NameCensus.

UK surname

Greaney

Of Irish origin, indicating one from the manor or village of Greaney.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Greaney surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 428, ranked #11,234, up from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Mid Suffolk and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greaney is 451 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 579.4%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

428

2016, ranked #11,234

Peak year

2004

451 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greaney had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016, ranked #11,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 122 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Greaney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greaney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greaney 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 420 #10,608
1998 modern 441 #10,560
1999 modern 441 #10,631
2000 modern 430 #10,804
2001 modern 428 #10,653
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 433 #10,614
2004 modern 451 #10,301
2005 modern 435 #10,480
2006 modern 424 #10,748
2007 modern 426 #10,809
2008 modern 431 #10,814
2009 modern 426 #11,146
2010 modern 437 #11,165
2011 modern 436 #11,053
2012 modern 423 #11,195
2013 modern 443 #10,968
2014 modern 449 #10,926
2015 modern 441 #10,994
2016 modern 428 #11,234

Geography

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Where Greaneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Battersea, Lambeth and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Mid Suffolk, Allerdale and Ceredigion. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly
2 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
3 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
4 Ceredigion 003 Ceredigion
5 Caerphilly 004 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greaney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greaney

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Greaney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Greaney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Greaney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Greaney 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

Greaney falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Greaney

The surname Greaney is of Irish origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic personal name Gradhnat, which means "illustrious" or "noble." The name was initially spelled as Graidnat or Graidhnait.

The Greaney name was primarily found in County Galway, Ireland, where it was first recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history. These annals mention several individuals with the surname Greaney, including Tadhg Greaney, who was a prominent chieftain in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Greaney surname can be found in the Pipe Roll of Cloyne, a 14th-century manuscript that documented tax records in Ireland. This document mentions a "Willelmus Greyneth" from County Cork.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Greaney name was also associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Conor Greaney, a Irish poet and scholar who lived in the late 16th century. Another was Eoghan Greaney, a member of the Irish Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653).

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Greaney family was Patrick Greaney (1707-1783), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Elphin from 1763 until his death.

The 19th century saw the rise of several influential Greaneys, including Michael Greaney (1856-1928), an Irish businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Galway City from 1900 to 1918.

Another notable figure was John Greaney (1884-1951), an Irish-American labor leader and politician who served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1946 to 1951.

While the Greaney surname originated in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to Irish emigration. Over the centuries, variations in spelling have emerged, such as Greany, Grainey, and Granny.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greaney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greaney 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. Surrey leads with 13 Greaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

County Total Index
Surrey 13 4.27x
Devon 10 7.69x
Durham 9 4.85x
Middlesex 8 1.28x
Warwickshire 8 5.08x
Lancashire 4 0.54x
Lincolnshire 4 4.01x
Cheshire 3 2.18x
Nottinghamshire 3 3.57x
Derbyshire 1 1.02x
Royal Navy 1 13.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 8 Greaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.45x.

Place Total Index
Aston 8 18.45x
Plymouth Charles The 8 139.62x
Witton Gilbert 8 1095.89x
Lambeth 6 11.02x
Acton 4 109.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 31.85x
Battersea 3 13.06x
Birkenhead 3 27.30x
Carlton 3 312.50x
Glanford Brigg 3 833.33x
Heston 2 96.62x
Liverpool 2 4.45x
Manchester 2 6.00x
Plymstock 2 294.12x
Bourn 1 123.46x
Chesterfield 1 27.32x
Kyo 1 114.94x
Paddington London 1 4.36x
St George Hanover Square 1 9.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 5
Hannah 3
Mary 3
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 4
Charles 2
Cornelius 2
Mark 2
Charlie 1
Danuel 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
James 1
Laurence 1
M... 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Greaney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greaney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Greaney surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greaney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016. That gives Greaney a modern rank of #11,234.

What does the Greaney surname mean?

Of Irish origin, indicating one from the manor or village of Greaney.

What does the Greaney map show?

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