NameCensus.

UK surname

Haggan

An occupational surname derived from a derivative of the Middle English "hag" referring to a hedger or hedge-maker.

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Haggan surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 257, ranked #16,485, up from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haggan is 267 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 225.3%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

2011

267 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Haggan had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Haggan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Haggan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Haggan 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 55 #27,313
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 213 #17,431
1999 modern 223 #17,025
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 211 #17,376
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 255 #16,296
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 266 #16,213
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 257 #16,485

Geography

Back to top

Where Haggans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Eccles and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and Lancaster. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 019 Sunderland
3 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
4 Lancaster 013 Lancaster
5 Lancaster 017 Lancaster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Haggan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Haggan

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Haggan 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

Haggan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Haggan

The surname Haggan originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ó hAgáin," which means "descendant of Agán." This name is thought to have first emerged in the 12th century in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Antrim and Derry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Haggan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the 17th century. The annals mention a man named Haggan O'Neill, who was a member of the influential O'Neill clan and lived in the 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Haggan was commonly found in various records and documents from the Ulster region of Ireland. In the 1659 Census of Ireland, several individuals with the surname Haggan were listed, indicating the name's presence and longevity in the country.

The name Haggan has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Aodh Haggan, a 16th-century Irish chieftain who led his clan in battles against English forces during the Nine Years' War (1594-1603).

In the 18th century, Patrick Haggan (1728-1802) was a prominent Irish Catholic priest and educator who played a significant role in establishing Catholic schools in the county of Derry.

Another notable figure was John Haggan (1836-1914), a successful Irish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was known for his generous donations to various charities and educational institutions in Ireland.

Moving forward, the name Haggan has been carried by individuals across various fields. One example is Robert Haggan (1879-1939), a Scottish golfer who won several prestigious tournaments in the early 20th century.

In the literary world, Mary Haggan (1922-2010) was a renowned Irish poet and author whose works often explored themes of identity, family, and the Irish experience.

While the surname Haggan is not as common as some other Irish names, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various areas throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Haggan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haggan 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. Durham leads with 21 Haggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.16x.

County Total Index
Durham 21 9.16x
Lancashire 20 2.19x
Lanarkshire 13 5.22x
Renfrewshire 10 16.75x
Middlesex 4 0.52x
Midlothian 4 3.88x
Surrey 3 0.80x
Stirlingshire 2 7.04x
Northumberland 1 0.87x
Shropshire 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heworth in Durham leads with 12 Haggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 265.49x.

Place Total Index
Heworth 12 265.49x
Abbey 10 109.77x
Pendleton In Salford 8 73.46x
Glasgow 6 13.56x
Barony 5 7.93x
Barrow In Furness 5 40.23x
Conside Knitsley 4 224.72x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 40.28x
Salford 4 14.88x
Bermondsey 3 13.08x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 240.96x
Old Monkland 2 20.22x
Shoreditch London 2 5.99x
Westminster St Margaret 2 53.76x
Balfron 1 285.71x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 46.73x
Escomb 1 95.24x
Falkirk 1 15.04x
Habergham Eaves 1 11.96x
Kirkdale 1 6.50x
Longbenton 1 20.62x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 60.61x
West Calder 1 49.26x
Widnes 1 15.17x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

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 Haggan households.

FAQ

Haggan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Haggan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Haggan surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Haggan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Haggan a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Haggan surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from a derivative of the Middle English "hag" referring to a hedger or hedge-maker.

What does the Haggan map show?

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