTAN is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Grádán" meaning "illustrious" or "renowned". The name first emerged in County Longford, Ireland, during the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name GRATTAN dates back to the 14th century, where it appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention several members of the GRATTAN family, including Diarmaid GRATTAN, who was noted as a prominent figure in County Longford in the late 1300s.

In the 16th century, the GRATTAN family established themselves as prominent landowners in County Longford and surrounding areas. They were known for their support of the Irish chieftains during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. One notable member from this period was Richard GRATTAN (c. 1540-1610), who was appointed as a magistrate in County Longford.

During the 17th century, the GRATTAN name gained further prominence with the rise of Henry GRATTAN (1746-1820), a renowned Irish politician and orator. He played a pivotal role in securing legislative independence for the Irish Parliament and is remembered as one of Ireland's greatest statesmen.

Another famous bearer of the GRATTAN surname was Thomas Colley GRATTAN (1792-1864), an Irish novelist and travel writer. He is best known for his novel "Highways and Byways; or, Tales of the Road-Side" (1823), which provided vivid descriptions of Irish life and culture.

In the 19th century, the GRATTAN family produced several notable members, including Henry GRATTAN Jr. (1789-1859), an Irish lawyer and politician, and Henry Grattan DOUGLAS BEDINGFELD (1811-1873), a Catholic priest and author.

The surname GRATTAN has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Grattan Bridge in Dublin and Grattan Street in Longford Town, further solidifying its historical roots in the country.

While the GRATTAN name is predominantly Irish, it has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to Irish emigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grattan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grattan 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 82 Grattans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 82 3.63x
Lancashire 25 0.92x
Somerset 16 4.35x
Lanarkshire 14 1.90x
Surrey 14 1.26x
Devon 13 2.74x
Angus 9 4.26x
Derbyshire 9 2.52x
Essex 9 2.00x
Cheshire 8 1.59x
Middlesex 8 0.35x
Lincolnshire 6 1.64x
Monmouthshire 5 3.03x
Kent 4 0.51x
Glamorgan 3 0.75x
Renfrewshire 2 1.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.72x
Dorset 1 0.67x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.98x
Fife 1 0.74x
Royal Navy 1 3.68x
Suffolk 1 0.36x
Warwickshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 16 Grattans recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.78x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 34.78x
Bowling 14 62.50x
Horton In Bradford 14 39.64x
Bradford 11 20.09x
Heeley 10 145.56x
Croydon 9 14.58x
Wirksworth 9 276.92x
Cambusnethan 8 48.81x
Chipping Ongar 8 1025.64x
Dundee 7 8.87x
Everton 7 8.11x
Liverpool 6 3.65x
Plymouth Charles The 6 28.67x
Sutton St James 6 1363.64x
Bradford 5 39.43x
Bridgewater 5 50.15x
Brightside Bierlow 5 11.27x
Leeds 5 3.91x
Newport 5 63.53x
Old Cleeve 5 381.68x
Sheffield 5 6.94x
Birkenhead 4 9.96x
Govan 4 2.19x
Uplyme 4 563.38x
Woolwich 4 13.90x
Cogan 3 508.47x
Hampstead London 3 8.44x
Lambeth 3 1.51x
Monksilver 3 1428.57x
Oldham 3 3.43x
St Marylebone London 3 2.46x
Tiverton 3 36.67x
Barony 2 1.07x
Bermondsey 2 2.94x
Congleton 2 22.96x
Liff Benvie 2 6.23x
Walcot 2 10.22x
West Greenock 2 6.30x
Wigan 2 5.28x
Annan 1 23.09x
Beccles 1 22.37x
Bow London 1 3.44x
Clifford Cum Boston 1 49.26x
Cothelstone 1 1000.00x
Forgan 1 38.61x
Great Marlow 1 26.88x
High Ongar 1 120.48x
Leamington Priors 1 7.06x
Lyme Regis 1 55.87x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.06x
Royal Navy 1 4.30x
Runcorn 1 8.61x
Stockport 1 3.86x
Stretford 1 6.71x
Toxteth Park 1 1.09x
York St Giles In 1 46.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 8
Ann 5
Annie 5
Emma 5
Jane 5
Clara 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Alathea 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Evelyn 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Letha 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Eileen 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Jessie 1
Johanah 1
Kathleen 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Millicent 1
Nancy 1
Nora 1
Pollie 1
Polly 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Henry 6
William 6
James 5
George 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Thomas 3
Dennis 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Horatio 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Amos 1
Arnold 1
Chas.B. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Grafton 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jas.J. 1
Joseph 1
Js. 1
Lewis 1
Luther 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Willis 1

FAQ

Grattan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grattan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Grattan surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grattan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Grattan a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Grattan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "gráta," meaning grace or graciousness.

What does the Grattan map show?

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