NameCensus.

UK surname

Lenehan

A variant form of the Irish surname Ó Lonáin, meaning "descendant of the tawny one".

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Lenehan surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Blackburn with Darwen and Barlanark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lenehan is 394 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1840.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

2009

394 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lenehan had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 60 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lenehan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lenehan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lenehan 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 386 #11,295
1998 modern 385 #11,698
1999 modern 382 #11,843
2000 modern 370 #12,078
2001 modern 362 #12,076
2002 modern 381 #11,865
2003 modern 373 #11,857
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 360 #12,198
2007 modern 366 #12,176
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 394 #11,859
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 389 #12,106
2012 modern 390 #11,946
2013 modern 383 #12,314
2014 modern 380 #12,449
2015 modern 391 #12,113
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

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Where Lenehans 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, Blackburn with Darwen, Barlanark, Wigan and Liverpool. 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 043 County Durham
2 Blackburn with Darwen 012 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Barlanark Glasgow City
4 Wigan 003 Wigan
5 Liverpool 048 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lenehan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lenehan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lenehan, 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 Lenehan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lenehan 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lenehan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lenehan 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

Lenehan 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 Lenehan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lenehan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lenehan

The surname Lenehan is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name Ó Leanacháin, which means "descendant of Leanachán." The name Leanachán is derived from the Irish word "leanach," meaning "persistent" or "persevering."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Lenehan can be traced back to County Laois, Ireland, in the 16th century. The name was particularly prominent in the baronies of Cullenagh and Maryborough. Historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Civil Survey of 1654-56, mention individuals with the surname Lenehan residing in these areas.

One notable reference to the name Lenehan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Maoilseachlainn Ó Leanacháin, who was the chief poet of Leinster in the late 12th century.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname Lenehan was Patrick Lenehan (1720-1804), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin from 1776 until his death. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church in Ireland during a time of persecution.

Another notable individual with the surname Lenehan was John Lenehan (1856-1933), an Irish-American businessman and politician from New York City. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was involved in various real estate ventures.

In the 20th century, Michael Lenehan (1905-1971) was a renowned Irish poet and writer. He was born in County Laois and is remembered for his works that captured the essence of rural Irish life.

The surname Lenehan has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Lenahan, Lenehan, and Leneghane. These variations likely emerged due to regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

While the surname Lenehan is not among the most common Irish surnames, it has a rich history rooted in County Laois and the surrounding regions. The name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including poets, clergymen, politicians, and writers, contributing to the cultural tapestry of Ireland and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lenehan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lenehan 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 7 Lenehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.59x
Lanarkshire 5 7.93x
Lancashire 4 1.73x
Surrey 3 3.16x
Yorkshire 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 5 Lenehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.07x.

Place Total Index
Govan 5 32.07x
St Marylebone London 4 38.46x
Bermondsey 3 51.72x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 81.74x
Islington London 3 15.88x
Clifton In York 1 250.00x
West Derby 1 14.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Ellen 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Alfred 2
James 2
Joseph 1

FAQ

Lenehan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lenehan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Lenehan surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lenehan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Lenehan a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Lenehan surname mean?

A variant form of the Irish surname Ó Lonáin, meaning "descendant of the tawny one".

What does the Lenehan map show?

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