NameCensus.

UK surname

Haggarty

A variant of the Anglo-French surname Aiguardi, derived from a nickname meaning watchman or guardian.

In the 1881 census there were 577 people recorded with the Haggarty surname, ranking it #6,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 916, ranked #6,229, down from #6,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, New Monkland and Duns. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Kirkwood and Bargeddie and Ibrox East and Cessnock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haggarty is 916 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

577

Ranked #6,036

Modern count

916

2016, ranked #6,229

Peak year

2016

916 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Haggarty had 577 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 916 in 2016, ranked #6,229.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 633 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Haggarty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Haggarty surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Haggarty 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 577 #6,036
1891 historical 516 #7,234
1901 historical 633 #6,780
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 826 #6,380
1998 modern 872 #6,311
1999 modern 868 #6,380
2000 modern 849 #6,462
2001 modern 821 #6,512
2002 modern 846 #6,480
2003 modern 810 #6,591
2004 modern 811 #6,598
2005 modern 832 #6,406
2006 modern 867 #6,217
2007 modern 858 #6,331
2008 modern 893 #6,158
2009 modern 915 #6,175
2010 modern 892 #6,439
2011 modern 873 #6,479
2012 modern 879 #6,360
2013 modern 887 #6,400
2014 modern 908 #6,332
2015 modern 907 #6,299
2016 modern 916 #6,229

Geography

Back to top

Where Haggartys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, New Monkland, Duns, Govan Combination and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Kirkwood and Bargeddie, Ibrox East and Cessnock, Arran and Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 New Monkland Lanark
3 Duns Berwick
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Kirkwood and Bargeddie North Lanarkshire
3 Ibrox East and Cessnock Glasgow City
4 Arran North Ayrshire
5 Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank Renfrewshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Haggarty

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Haggarty

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Haggarty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Haggarty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Haggarty 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

Haggarty 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

Haggarty 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 Haggarty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Haggarty

The surname Haggarty is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 5th or 6th century CE. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "oc" meaning "young" and "ard" meaning "high" or "elevated." When combined, these words form the term "ocard," which eventually evolved into the modern surname Haggarty.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Haggarty can be found in ancient Irish genealogical records and annals. These records often mentioned individuals with the name, though the spellings varied due to the lack of standardized orthography at the time. Some variations included Hagarty, Haggerty, and Hagerty.

One notable early reference to the name is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry dated 1021, a man named Domnall Ua hOcardaigh is mentioned. This name is believed to be an early form of the modern surname Haggarty.

During the Middle Ages, the Haggarty family was primarily based in the northern counties of Ireland, particularly in the regions of Ulster and Connaught. Several medieval records mention individuals with the name holding positions of prominence in these areas, suggesting that the Haggartys were a respected clan.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Seán Ó hAcardaigh, or John Haggarty, is recorded as having been a prominent scholar and poet. He was born around 1520 and was renowned for his compositions in the Gaelic language.

Another significant individual with the surname Haggarty was Pádraig Ó hAcardaigh, or Patrick Haggarty, who lived in the late 17th century. He was a renowned Irish harpist and is credited with preserving many traditional Irish melodies and compositions.

In the 19th century, a man named William Haggarty (1806-1880) gained recognition as a skilled engraver and artist. He was born in Ireland but later emigrated to the United States, where he became known for his intricate engravings and illustrations.

