NameCensus.

UK surname

Horrigan

A surname derived from the Irish Ó hOrgáin, meaning "descendant of Orgán".

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Horrigan surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 598, ranked #8,735, up from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Ryedale and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horrigan is 657 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 264.6%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

598

2016, ranked #8,735

Peak year

1999

657 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horrigan had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016, ranked #8,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 352 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Horrigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horrigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horrigan 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 278 #12,252
1911 historical 352 #10,229
1997 modern 628 #7,884
1998 modern 653 #7,879
1999 modern 657 #7,883
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 607 #8,230
2002 modern 627 #8,187
2003 modern 611 #8,216
2004 modern 611 #8,234
2005 modern 599 #8,283
2006 modern 600 #8,285
2007 modern 589 #8,477
2008 modern 582 #8,612
2009 modern 594 #8,663
2010 modern 612 #8,654
2011 modern 600 #8,696
2012 modern 593 #8,688
2013 modern 594 #8,809
2014 modern 603 #8,769
2015 modern 595 #8,786
2016 modern 598 #8,735

Geography

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Where Horrigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Ryedale, Chichester and Gravesham. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 018 Middlesbrough
2 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
3 Chichester 014 Chichester
4 Gravesham 006 Gravesham
5 Middlesbrough 003 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horrigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horrigan

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Horrigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Horrigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Horrigan is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Horrigan is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Horrigan falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Horrigan

The surname Horrigan has its origins in Ireland, where it was first found in the province of Leinster. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'Horracain, which means "descendant of Horrican". The name Horrican itself is derived from the Irish word "orrachán", meaning "little green" or "little pale one".

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 16th century, with several references to individuals bearing the name appearing in various legal and ecclesiastical documents from that period. One notable example is the mention of a "Terence O'Horracain" in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name was commonly found in counties such as Kildare, Laois, and Offaly, with many Horrigan families residing in the towns and villages of these areas. The name can also be traced back to the Irish bardic families, who were skilled in poetry and storytelling, suggesting a possible connection to this tradition.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Tadhg Horrigan (c. 1590-1660), an Irish poet and historian from County Laois. He was known for his works in the Irish language and is considered an important figure in preserving traditional Irish literature during a turbulent period in the country's history.

Another notable individual with the Horrigan surname was Patrick Horrigan (1786-1868), a prominent Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, from 1839 to 1840. He was instrumental in the development of the city's infrastructure and played a significant role in the local Catholic community.

In the 19th century, the Horrigan name gained recognition through the works of Michael Horrigan (1819-1888), an Irish-born author and journalist who wrote extensively about Irish culture and history. His publications, including "Bardic Stories of Ireland" and "Lay Legends of Ireland", helped preserve and promote Irish folklore and traditions.

Another notable figure was John Horrigan (1841-1912), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1903 to 1909. He was also a prominent advocate for Irish-American rights and played a role in the Irish nationalist movement.

In more recent times, the name Horrigan has been carried by individuals such as Brian Horrigan (born 1959), an American author and journalist known for his works on popular culture and media, and Kathleen Horrigan (born 1957), an American journalist and news anchor who has worked for various television networks.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Horrigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horrigan 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. Middlesex leads with 49 Horrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 2.99x
Lancashire 44 2.26x
Glamorgan 16 5.61x
Yorkshire 10 0.62x
Durham 8 1.64x
Gloucestershire 8 2.49x
Surrey 7 0.88x
Monmouthshire 5 4.22x
Kent 4 0.72x
Royal Navy 4 20.48x
Somerset 4 1.52x
Caernarfonshire 3 4.53x
Essex 3 0.93x
Cheshire 2 0.55x
Dorset 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 15 Horrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.70x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 15 12.70x
Clerkenwell London 9 23.27x
Gateshead 8 21.92x
Leeds 8 8.73x
Pendleton In Salford 8 34.53x
Roath 8 61.73x
Westminster St James 8 47.51x
Manchester 7 8.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 19.83x
Golborne 6 237.15x
Mile End New Town London 6 185.19x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 18.23x
Usk 5 510.20x
Bedminster 4 16.14x
Kensington London 4 4.39x
Oldham 4 6.37x
Royal Navy 4 23.97x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 56.42x
Wapping London 4 320.00x
Deptford St Paul 3 6.96x
Islington London 3 1.89x
Llandudno 3 127.12x
Prestwich 3 61.86x
Spitalfields London 3 24.35x
Anderton 2 1052.63x
Lambeth 2 1.40x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.73x
Swansea Town 2 8.55x
Wandsworth 2 12.68x
West Ham 2 2.80x
Bermondsey 1 2.05x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 9.33x
Bristol St Nicholas 1 172.41x
East Ham 1 16.67x
Gate Fulford 1 26.39x
Gelligaer 1 15.34x
Greenwich 1 3.83x
Hemsworth 1 107.53x
Portland 1 17.30x
Salford 1 1.75x
Shoreditch London 1 1.41x
Southwark Christchurch 1 13.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.03x
St George Martyr London 1 30.12x
St Marylebone London 1 1.14x
St Pancras London 1 0.76x
St Sepulchre London 1 41.67x
Whitechapel London 1 6.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Ellen 9
Margaret 8
Catherine 5
Elizabeth 4
Bridget 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Kate 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Honoria 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
Johanah 1
Johanna 1
Julie 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Patrick 9
James 8
William 6
Michael 4
Thomas 4
Timothy 4
David 3
Dennis 3
Jeremiah 3
Joseph 3
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Bartholomew 1
Daniel 1
Danny 1
Denis 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Jerremiah 1
M. 1
Mark 1
Michall 1
T. 1
Tim. 1
Tommy 1
W. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Horrigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horrigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Horrigan surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horrigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 598 in 2016. That gives Horrigan a modern rank of #8,735.

What does the Horrigan surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Ó hOrgáin, meaning "descendant of Orgán".

What does the Horrigan map show?

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