NameCensus.

UK surname

Gregan

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gréagáin, meaning "descendant of Gréagán".

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Gregan surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, up from #29,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Cornwall and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gregan is 221 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 566.7%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1997

221 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gregan had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Gregan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gregan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gregan 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 41 #29,602
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 193 #18,501
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 191 #19,031
2008 modern 186 #19,524
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Gregans 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 Newcastle upon Tyne, Cornwall, Maldon and Basildon. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 015 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 004 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Maldon 002 Maldon
5 Basildon 011 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gregan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gregan

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

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Gregan is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gregan is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gregan falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gregan

The surname Gregan has its origins in Ireland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "greagán" or "greagach," which translates to "Greek" or "Grecian." This may suggest that the name was initially given to someone of Greek descent or with a connection to Greek culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gregan can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of legal documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. In these records, a John Gregan is mentioned as having received a pardon in 1596. This suggests that the surname was already established in Ireland during the late Elizabethan era.

The Gregan surname is closely associated with County Cork, particularly the town of Mallow. Some historians believe that the name may have originated from a family who settled in the area after arriving from Greece or another region with Greek influence. However, the exact details of their arrival and settlement remain uncertain.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Gregan surname. One of the earliest recorded was Patrick Gregan, a Catholic priest who lived in the 17th century and was known for his involvement in religious disputes during the Cromwellian period in Ireland.

In the 18th century, James Gregan (1721-1798) was a prominent Irish physician and writer. He authored several medical texts and served as the president of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland.

During the 19th century, Michael Gregan (1840-1919) was a successful businessman and politician from County Cork. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Mallow constituency and was actively involved in local affairs.

Another notable figure was John Gregan (1856-1931), a Catholic priest and author who wrote extensively on Irish history and culture. His works, such as "The Normans in Ireland" and "The Geraldines of Desmond," shed light on the country's rich heritage.

In more recent times, Paddy Gregan (1935-2008) was a renowned Irish hurler who played for the Cork senior hurling team. He won three All-Ireland medals and is remembered as one of the greatest hurlers of his era.

While the Gregan surname may have originated from a connection to Greek culture, it has firmly established itself as an Irish name with a rich history spanning several centuries. The individuals mentioned above represent just a few examples of the many notable Gregans who have contributed to various fields throughout Ireland's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gregan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gregan 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 14 Gregans recorded in 1881 and an index of 354.43x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 14 354.43x
Yorkshire 9 3.33x
Derbyshire 1 2.34x
Durham 1 1.23x
Lanarkshire 1 1.13x
Lancashire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 30.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rerrick in Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 12 Gregans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7058.82x.

Place Total Index
Rerrick 12 7058.82x
York St George 7 3333.33x
Sheffield 2 23.23x
Alfreton 1 76.92x
Barony 1 4.48x
Conside Knitsley 1 158.73x
Great Crosby 1 113.64x
Kelton 1 312.50x
Royal Navy 1 35.97x
Tongland 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 3
Ellen 1
Kate 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Michael 2
Patrick 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Gregan households.

FAQ

Gregan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gregan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Gregan surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gregan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Gregan a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Gregan surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gréagáin, meaning "descendant of Gréagán".

What does the Gregan map show?

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