UK surname
Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó hEinneacháin" meaning "descendant of Einneachán".
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Hanigan surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Olave Southwark and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hanigan is 106 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.9%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1891
106 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hanigan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hanigan surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 76 | #20,127 |
| 1861 | historical | 79 | #23,702 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Olave Southwark, Astbury, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Olave Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Astbury | Cheshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hanigan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hanigan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hanigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hanigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hanigan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hanigan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hanigan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hanigan has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó hAnnagáin," which translates to "descendant of Annagán." The name Annagán is a diminutive form of the Irish name Annadh, meaning "valiant" or "brave."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hanigan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a figure named Domhnall Ó hAnnagáin, a member of a prominent Irish family from County Monaghan.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Hanigan surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Monaghan, Fermanagh, and Tyrone in Ulster, Northern Ireland. It is believed that the name may have originated in this region, as several place names share similar spellings, such as Annaghbane and Annaghmore.
Notable individuals with the surname Hanigan throughout history include:
1. Patrick Hanigan (1785-1860), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Monaghan in the early 19th century.
2. Bridget Hanigan (1822-1905), an Irish immigrant to the United States who settled in Philadelphia and became a prominent figure in the local Irish community.
3. Michael Hanigan (1861-1933), an Irish-American baseball player who played for several teams in the late 19th century, including the Philadelphia Athletics.
4. Mary Hanigan (1885-1968), an Irish educator and women's rights advocate who campaigned for equal educational opportunities for girls in Ireland.
5. John Hanigan (1908-1985), an Australian author and playwright known for his works depicting the lives of working-class Australians in the mid-20th century.
While the Hanigan surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread globally due to Irish immigration and diaspora communities. However, it remains closely associated with its Irish heritage and the regions where it first emerged centuries ago.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hanigan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 8 Hanigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 7.25x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 2.05x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.48x |
| Denbighshire | 3 | 23.27x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 5.05x |
| Sussex | 2 | 3.48x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.33x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.97x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 3.78x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.60x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 4 Hanigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham London | 4 | 80.81x |
| Shotts | 4 | 303.03x |
| Govan | 3 | 10.99x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 61.60x |
| Wrexham Regis | 3 | 312.50x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 8.13x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 15.94x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 14.59x |
| Barony | 1 | 3.58x |
| Brighton | 1 | 8.61x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 74.07x |
| Gorton | 1 | 26.25x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 69.93x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 14.68x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.36x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 357.14x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 22.73x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.64x |
| Wallsend | 1 | 62.11x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 21.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hanigan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hanigan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Hanigan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Civil Assistant Ordnance Survey | 1 |
| Coach Trimmer | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Sailors Wife | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Hanigan surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Hanigan a modern rank of #35,648.
Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó hEinneacháin" meaning "descendant of Einneachán".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hanigan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.