NameCensus.

UK surname

Houlahan

An Anglicized form of Irish Ó Huallachain referring to a descendant of a glorious or generous person.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Houlahan surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Houlahan is 101 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 165.8%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2016

101 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Houlahan had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Houlahan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Houlahan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Houlahan 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 25 #32,259
1901 historical 59 #27,609
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 77 #29,874
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 84 #29,978
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 100 #31,033
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Houlahans 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 County Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 County Durham 055 County Durham
2 County Durham 057 County Durham
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 021 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 County Durham 051 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Houlahan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Houlahan

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Houlahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Houlahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Houlahan 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

Houlahan is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Houlahan 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 Houlahan 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 Houlahan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Houlahan

The surname Houlahan is of Irish origin, believed to have originated in County Mayo, Ireland in the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó hUallachain", which means "descendant of Uallachain", with Uallachain being a personal name derived from the word "uallach" meaning "proud" or "arrogant".

The earliest recorded instance of the name Houlahan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is mentioned in an entry dated 1587. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Ireland by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various land and tax records, such as the 1659 Census of Ireland, where it is listed as a prominent family in County Mayo. This indicates that the Houlahans were a well-established and influential family in the region.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Houlahan was Seán Ó hUallachain, a famous Irish poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His works were widely celebrated and preserved in the Irish literary tradition.

Another notable figure was Michael Houlahan (1798-1857), an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in New York City. He was instrumental in establishing several Irish-American organizations and institutions.

In the 19th century, the name Houlahan was also found in various census records and documents in other parts of Ireland, such as County Sligo and County Galway, suggesting the family had spread beyond its Mayo roots.

A famous bearer of the name was John Houlahan (1844-1907), an Irish-American journalist and politician who served as Mayor of Chicago from 1887 to 1889. He played a significant role in the city's development and growth during the late 19th century.

Another notable individual was Kathleen Houlahan (1887-1976), an Irish-American actress and vaudeville performer who was a popular star on Broadway in the early 20th century. She was known for her comic roles and comedic timing.

The Houlahan surname has also been found in various historical records and documents outside of Ireland, particularly in countries with large Irish immigrant populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Houlahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Houlahan 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 15 Houlahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 3.41x
Durham 7 6.35x
Middlesex 6 1.62x
Cheshire 4 4.89x
Perthshire 3 18.04x
Hampshire 2 2.63x
Surrey 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Litherland in Lancashire leads with 7 Houlahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 760.87x.

Place Total Index
Litherland 7 760.87x
Wolsingham 7 700.00x
Widnes 5 157.73x
Dukinfield 4 105.82x
Ratcliffe London 3 146.34x
Hackney London 2 9.63x
Perth Middle Church 2 317.46x
Bermondsey 1 9.07x
Blackford 1 500.00x
Everton 1 7.14x
Gorton 1 24.21x
Poplar London 1 14.31x
Portsea 1 6.72x
Portsmouth 1 57.14x
Toxteth Park 1 6.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Margaret 3
Ellen 2
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Martha 1
Sarah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Daniel 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Michael 2
Patrick 2
William 2
James 1
Mich 1
Philip 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Houlahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Houlahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Houlahan surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Houlahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Houlahan a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Houlahan surname mean?

An Anglicized form of Irish Ó Huallachain referring to a descendant of a glorious or generous person.

What does the Houlahan map show?

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