NameCensus.

UK surname

Hargan

A surname likely of Irish origin meaning "solitary heir" or "male child."

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Hargan surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, up from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Carnwadric East and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hargan is 172 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 144.1%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2014

172 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hargan had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hargan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hargan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hargan 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 75 #25,852
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 161 #20,697
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Hargans 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 South Lakeland, Carnwadric East, Blackpool, Cardonald North and Middlesbrough. 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 South Lakeland 013 South Lakeland
2 Carnwadric East Glasgow City
3 Blackpool 011 Blackpool
4 Cardonald North Glasgow City
5 Middlesbrough 012 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hargan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hargan

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

Hargan 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

Hargan falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hargan

The surname Hargan has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "arghann," which means "valiant" or "brave." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who displayed exceptional courage or bravery.

The earliest known record of the name Hargan can be found in the Scottish parish records of Argyll, where a family by that name resided in the late 1500s. It is possible that the name was originally associated with a specific location or place in Argyll, but the exact origins remain unclear.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hargan was John Hargan, who was born in Argyll in 1612. He was a farmer and landowner, and his family played a significant role in the local community for generations.

In the 17th century, the name Hargan began to appear in other parts of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Isles regions. One notable figure from this time was Angus Hargan, a Scottish warrior who fought alongside the Jacobites in the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

As the Hargan family spread across Scotland, various spellings of the name emerged, including Hargon, Hargin, and Hargane. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation patterns.

In the 19th century, the Hargan surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of James Hargan (1818-1892), a Scottish poet and author. His works, which often celebrated the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape, earned him recognition and critical acclaim during his lifetime.

Another notable individual with the Hargan surname was Margaret Hargan (1864-1942), a Scottish suffragette and activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and social reform. Her fearless advocacy and dedication to her cause earned her a place in the annals of Scottish history.

While the surname Hargan may not be as widespread as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history and a strong connection to the rugged landscapes and brave spirit of Scotland's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hargan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hargan 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 14 Hargans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.53x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 14 6.53x
Surrey 13 4.02x
Middlesex 9 1.36x
Renfrewshire 8 15.57x
Ayrshire 6 12.09x
Kent 5 2.21x
Shropshire 4 6.98x
Lancashire 3 0.38x
Yorkshire 3 0.46x
Devon 1 0.72x
Dunbartonshire 1 5.61x
Hampshire 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inverkip in Renfrewshire leads with 8 Hargans recorded in 1881 and an index of 661.16x.

Place Total Index
Inverkip 8 661.16x
Lambeth 8 13.84x
Barony 6 11.05x
Glasgow 6 15.76x
Camberwell 5 11.80x
Dundonald 5 273.22x
Greenwich 5 47.35x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 199.01x
Chelsea London 2 10.01x
Govan 2 3.77x
Mile End Old Town London 2 14.17x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 69.69x
Twickenham 2 70.42x
Worsley 2 41.24x
Aldershot 1 21.98x
Bromley London 1 6.85x
Kilmarnock 1 16.92x
Kirkintilloch 1 41.32x
Nether Hallam 1 11.25x
Prescot 1 70.42x
Rotherham 1 27.03x
Skircoat 1 38.61x
Stoke Damerel 1 10.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Hettie 1
Margaret 1
Margary 1
Mary 1
Violet 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
Timothy 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Eugene 1
Francis 1
John 1
Mark 1
Mger. 1
Thomas 1
Wilfred 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 Hargan households.

FAQ

Hargan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hargan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Hargan surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hargan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Hargan a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Hargan surname mean?

A surname likely of Irish origin meaning "solitary heir" or "male child."

What does the Hargan map show?

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