NameCensus.

UK surname

Halloran

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'hAllmhurain," meaning "descendant of Allmhurain," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Halloran surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 585, ranked #8,879, up from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, West Calder and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Forgewood and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halloran is 613 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 142.7%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

585

2016, ranked #8,879

Peak year

2014

613 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halloran had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 585 in 2016, ranked #8,879.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 340 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Halloran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Halloran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halloran 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 340 #10,647
1911 historical 329 #10,688
1997 modern 542 #8,759
1998 modern 567 #8,715
1999 modern 554 #8,929
2000 modern 558 #8,841
2001 modern 548 #8,820
2002 modern 596 #8,501
2003 modern 582 #8,500
2004 modern 587 #8,478
2005 modern 568 #8,601
2006 modern 563 #8,677
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 586 #8,575
2009 modern 603 #8,569
2010 modern 601 #8,774
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 592 #8,696
2013 modern 612 #8,609
2014 modern 613 #8,654
2015 modern 593 #8,806
2016 modern 585 #8,879

Geography

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Where Hallorans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, West Calder, Birstall, St Werburgh and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Forgewood and Birmingham. 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 West Calder Edinburgh
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 012 Kirklees
2 Forgewood North Lanarkshire
3 Kirklees 006 Kirklees
4 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
5 Kirklees 028 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halloran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halloran

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Halloran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Halloran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Halloran 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

Halloran 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

Halloran falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Halloran

The surname Halloran originated in Ireland, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Halloran," which means "descendant of Halloran." The name Halloran itself is believed to come from the Irish word "allaran," meaning "wanderer" or "pilgrim."

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Halloran can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a prominent family of the O'Halloran clan in the 14th century, who were wealthy landowners in County Galway.

The Halloran name gained prominence in the 16th century, with several members of the family holding influential positions in the Irish Catholic Church. Most notable among them was Dermot O'Halloran, who served as the Bishop of Killaloe from 1564 to 1578.

During the 17th century, the Halloran family played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars, supporting the Catholic Irish against the English Parliamentarians. One of the notable figures from this period was Donal O'Halloran, a renowned military leader who fought alongside the Irish Confederate forces.

As the Irish diaspora spread across the world, the Halloran name traveled far and wide. In the 19th century, several Hallorans made their mark in various fields. Joseph Halloran (1810-1882) was an influential Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1867 to 1869.

Another notable figure was George Burdett Halloran (1839-1914), a British artist and illustrator known for his paintings of rural life in Ireland. His works are part of the collection at the National Gallery of Ireland.

In the 20th century, the Halloran name continued to leave its mark. One of the most renowned figures was John Halloran (1904-1989), an American author and playwright best known for his acclaimed novel "The Bunker Hill Storyteller."

Overall, the surname Halloran has a rich and diverse history, spanning centuries and continents. From its origins in medieval Ireland to its global presence today, the name carries with it a legacy of wanderers, warriors, and innovators who have left an indelible mark on the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halloran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halloran 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. Lancashire leads with 46 Hallorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 46 1.61x
Surrey 33 2.81x
Lanarkshire 26 3.34x
Yorkshire 22 0.92x
Midlothian 15 4.65x
Glamorgan 13 3.10x
Hampshire 12 2.43x
Cheshire 11 2.07x
Dunbartonshire 10 15.45x
Berwickshire 8 27.42x
Monmouthshire 8 4.59x
Staffordshire 8 0.98x
Derbyshire 7 1.86x
Middlesex 6 0.25x
Kent 5 0.61x
Royal Navy 5 17.42x
Norfolk 3 0.81x
Devon 2 0.40x
Channel Islands 1 1.40x
Essex 1 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.31x
Renfrewshire 1 0.54x
Shropshire 1 0.48x
Somerset 1 0.26x
Suffolk 1 0.34x

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 15 Hallorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.61x.

Place Total Index
Barony 15 7.61x
Gomersal 12 107.72x
Altrincham 11 118.41x
Liverpool 11 6.34x
Aldershot 10 60.46x
Cardross 10 128.70x
West Calder 9 141.51x
Bedwellty 8 26.02x
Bermondsey 8 11.15x
Channelkirk 8 1600.00x
Walsall Foreign 8 19.04x
Govan 7 3.63x
Camberwell 6 3.90x
Llandaff 6 42.98x
Mid Calder 6 428.57x
Southwark St John 6 81.41x
Great Crosby 5 64.18x
Leckwith 5 505.05x
Newington 5 5.62x
Royal Navy 5 20.37x
Wardleworth 5 30.60x
Battersea 4 4.51x
Bradford 4 6.92x
Glasgow 4 2.89x
Lee 4 33.50x
Toxteth Park 4 4.13x
York St Mary 4 40.44x
Derby St Alkmund 3 26.55x
Elton 3 30.36x
Everton 3 3.29x
Scole Cum Frenze 3 555.56x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 2 80.65x
Cardiff St John 2 14.60x
Croydon 2 3.07x
Droylsden 2 21.44x
Heston 2 25.00x
Kensington London 2 1.49x
Kirkdale 2 4.16x
Salford 2 2.38x
Spotland 2 6.29x
Batley 1 4.41x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 4.41x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 12.76x
Castleton 1 3.50x
Chelsea London 1 1.38x
Derby St Peter 1 8.33x
Exeter St David 1 23.36x
Eythorne 1 256.41x
Farnborough 1 19.27x
Gorton 1 3.72x
Hampstead London 1 2.67x
Hopton 1 1000.00x
Leyton 1 12.21x
Oldham 1 1.08x
Pembroke St Mary 1 10.14x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.59x
Portsmouth 1 8.80x
Richmond 1 6.08x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 13.68x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.06x
St Peter Port 1 7.57x
Walton On Hill 1 6.46x
West Derby 1 1.20x
West Greenock 1 2.98x
Weston Super Mare 1 10.21x
Wigan 1 2.50x
York St Lawrence 1 40.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Catherine 11
Ellen 7
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Bridget 4
Kate 4
Hannah 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Johannah 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
F.K.W.O. 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Katherine 1
Lucy 1
Margery 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
James 10
William 9
Thomas 6
Edward 4
Patrick 4
Richard 4
Cornelius 3
David 3
Denis 3
George 3
Martin 3
Maurice 3
Timothy 3
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Michael 2
Michal 2
Edmond 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
M. 1
Pat 1
Pattrick 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
W.Henry 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Halloran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halloran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Halloran surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halloran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 585 in 2016. That gives Halloran a modern rank of #8,879.

What does the Halloran surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'hAllmhurain," meaning "descendant of Allmhurain," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Halloran map show?

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