Throughout history, the Haggarty surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Haggarty's Cross and Haggarty's Hill, further solidifying its deep roots in the country's cultural and geographical landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Haggarty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haggarty 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. Lanarkshire leads with 176 Haggartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.67x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 176 9.67x
Renfrewshire 55 12.61x
Dunbartonshire 52 34.38x
Middlesex 25 0.44x
Durham 24 1.43x
Ayrshire 21 4.99x
Berwickshire 20 29.34x
Devon 19 1.62x
Monmouthshire 19 4.67x
Angus 16 3.07x
Cheshire 14 1.13x
Cumberland 13 2.68x
Fife 13 3.90x
Midlothian 12 1.59x
Morayshire 12 13.72x
Northumberland 12 1.43x
Kent 8 0.42x
Westmorland 7 5.66x
Inverness-shire 6 3.57x
Lancashire 5 0.07x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.77x
Glamorgan 4 0.41x
Selkirkshire 4 7.86x
Stirlingshire 4 1.93x
Essex 3 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.26x
Merionethshire 3 2.91x
Surrey 3 0.11x
Derbyshire 2 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.18x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 2.45x
Royal Navy 2 2.98x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Isle of Man 1 0.96x
Kincardineshire 1 1.46x
Peeblesshire 1 3.78x
Roxburghshire 1 0.98x
West Lothian 1 1.18x
Wigtownshire 1 1.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 68 Haggartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.76x.

Place Total Index
Barony 68 14.76x
Govan 43 9.55x
Glasgow 21 6.50x
Kirkintilloch 18 87.59x
Dunse 14 216.72x
Birkenhead 13 13.13x
Middle Greenock 13 109.24x
Bonhill 12 49.42x
Cromdale 12 170.45x
East Greenock 12 29.13x
Stoke Damerel 12 14.63x
Heworth 11 33.34x
Port Glasgow 11 52.16x
Liff Benvie 10 12.63x
Penicuik 10 97.56x
St Woollos 10 22.02x
Abbey 9 13.52x
Blantyre 9 47.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 12.41x
New Kilpatrick 9 62.54x
Bassenthwaite 8 816.33x
Shotts 8 36.73x
Cambuslang 7 38.15x
Crosby Ravensworth 7 463.58x
Gillingham 7 17.68x
Irvine 7 59.83x
Markinch 7 61.89x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 7.76x
West Greenock 7 8.94x
Ayton 6 151.90x
Dreghorn 6 78.64x
Elswick 6 8.98x
Newport 6 30.91x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.05x
Cardross 5 27.53x
Gorbals 5 46.30x
Leeds 5 1.59x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 45.41x
Old Monkland 5 6.92x
Poplar London 5 4.71x
Rickergate 5 48.78x
Dumbarton 4 19.00x
Kilbirnie 4 39.56x
Melrose 4 31.20x
New Monkland 4 7.43x
Newtyle 4 225.99x
Old Kilpatrick 4 22.38x
St Andrews 4 26.39x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.03x
Turriff 4 47.56x
Barra 3 71.43x
Beddgelert 3 116.73x
Christchurch 3 23.83x
Duthil 3 93.46x
Maryhill 3 8.42x
St Botolph Aldgate London 3 25.88x
St George In East London 3 5.67x
Bristol St James In 2 12.32x
Camberwell 2 0.56x
Campsie 2 17.56x
Cardiff St John 2 6.25x
Cardiff St Mary 2 3.71x
Coupar Angus 2 40.57x
Dunfermline 2 3.90x
Hamilton 2 3.94x
Ilkeston 2 8.10x
Kilsyth 2 15.11x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 6.12x
Pendleton In Salford 2 2.51x
Royal Navy 2 3.49x
Shoreditch London 2 0.82x
Sorn 2 24.18x
Spitalfields London 2 4.72x
St Peter Colebrook 2 123.46x
West Ham 2 0.82x
Bishop Auckland 1 4.45x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.70x
Edinburgh High Church 1 21.14x
Mearns 1 13.09x
South Leith 1 1.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 10
Catherine 6
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Bridget 3
Ellen 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
(Miss) 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Baby 1
Bella 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Honorah 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Katee 1
Lilian 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Masey 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 11
James 8
Thomas 8
Michael 5
Daniel 4
Edward 3
Patrick 3
Alexander 2
Anthony 2
Charles 2
Christopher 2
Denish 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Mich. 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Haggarty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Haggarty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 577 people were recorded with the Haggarty surname. That placed it at #6,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Haggarty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 916 in 2016. That gives Haggarty a modern rank of #6,229.

What does the Haggarty surname mean?

A variant of the Anglo-French surname Aiguardi, derived from a nickname meaning watchman or guardian.

What does the Haggarty map show?

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